What kind of algae is this?

[Cmp1985]

Wondering what this is. Cyno, Dino, or diatoms? Tank is 6 months old with a yellow watchman, banggia cardinalfish, 2 clownfish and 6 line wrasse. Fire shring and pistol shrimp.
Alk-9.5
Calc-450
Nitrate-7ish
Phosphate-.03

 

[brmc1985]

Honestly looks like a bit of all 3. Do you have any snails in there?

 

[Cmp1985]

Honestly looks like a bit of all 3. Do you have any snails in there?

4 nassarius

 

[Jekyl]

I'm amazed you don't have way more algae than that.

 

[Cmp1985]

I'm amazed you don't have way more algae than that.

Thanks?

 

[brmc1985]

4 nassarius

Those will help with them but you could up your clean up crew but I would also look at Purple Helix. You have no coralline growth for a 6 month old tank. Coralline will help with the rocks

 

[Cmp1985]

Those will help with them but you could up your clean up crew but I would also look at Purple Helix. You have no coralline growth for a 6 month old tank. Coralline will help with the rocks

I also have a tuxedo urchin

 

[Jekyl]

I also have a tuxedo urchin

He means you should seed some coraline.

 

[Cmp1985]

He means you should seed some coraline.

Yes I understand what he meant but it would be pointless since the urchin will eat it. Just trying to figure out the brown stuff in the sand and how to get rid of it. Shut the lights off for a few days so far

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Keep your nutrients in order and the sand will go through a short self correcting cycle. Most likely silica based. An itch may eat coral one, but you should still promote it’s growth. Where healthy coral one is other algae’s will be hindered from.

 

[Jekyl]

Yes I understand what he meant but it would be pointless since the urchin will eat it. Just trying to figure out the brown stuff in the sand and how to get rid of it. Shut the lights off for a few days so far

There's no way 1 urchin will eat all of the coraline. I have multiple and don't even notice.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Mild case of cyano which can easily be siphoned. You can diminish it by reducing white light intensity and recommended cleaner snails are:
Cerith
margarita
astrea
trochus