Pest algae (or bacteria) ID Help.

[Soey]

Hello. I have been struggling with this stringy brown stuff all over my rocks and substrate. It was full of air bubbles yesterday, but they have disappeared overnight (for now). Could somebody help me id it please?

I dont believe its dinos as my Nitrates are at 1 - 2 ppm and Phosphates are above .1 ppm, however it could still be.

Thanks.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Sounds like dinoflagellates. Pics would be helpful.

 

[Soey]

Sounds like dinoflagellates. Pics would be helpful.

Hope its not lol. I attached some videos to the original post, one under a microscope and one of the substrate,

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Hope its not lol. I attached some videos to the original post, one under a microscope and one of the substrate,

Hard to tell from scope pics, could be cyano. Dino looks like little seeds moving around in circles,etc. Cyano looks like needles. If it is cyano, Chemiclean will take care of it quick.

 

[Soey]

Hard to tell from scope pics, could be cyano. Dino looks like little seeds moving around in circles,etc. Cyano looks like needles. If it is cyano, Chemiclean will take care of it quick.

i was thinking it could be cyano. i can try and get better pics under the microscope.

 

[Soey]

Hard to tell from scope pics, could be cyano. Dino looks like little seeds moving around in circles,etc. Cyano looks like needles. If it is cyano, Chemiclean will take care of it quick.

'

Well.... It looks like its dinos.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

'

Well.... It looks like its dinos.

Ok. It can be solved. This is what worked for me, and might for you...
Do a 3 day complete blackout. (You can still turn on lights for a few to feed fish, then off again). Then turn lights back on, on day 4. You will have to do this multiple times, do as they show back up. Next, check and adjust nitrate levels. You want higher than 0. (5 or so)
Also consider a uv sterilizer adjusted to proper flow with a separate pump.
It depends on what species of dino you have. I had ostreopsis. Try not to panic, there are some threads on this forum too. Good luck!

 

[Soey]

Ok. It can be solved. This is what worked for me, and might for you...
Do a 3 day complete blackout. (You can still turn on lights for a few to feed fish, then off again). Then turn lights back on, on day 4. You will have to do this multiple times, do as they show back up. Next, check and adjust nitrate levels. You want higher than 0. (5 or so)
Also consider a uv sterilizer adjusted to proper flow with a separate pump.
It depends on what species of dino you have. I had ostreopsis. Try not to panic, there are some threads on this forum too. Good luck!

Thank you for the tips. Im gonna try and find out what species they are.

 

[Soey]

Im pretty sure its a Amphidinium. Ive seen my snails eating it, and they are ok so far. Good thing abt this dino is it probably wont cause a tank crash bc of its low toxins.