Diatoms or Cyano?

[mickeyfish]

Can you guys tell me what type of algae this is, and how to remediate it? My sand looks like this halfway through every day no matter how much I mix the surface daily or siphon it out with weekly water changes. Parameters and lighting schedule below. I do not have significant nuisance algae issues other than this.

This is a Biocube with a Nanobox retro over it. The issue predates the Nanobox however (got it for Christmas). My CUC already includes some Nerites, Astreas, Ceriths, Dwarf Ceriths, and 4-5 assorted hermits. I do weekly water changes of 5 gallons and my parameters are below.

Alk: 9-10
Calcium: 420-440
Phosphates: .03 - .06 (checked with a Hanna ULR checker twice weekly, running GFO, and dosing with Phosphate RX if it moves up).
Nitrates: ~10.

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[mcgyvr]

Not cyano..maybe minor green film algae
No biggie...it will pass

 

[tjm9331]

agreed, doesn't look like a big deal. definitely doesn't look like cyano and doesn't look like dinos either. Like mcgyvr said, it should pass and if it doesn't your ccu should keep it in check

 

[marzvt]

Yeah, no Ciano everything is looking good.

 

[mickeyfish]

Thanks guys. Thing is, this happens daily for the past 2 months or so, and I have had many comments about why is the sand green brown from visitors. Tank is over a year old, tests continue to show low phosphates and Nitrates.

Might it be worth getting more CUC members that live in the sand like Nassasrius snails? I have 2-3 of them now.




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[mcgyvr]

Thanks guys. Thing is, this happens daily for the past 2 months or so, and I have had many comments about why is the sand green brown from visitors. Tank is over a year old, tests continue to show low phosphates and Nitrates.

Is it my eyes or is there quite a bit of green hair algae on your rock too?

Just over a year old still puts you in the potentially "not fully mature" category..

Some suggestions..
-Give it a bit more time..
-Try some GFO

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

I was going to comment on the GHA myself. :wildone:

 

[ChronicReefH2o]

Tank looks pretty new, giving it some time will help mature it.

 

[mickeyfish]

The rocks are a bit green, it's true. I had phosphates of .25 up until about a month ago when I got the Hanna tester and began dosing Phosphate RX to take the levels down. Since then it has significantly improved and coralline has picked up.

I also do run GFO in my media basket.

I guess for the sand I will wait it out a bit longer and see if it stops.


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[mcgyvr]

I had phosphates of .25 up until about a month ago

Bing..bing..bing.. we have a winner..
Patience young grasshopper.. patience..
Problems don't go away overnight..

IMO all of that hair algae on the rocks is FAR worse than the minor green film on the sand..

 

[mickeyfish]

Diatoms or Cyano?

Checking back in on this one. It has been almost three months since I lowered my P and N to near undetectable levels. The only time the sand is clear is right after a water change. By noon the following day the sand looks like this. The hair algae on the rocks during this time has largely subsided and coralline is taking over in spots. However, the sand is dirty looking every day.

What else can I try to clear this? Phosphates are consistently .03 (checked with Hanna ULR) and Nitrates are undetectable. I am running phosguard, carbon, and bio pellets in a reactor.

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[mcgyvr]

Are you stirring your sand during a water change? (must be as thats why you say its clean after water change)

If so I'd recommend stopping that..
I'd use caution on the amount of biopellets/GFO being used now that you have your nutrient levels low..

How old is the tank?
Thats really a minor issue there..


I see your Nerites are laying eggs..

 

[mickeyfish]

I have been trying to syphon out the dirty top layer of the sand with changes and then yes I have been stirring it. Might it be better to not disturb and let it run its course?

The tank is about 16 months old now. Nerite eggs everywhere.


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[mcgyvr]

I have been trying to syphon out the dirty top layer of the sand with changes and then yes I have been stirring it. Might it be better to not disturb and let it run its course?

IMO yes.. I don't recommend stirring/messing with a sand bed ever..

Give it time/don't disturb it and let it run its course and see how it does..

 

[mickeyfish]

Diatoms or Cyano?

Thanks mcgyvr... at least I have a plan now. I will give that a go and check back in a few weeks to a month.

Other question, think any type of inverts could help whether it be to eat the algae or stir the bed (naturally)?


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[mcgyvr]

nassarius snails/cucumbers/gobies/bristleworms and various microfauna will keep a sand bed moving/active..