Can anyone ID this (algae?)

JWL

New member
Hi everyone,

I'm a UK reefer of 2 years and so far have enjoyed relatively few problems and a smooth running reef.

Recently, there has been an appearance of what i can only assume is a nuisance algae, however it is unlike anything i've seen in the tank before. I've had my share of the usual hair algae, cyano and the like - all burned themselves out within the first few months of the tank running.

Recently, i'd noticed a covering of 'turf' algae, and then recently this stuff appeared. It isn't a leafy type, more a 'fluffy slime', stringy and with many bubbles:

P1030290.jpg


I keep my params solid and stable as my reef is primarily SPS, latest readings (test method in brackets):

Nitrate 0 (on Salifert)
Phos 0 (on Salifert and Hanna checker)
pH 8.15 (electronically via GHL)
KH 8.5 (Salifert)
Cal 450 (Salifert)
Mg 1400 (Salifert)
Temp 26 deg C (78.8 deg F) (GHL)
SG 1.026 (D&D Refractometer)

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Ian
 
It looks like dinoflagellates. Lots of people have had luck getting rid of them by raising their magnesium to 1600 or so.
 
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