What is this growing algae cyano stuff

jbd153 · Mar 17, 2021

Help me identify this awful stuff. Running a skimmer and GFO. Seemed to get worse in the weeks after installing GFO but I also got a new Kessil ap700 at the same time so it might have just been the extra light. 140 gal tank 40 gal sump. About to drop $$$ on UV. I did the paper towel dino test. Doesn't seem to be that. I can borrow a lab quality microscope from a friend if needed. Nothing seems to eat it not the tang the blenny or the clean up crew they just go around it

jbd153 · Mar 17, 2021

Paper towel test after an hour at the bottom of the glass. Formed together.

attiland · Mar 17, 2021

The one on the rocks seems to be algae the one on the sand could be Dinos. Get a microscope to ID it.

jbd153 · Mar 17, 2021

attiland said:
The one on the rocks seems to be algae the one on the sand could be Dinos. Get a microscope to ID it.

On the sand bed I can almost scoop it up like it forms a mat just under the top of the sand... If that helps.

Double monti 61 · Mar 17, 2021

Try to remove it during water changes.

attiland · Mar 17, 2021

jbd153 said:
On the sand bed I can almost scoop it up like it forms a mat just under the top of the sand... If that helps.

Well it is characteristic of cyano and Dino too so you will need a microscope to be sure. There is more than 1 stains of Dinos so to treat it you will need a positive ID

jbd153 · Mar 17, 2021

attiland said:
Well it is characteristic of cyano and Dino too so you will need a microscope to be sure. There is more than 1 stains of Dinos so to treat it you will need a positive ID

Ok... I'll get ahold of a microscope hopefully tomorrow. I'll post back. Thanks!

jbd153 · Mar 22, 2021

ID help? Reddish circles that move around. Look like they have a hole in the middle of the circle.

jbd153 · Mar 22, 2021

Another pic

RMS18 · Mar 22, 2021

Last picture is dinos, my be amphidium. Do they look like they have a small hook / c shaped tail at the end of their body?

attiland · Mar 23, 2021

jbd153 said:
Another pic

Amphidinium (Small Cell) and maybe coolia too is what I can see but don’t take my word for it. let’s get some experts here @ScottB @taricha

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 23, 2021

Dino. You also have hair algae.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 23, 2021

Whats the paper towel test? Thats new...
D

Alvaro_Spain · Mar 23, 2021

Don´t do water changes. Increase nitrate and fosfate. Get a UV light.

taricha · Mar 23, 2021

agreed on amphidinium. Don't see others I can be sure of

RMS18 · Mar 23, 2021

The HA was consuming nutrients, then you added GFO on top of that. With both HA and GFO stripping the water of nutrients the dinos set in. I'd remove the GFO, start the manual process of removing HA daily. Since they are covered in dinos cuc won't touch it yet. I'd recommend you do a black out for the HA, it will also kick back the dinos some but get that UV installed first before blackout. We need to get ahead of the dinos so HA can be controlled with cuc. You may need to add po4 and no3 to your water. W/C are not an issue as long as nutrient levels are existent.
What are your readings currently?

jbd153 · Mar 23, 2021

Readings were at basically 0. I shut off GFO and skimmer about 4 days ago. Haven't retested yet. Ordering UV today. As fair as the hair algae I cut back feeding and the algea was dramatically cleaned (eaten) up except for 2 spots in the tank where nothing will touch it. Assuming those are the spots with dinos in it.

Alvaro_Spain · Mar 23, 2021

To increase the NO3 and PO4 you should feed more in spite of reducing it. As BMwm235 says, first you have to deal with the dinos. Good step buying the UV light.

RMS18 · Mar 23, 2021

Alvaro_Spain said:
To increase the NO3 and PO4 you should feed more in spite of reducing it. As BMwm235 says, first you have to deal with the dinos. Good step buying the UV light.

I tend to encourage dosing no3 and po4 rather than feeding more to increase to avoid the detritus waste.

jbd153 said:
Readings were at basically 0. I shut off GFO and skimmer about 4 days ago. Haven't retested yet. Ordering UV today. As fair as the hair algae I cut back feeding and the algea was dramatically cleaned (eaten) up except for 2 spots in the tank where nothing will touch it. Assuming those are the spots with dinos in it.

I'd recommend dosing no3 / po4 before feeding to increase. The uneaten food will create detritus which adds to the mess. Skip that stage and go right to the free floating no3 and po2 which can be consumed and measured much quicker. Feed fish as much as they will eat, you can increase feedings but still feed as they eat. Let their poop add to the water column. If you decide to use any bacteria remember they will also consume nutrients which makes the dinos happy.