Diatoms or Dinos

[Zpgrimm]

Hello All,

I am new to the hobby, and my aquarium has been up and running for about five weeks now. A couple of days ago I noticed a small patch of brown algae on my sand bed. Seemingly overnight, this brown algae is everywhere, and the strangest part is that I can simply brush it or blow it off with a turkey baster. Some of the algae patches have bubbles on top of them and when brushed away can be stringy when they hit the filter intake. I have already added several hermit crabs and a couple snails to try to appease the "problem". I am using RO/DI water and have been doing a 20% change of the water each week. Any help offered is appreciated. I am most worried because of the pace this this algae came on and the fact I can just blow a little water on them and they simple disintegrate.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bill_Moorman]

Hello All,



I am new to the hobby, and my aquarium has been up and running for about five weeks now. A couple of days ago I noticed a small patch of brown algae on my sand bed. Seemingly overnight, this brown algae is everywhere, and the strangest part is that I can simply brush it or blow it off with a turkey baster. Some of the algae patches have bubbles on top of them and when brushed away can be stringy when they hit the filter intake. I have already added several hermit crabs and a couple snails to try to appease the "problem". I am using RO/DI water and have been doing a 20% change of the water each week. Any help offered is appreciated. I am most worried because of the pace this this algae came on and the fact I can just blow a little water on them and they simple disintegrate.



Thanks in advance!

Photos will help but what you describe sounds like Dino's. I am battling diatoms right now after being running since January. From everything I have heard here and researched, this is what is known as the uglies period of the cycle.

What are all of your parameters at?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

Photos are needed.
I'd lean more towards saying what you have is typical diatoms...

 

[bcb577]

For the first several months your tank will go through new tank syndrome.youll get different algae and eventually things will settle. Don’t overstock,or over feed your new tank,and do regular water changes!