Please have a look at these photos...

[Dom]

Below are 4 photos taken with a microscope. I believe it is of Cyano. Can anyone confirm? If not, can you ID? Thanks. Dom

 

[ngoodermuth]

I wanna say the green particles are diatom algae, but this is definitely not my field of expertise...

Following.

 

[Dom]

I wanna say the green particles are diatom algae, but this is definitely not my field of expertise...

Following.

When I heard Google for "What does red cyanobacteria look like under a microscope?" I find similar images, but nothing that looks quite like what I have posted.

 

[reef lover]

Got a non microscopic pic.?

 

[Dom]

Got a non microscopic pic.?

I did post non-microscope pics in the past. But all the responses said that you needed to have a microscope pic to have a conclusive answer. I'll take another and post.

 

[ngoodermuth]

There’s only a few things that *look* like cyano, it’s definitely not dinoflagellates based on those photos. It could be a mix of diatom algae and cyanobacteria... let me see who I can track down to double check

 

[Brew12]

I agree that this looks like a blend of diatoms and cyanobacteria.

 

[Dom]

I agree that this looks like a blend of diatoms and cyanobacteria.

I'm dealing with some elevated phosphates (0.08). I've ruled out my RODI setup and a 10 pound piece of dry rock from BRS.

I'm left to think the source is my frozen food.

 

[Brew12]

I'm dealing with some elevated phosphates (0.08). I've ruled out my RODI setup and a 10 pound piece of dry rock from BRS.

I'm left to think the source is my frozen food.

I wouldn't call those elevated.
Cyano is also more likely to be encouraged by low nitrates than high phosphates.

 

[Dom]

I wouldn't call those elevated.
Cyano is also more likely to be encouraged by low nitrates than high phosphates.

Fair enough.

I did pull the chaeto out of my fuge for a month without any noticeable improvement, as my nitrates were in the 5-10 range.

So without dosing, am I correct in saying that the only way to get nitrates up is by stopping water changes for a while?

 

[Brew12]

Fair enough.

I did pull the chaeto out of my fuge for a month without any noticeable improvement, as my nitrates were in the 5-10 range.

So without dosing, am I correct in saying that the only way to get nitrates up is by stopping water changes for a while?

I wouldn't dose if they are above 5ppm, that should be fine.

Are you vacuuming the sand bed when you do a water change?

 

[Dom]

I wouldn't dose if they are above 5ppm, that should be fine.

Are you vacuuming the sand bed when you do a water change?

I've only just begun to do that.

 

[Brew12]

I've only just begun to do that.

Unless you need to do water changes for other reasons, I would only change enough water to support vacuuming the sand. Does your cyano also grow on your rocks or just the sand bed?

 

[Dom]

Unless you need to do water changes for other reasons, I would only change enough water to support vacuuming the sand. Does your cyano also grow on your rocks or just the sand bed?

Sand bed only.

I do water changes as a way of replenishing elements consumed by the corals (Ca, Mg...), in addition of helping to remove waste.

 

[Ebslinger]

@Dom

What magnification where these photos taken at?

The small dagger shaped forms could be diatoms... but hard to say without magnification info..

Also, as a side note, if you can have some sort of scale (I know it can be a pain in the ....) in the photo it helps to get a perspective on what you're looking at.

 

[Brew12]

Sand bed only.

I do water changes as a way of replenishing elements consumed by the corals (Ca, Mg...), in addition of helping to remove waste.

Then keep doing the water changes along with cleaning the sand bed imo. How much does your calcium drop between water changes?

 

[Dom]

Then keep doing the water changes along with cleaning the sand bed imo. How much does your calcium drop between water changes?

I couldn't tell you at the moment. But Sunday is water change day so I could do a test before the water change tomorrow and the after on Monday, posting the results Monday evening.

I think I am going to phase back to RC. I have about 5 pounds of Red Sea that I can blend with about 8 pounds of Reef Crystals. I'll use it up and then go Reef Crystals exclusively.

This all began when I switched to Red Sea. Definitely can see a difference between the two. Mind you I am not saying that Red Sea is an inferior salt. But there is a clear difference in the chemical composition of the mix which I feel explains the change in the tank appearance.

 

[Dom]

Got a non microscopic pic.?

Took this today.

Also as of today: PO4= 0.10
No3= 5-10 range

 

[reef lover]

Definately cyano.

 

[Dom]

Are you vacuuming the sand bed when you do a water change?

Wow! Vacuuming and churning the sand bed made a huge difference. Cyano is all but gone.

Apparently, whatever the cyano was feeding on was locked up in the substrate... which would explain why I saw it on the substrate only.

Thank you for the help!
Dom