Photosynthetic bacteria? White slime ID?

[GoodKat]

Hey y'all,

Need a little help trying to figure this one out. This little 5 gallon nano is about 6 months old. Its rock work is mostly this Bonsi Tree. About three weeks ago a white slime started growing at the very top directly under the light.

It looks like eggs sacks (it's definitely not) or little white bubbles. I tried to get a good pic.

Two weeks ago I stopped dosing NoPoX and blasted it with a syringe, then did a water change. Now it's growing back. Any idea what it is? Should I be concerned that it will take over the zoa's?

My best guess is it's just part or a new tank. Especially because the bonsi tree was a sterile rock. Maybe its just part of life growing.

I don't it's excess nutrients. I feed every other day. And I run a Mame wood stone skimmer.

Really any feedback helps.

 

[Flippers4pups]

What's your water pramameters?

 

[KrisReef]

Kind of looks like a sponge.

 

[GoodKat]

Water parameters are CA 400 / mg 1250 / Alk 7
N 0-5ppm / phos .1 (used A Hanna checker)

I know these are all on the lower side but this tank is just a side project with low maintance corals. Normally I don't chance perfect numbers and just stick to 20% water changes weekly.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It's definitely bacteria.

 

[rkpetersen]

It's definitely bacteria.

Yeah, typical for what you see when you've overdosed a carbon source. Good that you stopped dosing NPX. Are you administering any other products that contain organic carbon, including food? If so, I'd stop them as well. There is probably still a lot of organic carbon in your water. I'd do another large water change, and maybe throw some GAC in a bag in there for a while.

 

[cracker]

chrysphytes maybe ? I had very similar looking stuff when the tank had real low nutrient levels . However , according to your tests you have "some" Po4 , N03 in there .

 

[GoodKat]

Thanks all. This is super helpful. I think I probably was overdosing the NPX. I'll blast it again this weekend, syphon it out, and do a water change. It's just odd that's it's only growing in the highest light area of the tank. Plus, rather than free floating in water column, it's colonizing the rock.