Strange film type Algae

[telsonman]

I have this weird stuff popping up in my biocube. I don't have it in my 75g or my frag tank, just my biocube. It reminds me of cyano because it grows in like a mat, but you can't blow it off the rocks with a turkey baster, only when its on the sand. I was using a q-tip to wipe it off my zoas, because its growing on them, but its a PITA because it will grow back rather quickly. Its not hair algae either. Its in a fine green mat, and it will grow on the glass if I let it. Also, you can only vacuum up whats on the sand. It won't come off the rock without scrubbing. I changed my phosguard out, and it didn't do anything. I tried a 48hour blackout, which works awesome on cyano, but this stuff had no change. And no, its not diatoms or dinos.

I'll try to get a picture up later when I get home from work.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Sounds like it may be Turf Algae
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/turf-algae.161620/

 

[telsonman]

But it has no filaments. It's literally exactly like cyano would look, but it's green, and won't come off without manual removal

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looking forward to some really yucky pictures soon.

 

[telsonman]

Here are some pictures of it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well there is lime green cyano.

But it Doesnt come off in your Fingers's or blow off?

 

[telsonman]

Only on the sand. I have to scrub the rocks and corals

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Only on the sand. I have to scrub the rocks and corals

To be clear , you have to scrub it off rock.

 

[telsonman]

Yes. Cyano I can just blow it off with a turkey baster. Not this

 

[telsonman]

Anyone?

 

[clsanchez77]

Look up Spirulina algae. If you have access to a microscope, the individual cells look like little spirals, almost like slinkies. I have never dealt with it but I believe the only known methods to deal with it is manual removal and using Chemi-Clean. I do not believe manual removal will cause it to spread and overtake the tank like cyanno.

Chemi-Clean is pretty harsh and has some very specific instructions to follow. There are many stories of people crashing their tank for not following the instructions. I believe it is a dissolved oxygen depletion issue.

 

[telsonman]

Well I'm about to use chemi clean I guess. Manual removal only minimizes it. It still comes back.

 

[clsanchez77]

Well, good luck. Follow the instructions and AERATE your tank. Search it on here, RC and the other boards. There is no shortage of crashed tanks from "Mis-Using" chemical-clean. It does drop the O2 levels in your water. The instructions call for an air pump and bubble wand I believe.

Also, not that while chemo-clean will kill cyano, spirulina (and dino is debatable), the nutrient sources for these items is still present in the water so other algae will take over.