New to saltwater

[bouquet519]

Hello,

Just getting into saltwater. Have a 32g biocube. 3 live rocks with stowaways. Heater. Protein skimmer. Just started noticing this algae(?) on the bottom. Any insights?

 

[CodyRVA]

Image is broken.

 

[bouquet519]

 

[Tahoe61]

Diatoms, common with new set ups. New equipment and sand releases silicates, diatoms use those silicates until the silicates are reduced and then the diatoms die off. There could also be a cyanobacteria bloom. Many newer systems go through different algae blooms and cyano, these typically resolve in a few weeks if replacement water is low in nutrients.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Diatoms, common with new set ups. New equipment and sand releases silicates, diatoms use those silicates until the silicates are reduced and then the diatoms die off. There could also be a cyanobacteria bloom. Many newer systems go through different algae blooms and cyano, these typically resolve in a few weeks if replacement water is low in nutrients.

What he said ^^

 

[4FordFamily]

What he said ^^

Agree

 

[Mr New Saltwater]

Would anyone happen to know what type of Algae this is? Is it Hair Algae and what could be causing it? My PO4 is 0.02ppm and NO3 is undetectable with the Red Sea Pro Kit. Maybe need to try another kit. I don't overfeed and I also use Nopox. Any help would be appreciated. Included is a photo of the problem.

 

[CodyRVA]

Looks like cyano, hows your flow?

 

[Zack K]

Would anyone happen to know what type of Algae this is?

Looks To be red Cyano (Red Slime). Keep and eye on it and if it thickens and becomes more of a mat than you would have to remove it.

 

[LBehr]

OP has diatom bloom if it doesnt go away on its own you can add a bunch of snails or a filter bag of purigen in back both will suck up silicates.

I had some cyano that wasn't spreading but I couldn't get rid of it and threw in a sand sifting star and some nassarius snails and it was gone in a few days.

 

[Mr New Saltwater]

Flow is good. I tried to upload a video but could not get it to upload. I remove it and it's back there within a few hours.

 

[LBehr]

What are other parameters?

 

[LBehr]

Plus with those rocks there the flow in tank may be high but that could still be a dead spot. I had that problem before so I used nassarius snails and a sandsifting star.