What the heck is this

[Juice780]

So my tank is almost 4 months old and I’m battling this brown fuzzy algae. I don’t think it’s dinos because there are no air bubbles. I scrub it off and it seems to come back. I can’t get a po or nitrate reading. I’m assuming the algae is consuming it all. I ordered a bottle of vibrant to try. I have considered hydro peroxide dosing but have read mixed things. Corals seem to be doing good. I don’t have any fish due to a velvet outbreak so I’m letting it run its course with no fish. Just some snails and crabs and 2 shrimp.

 

[Big G]

Yeah. New tank uglies. Elbow grease (toothbrush attached to hose leading down to your sump - you can clean endlessly and easily), vacuuming your sand, pristine water conditions, and you may want to try a small UV sterilizer like the Green Killing Machine.

 

[Juice780]

Anyone have any idea what exactly it is? The stuff on the sand is long and stringy like Dino’s but there are no air bubbles. I have a small uv sterilizer I can hook up. I am going to try the vibrant. I’m afraid my frags are not going to do well with all of it crowding them.

 

[pecan2phat]

If your snails start getting sluggish and eventually dying off, then it could likely be Dinos.

 

[Juice780]

I just want to get a positive I’d on the stuff so I know how to combat it.

 

[Malifry97]

Get a picture under a microscope for a better ID. Also try the cup test for dinos

 

[Juice780]

How do you do the cup test? I might go to Walmart to get a cheap one. How do you get a picture of it?

 

[Malifry97]

How do you do the cup test? I might go to Walmart to get a cheap one. How do you get a picture of it?

Cup test is, collect some in a cup of saltwater...stir it vigorously until dispersed...wait a little while (30 min or so in sunlight) if it joins back together, it’s more than likely Dino’s. And put your phone camera up to the microscope and take a picture if you have a microscope.

 

[Juice780]

Ok bought a cheap microscope. Hope these are good enough to identify

 

[Malifry97]

Ok bought a cheap microscope. Hope these are good enough to identify

#reefsquad it kinda looks like it to me

 

[vetteguy53081]

lOOKS LIKE THE START OF DINOS TO ME.

 

[Juice780]

What should be my plan of attack?

 

[Malifry97]

What should be my plan of attack?

Blackout...peroxide dosing...raise nitrates and phosphates

 

[Juice780]

Ok I’m going to start the peroxide dosing. Probably do the black out this week. I ordered a bottle of vibrant. Will this help any?

 

[saltyhog]

I would not recommend peroxide dosing. Yes you will kill some of the dinos but you may do more harm than good by also killing competing organisms such as competing bacteria.

It's definitely dinos but pictures aren't good enough to get a definitive ID. Knowing what kind it is is very important in treating it. Some things that are useful for all species include dosing beneficial bacteria, adding biodiversity, keeping NO3 around 5, PO4 0.06 to 0.12 and dosing silicate to encourage competing diatoms.

Post these on the Nuisance Algae forum and tag @taricha. He is the dino guru and might be able to ID from your photos. I video would be even better if possible. Movement patterns help ID.

Dinos can be beat but there is NO quick fix for them.

 

[Malifry97]

Maybe try adding a piece of live rock and add multiple types of bacterial products for biodiversity and that would help as well.

 

[Juice780]

Is there a website that shows what each type looks like? the tank is a I’m lagoon 50. I have the uv sterilizer that fits the tank but I’m not running it. Should I put it back in the tank.

 

[Juice780]

wat kind of bacteria do y’all suggest I addd to the tank.

 

[old salt reefer]

I have the uv sterilizer that fits the tank but I’m not running it. Should I put it back in the tank.

Yes, yes, yes. Dinos (all but 1 kind) become waterborne at night and are easily killed by UV sterilizers.
Stop doing water changes to raise nitrates and phospates.
Use filter floss and change/clean once or twice a day. This cleans out the dead dinos and the live ones like to stick to it too.
Suck/vacuum as much out as possible.
Doing nothing else other than above you should see results in a few days.

 

[Juice780]

I have noticed I have a lot of amphipods in the tank. I have no clue how they got in there. Will they help anything.