What's in my chaetomorpha algae?

[ItsAName]

New tank, about 6-8 weeks old. Fully cycled. I added chaeto 2 weeks ago. Took a look today and saw this brownish red stuff in it, and it's forming on the rocks below it too. I also noticed it forming now on the rocks by the return jet too.

 

[wkscott]

Looks like cyanobacteria.

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

Most likely just detritus.. it is a new tank after all.. you can turn over the chaeto if you please

 

[ItsAName]

Looks like cyanobacteria.

If it's this, what do I do about it?

 

[wkscott]

As long as it remains in your sump and doesn’t get into the DT, don't worry about it too much. Manually remove what you can so that it doesn't block the light from your chaeto. Once your chaeto starts to grow quickly, it should starve out the cyanobacteria.

 

[ItsAName]

It has started to spread into the DT by where the return line is. Should I scrub it off the rocks, buy a certain critter, etc..?

 

[Frop]

I think I have the same stuff in my fuge. I just ignore it until I remove chaeto. Not sure if that is the best approach.. but usually I remove all the chaeto and rip a piece off that doesn't have it and put it back. Also I'll clean the entire fuge at that point. Not very often at all. Some stuff gets in the DT but it's mild. Im sure it varies tank by tank.

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

It has started to spread into the DT by where the return line is. Should I scrub it off the rocks, buy a certain critter, etc..?

Pictures? Does it look like red slime? If it is cyano, you should see more slime towards the end of the day than you should right after you turn your lights on.

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

Hermit crabs can eat Cyano, you may want to increase flow in your tank/ stir your sand so it can't settle

 

[wkscott]

Hermit crabs can eat Cyano, you may want to increase flow in your tank/ stir your sand so it can't settle

It's not in his tank, it's in his sump.

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

It has started to spread into the DT by where the return line is. Should I scrub it off the rocks, buy a certain critter, etc..?

@wkscott

 

[ItsAName]

Pictures? Does it look like red slime? If it is cyano, you should see more slime towards the end of the day than you should right after you turn your lights on.

Sorry for the delay. It looks like a light rust forming on the rocks. This is right under my return flow

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

Sorry for the delay. It looks like a light rust forming on the rocks. This is right under my return flow

Looks like detritus, no need to worry.

 

[reefs+waves]

Looks like detritus, no need to worry.

It's not detritus, I think it is cyano

 

[reefs+waves]

Or it could be dinoflagellates

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

Any other pics? Typically cyano appears on the sandbed due to lack of flow, where as any surface area can be subject to diatoms (one of the most abundant life forms on earth) generally cyano is more of a red color instead of the brown I'm seeing. If it is cyano, you should see hardly any in the morning shortly after your lights turn on, and much more at the end of the day before your lights turn off

 

[SuperDragon]

I could be diatoms or cotton candy algae... best guess is diatoms on a new tank.

 

[cracker]

Maybe ,there isn't enough nutrients in this new tank to feed that much Chaeto and it's dieing off? What is the overall color of the chaeto ? Just sayin it could be a cause maybe.

 

[ItsAName]

I could be diatoms or cotton candy algae... best guess is diatoms on a new tank.

I looked up cotten candy algae, doesn't look like it.
I'll check to see if there is more or less in the morning and post more pics tomorrow.
I did throw some snails on top of it and they started eating it, if that means anything.

 

[fallenlordz]

Looks like cyanobacteria to me also. Try a quick water change, to remove some nutrients and up the flow to the problem areas.