Diatom or Dino

SirMooey · 01/16/2020, 03:36 PM

Okay so I need this identified as I've tried EVERYTHING to solve it and now I'm thinking that I'm trying to solve the wrong type of algae. My tank is around 6 months old but this brown stuff disappeared after I ran rowaphos in a fluid reactor for 2 weeks. My tank then went fallow for 6 weeks with no algae appearing and then as soon as I put the fish in, It came back!
I dont want to use a fluid reactor again as I've converted it into an algae reactor.

Initially I thought it was diatoms so i:
Dosed nopox
Dosed rowaphos
Dosed phosguard
Set up and chaeto reactor.
Reduced the white light intensity and run time to 10% @ 6 hours.
Changed where I bought RODI (0TDS claimed but not tested)

My parameters are
PH 8.0
Nitrate 0
Calcium 300
Phosphate 0
KH 9
Salinity 1.024

Please someone help me!
If its diatoms I'll be relieved but still need to find out why it wont jog on! Or if its dino it would explain why I cant solve it but need advice on how to approach getting it gone.

SirMooey · 01/16/2020, 03:40 PM

I'm starting to think that trying to keep Ultra low nutrients is not such a good idea.

Oldreeferman · 01/16/2020, 07:07 PM

Im running a stable 2 yr. tank on .5 nitrates & .3 phosphates, everything is happy all my SPS & LPS are growing & i have no red cyano or any GH algae or anything else anywhere, diatoms i had 1st month then history.
Corals need a small amount of nutrients to absorb as well as good lighting.
Main thing is rock solid stability long term and good lighting. Id stop dosing tank is too young for that.
I doubt its diatoms due to the tanks age unless you have started a new cycle again since diatoms are the first thing that raises its head on a new tank consuming silicates.
LPS corals like your Acans actually benefit by an at least once a week feeding.... if you want strong fast growth, if just surviving is all you desire then yes just feed the fish, that will leave just enough nutrients in the water column to sustain LPS corals & SPS but if going that rout id add in amino acids at least weekly to supplement if not spot feeding. In the wild corals get a daily dosing of foods either at night or when the tide changes.
Too polished of water is hard on corals resulting in starvation, the parameters are just right if all is in balance IE: no cyano or algae blooms regardless of the nitrates or phosphates......... long as its rock stable let the tank just run your parameters look good. More you mess with it longer it will take to reach a stable equalibrium.

Your calcium is too low it should be a min 380 to 420 & stable.
What is the magnesium testing at? It should be a stable 1300 min.
Your Phosphate should be 0.12 ppm.
Your nitrate should be 0.25 ppm.
Get these spot on & stable & everything else will fall in line if your lighting is adjusted properly.

Michael Hoaster · 01/17/2020, 09:24 AM

From the pic, it looks like diatoms. Your tank is just new. It sounds like you tried to dose your way around a new tank algae phase. It cannot be avoided and should not. Algae is Nature's way of starting the foundation of new life in your tank. It NEEDS to happen. By fighting it early, you only delay the inevitable AND you end up prolonging the algae phase.

In the previous version of my tank, I tried to avoid the algae phase, keeping nutrients low. I only slowed it down. It took me eight months to get through it. This time around, I encouraged algae right form the start, and was done with it at the five month mark.

Just keep performing 'classic' good husbandry and let Nature run it's course. For sand bed algae, a fighting conch will help.

Oldreeferman · 01/17/2020, 09:32 AM

I was sleeping on this late stage diatom thing last night & im thinking the same thing too.
Was going to mention maybe ought to check the ammonia & nitrites to confirm this. Adding anything quickly back could restart the cycle clock.

mcgyvr · 01/17/2020, 10:33 AM

Looks like the fairly common "peach fuzz brown algae" that I'm not sure if its considered diatoms or something else..

Its quite common from my experience in the first year or so of a tank and shows up as a brown/rust colored algae that only grows short peach fuzz length hairs and is common on the sand and on plastic parts of the tank.

It will go away with time and I haven't found a surefire method to eliminate it early.. I just let it run its course. All of the normal algae eaters will consume it readily.. (snails/urchines/bristletooth tangs,etc..)

and yes STOP using Rowa/Phosguard/GFO type products unless you actually have a phosphate problem (and you don't).. Overuse can be far more harmful than the phosphates themselves..

Get a nice clean up crew and let them take care of it for now..

01/16/2020, 07:07 PM	#3
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	Im running a stable 2 yr. tank on .5 nitrates & .3 phosphates, everything is happy all my SPS & LPS are growing & i have no red cyano or any GH algae or anything else anywhere, diatoms i had 1st month then history. Corals need a small amount of nutrients to absorb as well as good lighting. Main thing is rock solid stability long term and good lighting. Id stop dosing tank is too young for that. I doubt its diatoms due to the tanks age unless you have started a new cycle again since diatoms are the first thing that raises its head on a new tank consuming silicates. LPS corals like your Acans actually benefit by an at least once a week feeding.... if you want strong fast growth, if just surviving is all you desire then yes just feed the fish, that will leave just enough nutrients in the water column to sustain LPS corals & SPS but if going that rout id add in amino acids at least weekly to supplement if not spot feeding. In the wild corals get a daily dosing of foods either at night or when the tide changes. Too polished of water is hard on corals resulting in starvation, the parameters are just right if all is in balance IE: no cyano or algae blooms regardless of the nitrates or phosphates......... long as its rock stable let the tank just run your parameters look good. More you mess with it longer it will take to reach a stable equalibrium. Your calcium is too low it should be a min 380 to 420 & stable. What is the magnesium testing at? It should be a stable 1300 min. Your Phosphate should be 0.12 ppm. Your nitrate should be 0.25 ppm. Get these spot on & stable & everything else will fall in line if your lighting is adjusted properly. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

01/17/2020, 09:24 AM	#4
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	From the pic, it looks like diatoms. Your tank is just new. It sounds like you tried to dose your way around a new tank algae phase. It cannot be avoided and should not. Algae is Nature's way of starting the foundation of new life in your tank. It NEEDS to happen. By fighting it early, you only delay the inevitable AND you end up prolonging the algae phase. In the previous version of my tank, I tried to avoid the algae phase, keeping nutrients low. I only slowed it down. It took me eight months to get through it. This time around, I encouraged algae right form the start, and was done with it at the five month mark. Just keep performing 'classic' good husbandry and let Nature run it's course. For sand bed algae, a fighting conch will help. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

01/17/2020, 09:32 AM	#5
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	I was sleeping on this late stage diatom thing last night & im thinking the same thing too. Was going to mention maybe ought to check the ammonia & nitrites to confirm this. Adding anything quickly back could restart the cycle clock. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

01/17/2020, 10:33 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Looks like the fairly common "peach fuzz brown algae" that I'm not sure if its considered diatoms or something else.. Its quite common from my experience in the first year or so of a tank and shows up as a brown/rust colored algae that only grows short peach fuzz length hairs and is common on the sand and on plastic parts of the tank. It will go away with time and I haven't found a surefire method to eliminate it early.. I just let it run its course. All of the normal algae eaters will consume it readily.. (snails/urchines/bristletooth tangs,etc..) and yes STOP using Rowa/Phosguard/GFO type products unless you actually have a phosphate problem (and you don't).. Overuse can be far more harmful than the phosphates themselves.. Get a nice clean up crew and let them take care of it for now.. __________________ Who me?

01/16/2020, 03:40 PM	#2
SirMooey Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 3	I'm starting to think that trying to keep Ultra low nutrients is not such a good idea.