What type of algae is this and what is causing it?

[Thadunc]

Water temp 79
Salinity 1.025
Nitrate <5
Phosphate 0

 

[lapin]

Looks like the begining of hair algae. I think I see some on the back glass.

 

[Dan_P]

The thread coming off the coral frag looks like a dinoflagellate scum.

 

[Thadunc]

any recommendations to try?

 

[Dan_P]

any recommendations to try?

@taricha is the person I would consult on the “what next question”.

 

[taricha]

The only way to form stringy strands like that is to assemble them in the water column, meaning stringy dinos are susceptible to killing by UV.

(also notice that the hair algae on the sand is brown - there's almost never a case of "brown hair algae" - it's pretty much always green hair algae covered with enough diatom, or in this case dino epiphytes to make it look brown.)

 

[Thadunc]

The only way to form stringy strands like that is to assemble them in the water column, meaning stringy dinos are susceptible to killing by UV.

(also notice that the hair algae on the sand is brown - there's almost never a case of "brown hair algae" - it's pretty much always green hair algae covered with enough diatom, or in this case dino epiphytes to make it look brown.)

Are these UV Sterilizers acceptable on a nano build? Its a nuvo peninsula 20. Would a Hang on back fuge help?

 

[Dana Riddle]

Try Fighting Conchs. Worked for me, at least on the sand bed.

 

[taricha]

Are these UV Sterilizers acceptable on a nano build? Its a nuvo peninsula 20. Would a Hang on back fuge help?

they make small UVs. And they are much cheaper than big ones.

conch is great for sandbed stuff if the dinos aren't toxic. otherwise, dead snail.

 

[Dana Riddle]

they make small UVs. And they are much cheaper than big ones.

conch is great for sandbed stuff if the dinos aren't toxic. otherwise, dead snail.

I had concerns about toxicity in the early stages of the 90-gallon build, and I waited too late to add snails/conchs. With the 120 build, I did not wait to add snails and conchs, and am happy with the results. I'm not saying that advice you're getting is incorrect, but we must consider the various species of dinoflagellates. Why not invest 20 bucks in to conchs/snails and see what happens? Might work/might not.

 

[Thadunc]

I had concerns about toxicity in the early stages of the 90-gallon build, and I waited too late to add snails/conchs. With the 120 build, I did not wait to add snails and conchs, and am happy with the results. I'm not saying that advice you're getting is incorrect, but we must consider the various species of dinoflagellates. Why not invest 20 bucks in to conchs/snails and see what happens? Might work/might not.

This is the current plan. I did have about 8 dwarf blue leg hermits in my old tank before the glass cracked and i had to replace the tank. In the process, since the tank had only been cycled with corals and livestock in it for around 2.5 months i decided to use some of the sand from the old tank in the new. In the process i wasn't able to get all the dwarf hermits. In the weeks since i have only been able to find one of them that made the transfer with it. I am ordering a couple more of those and a few more cerith snails

 

[DWill]

Are these UV Sterilizers acceptable on a nano build? Its a nuvo peninsula 20. Would a Hang on back fuge help?

IM makes UV for that tank.