Vodka dosing

jenreefer · Dec 27, 2016

It could be dinoflagellates from the look or just brown algae. Hard to tell honestly. Is it on equipment like powerheads? does it blow off easily or stay put when you blow on it?

KAV84 · Dec 27, 2016

It's only located on the sand bed. And is easily stirred up when I agitate the sand bed. Once sand bed is cleaned. It's back within a couple of hours

KAV84 · Dec 27, 2016

I'll take better pictures when he lights ramp up in a couple hours

KAV84 · Dec 27, 2016

This one is a little better. Can you see the bubbles ?

I do know one thing. I'm pretty proficient in killing corals.

Waterjockey · Dec 27, 2016

KAV84 said:
This one is a little better. Can you see the bubbles ?

I do know one thing. I'm pretty proficient in killing corals.

Take some of the algae and put it in a glass, and add some hydrogen peroxide and wait. If the peroxide turns pink it's likely cyanobacteria.
You really need to identify what it is to determine an effective treatment method

KAV84 · Dec 27, 2016

Thank you for the info. I'll try that and proceed from there

KAV84 · Dec 28, 2016

@Waterjockey

I tested peroxide in cup. No changes in color

I also dosed 5 ml of peroxide in tank which is 120 gallon. The orp normally ranges in the 380 mark, dropped to 246 immediately after dosing.

Here's the pic of test. With a high rate of peroxide No difference.

Earlier today started to vaccum the sand bed. Hours later it came back, not as strong but still present.

Any help on how I can get this algae under control

Waterjockey · Dec 28, 2016

KAV84 said:
@Waterjockey

I tested peroxide in cup. No changes in color

I also dosed 5 ml of peroxide in tank which is 120 gallon. The orp normally ranges in the 380 mark, dropped to 246 immediately after dosing.

Here's the pic of test. With a high rate of peroxide No difference.

Earlier today started to vaccum the sand bed. Hours later it came back, not as strong but still present.

Any help on how I can get this algae under control

The ORP drop when dosing peroxide is normal and temporary. It will come back up within a few hours.

If there was no change with the cup of peroxide, it likely isn't cyano (not conclusively, but not likely).
It could be dinoflagellates or spirulina.
If you syphon some into a cup, does it stay in small chunks, or combine back together into one mass after a short period? Dinos will tend to re-form back into a single mass.
If it's dinos metro + vibrant worked for me. Let's find out if that is what it is first.

Perhaps @twilliard can have a look at your pics and offer some guidance. Todd and company are far more experienced/better equipped to offer advice.

KAV84 · Dec 28, 2016

I would say one large mass. I'll see if I can get better pictures tomorrow. The whole sand bed is covered again after vacuuming earlier today

twilliard · Dec 28, 2016

From the looks of the picture and the test it is likely spirulina.
I would have to see a sample under a microscope

KAV84 · Dec 28, 2016

@twilliard

What would you do if you were in my situation? Obviously I don't have any experience or know of anyone with access to a microscope or knowledge in identifying algae ?

Waterjockey · Dec 28, 2016

KAV84 said:
@twilliard

What would you do if you were in my situation? Obviously I don't have any experience or know of anyone with access to a microscope or knowledge in identifying algae

Without being able to identify it, I would give Vibrant a try. Many people have reported success with it for various nuisance algaes. It finished off my dinoflagellate outbreak (so far...2 months dino free).

KAV84 · Dec 29, 2016

@Waterjockey @twilliard

Here's a better picture

twilliard · Dec 29, 2016

Shh we will keep this on the DL but vibrant is not performing against cyanobacterias directly in my lab

@Waterjockey

twilliard · Dec 29, 2016

KAV84 said:
@Waterjockey @twilliard

Here's a better picture

Honestly I would take a sample of that and send it my way. It looks too thin to be a cyano from the picture

Waterjockey · Dec 29, 2016

twilliard said:
Shh we will keep this on the DL but vibrant is not performing against cyanobacterias directly in my lab
@Waterjockey

I suspected as much based on my current experience. Thank you for all the investigating you do!
Started dosing H2o2 @ 1.25ml/10 gallons twice a day to address my current cyano outbreak.

Waterjockey · Dec 29, 2016

KAV84 said:
@Waterjockey @twilliard

Here's a better picture

That looks like Dinoflagellates to me. @twilliard has graciously offered to examine a sample for you, you'll know in short order what it is if you send him a sample.