Ugly stage, what is this?

[Shaady]

First time cycling and tank is going through the uglies. Tank has had lights on for 8ish weeks.

Had what I believe are diatoms with everything browning a bit, then GHA (not too bad, I have a foxface, bristletooth tang, and some snails for CC). As the GHA is starting to die, it was turning brown and I still had what I think are diatoms on the sand. I was expecting slimy red cyano but after some research is it possible this brown hairy/fuzzy stuff is a form of cyano, "calothrix" to be exact? Or is it still just diatoms, or GHA, or something else?

My nutrients are very high but coming down so I didn't think dinos.

Just trying to figure out where I am in the ugly stage process and if I need to take any action.

 

[Jekyl]

The bubbles make me concerned about dinos, have nutrients ever bottomed out? What are your current parameters?
@vetteguy53081

 

[Shaady]

The bubbles make me concerned about dinos, have nutrients ever bottomed out? What are your current parameters?
@vetteguy53081

Nutrients have never bottomed out

NO3 is currently 30 (salifert)
PO4 is currently 0.13 (hanna)

Im bringing it down slowly over time

 

[Dan_P]

First time cycling and tank is going through the uglies. Tank has had lights on for 8ish weeks.

Had what I believe are diatoms with everything browning a bit, then GHA (not too bad, I have a foxface, bristletooth tang, and some snails for CC). As the GHA is starting to die, it was turning brown and I still had what I think are diatoms on the sand. I was expecting slimy red cyano but after some research is it possible this brown hairy/fuzzy stuff is a form of cyano, "calothrix" to be exact? Or is it still just diatoms, or GHA, or something else?

My nutrients are very high but coming down so I didn't think dinos.

Just trying to figure out where I am in the ugly stage process and if I need to take any action.

I don’t know what it is, but it looks like fuzzy clumps which seems to rule out diatoms and dinoflagellates. If you scoop out a sample of the surface sand with a little spoon, you might be able to get a better look at the stuff. A look with a microscope would be even better.

 

[Shaady]

I don’t know what it is, but it looks like fuzzy clumps which seems to rule out diatoms and dinoflagellates. If you scoop out a sample of the surface sand with a little spoon, you might be able to get a better look at the stuff. A look with a microscope would be even better.

Will do. I'll pull the trigger on the microscope thats been sitting in my amazon cart for over a month. Is there a website or one stop shop resource that shows what common stuff looks like under a microscope?

 

[lulubap]

Will do. I'll pull the trigger on the microscope thats been sitting in my amazon cart for over a month. Is there a website or one stop shop resource that shows what common stuff looks like under a microscope?

This link might do you some good. There are also some other forums of people asking for microscope IDs.

 

[vetteguy53081]

First time cycling and tank is going through the uglies. Tank has had lights on for 8ish weeks.

Had what I believe are diatoms with everything browning a bit, then GHA (not too bad, I have a foxface, bristletooth tang, and some snails for CC). As the GHA is starting to die, it was turning brown and I still had what I think are diatoms on the sand. I was expecting slimy red cyano but after some research is it possible this brown hairy/fuzzy stuff is a form of cyano, "calothrix" to be exact? Or is it still just diatoms, or GHA, or something else?

My nutrients are very high but coming down so I didn't think dinos.

Just trying to figure out where I am in the ugly stage process and if I need to take any action.

Looks to me like dinos. While dinos often are triggered by a tank too clean or with low no3 and po4, it can still form as its a flagellate and not an algae.
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off.
During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly