Do I have dino growing?

[splix]

I've got this brown type algae in my refugium growing. I still have diatoms in my DT which I understand are fine, just let them do their thing.
I'm curious if this is dino in my refug though since it's sort of stringy. At the same time I went to test ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and all were a dead 0. Nitrates at 0 concerned me and I didnt believe it since I've not done a water change for over a week now and usually they hover around 2-3. Reading up on dino, it seems they eat nitrates.

I've not seen brown stringy algae with bubbles in the DT which is a good sign.

If these are dino, can I just scrape them out of there or will that be useless to do?

 

[kfisc]

You'll have it even if the readings are zero, as hobbyist-level tests aren't sensitive beyond a certain point. You might check the cartridges in your RODI in case they're overdue, or perhaps add some tumbling chaeto in the fuge.

 

[splix]

I just changed out my RODI filters last week.
I'll give chaeto another try. Every time I add some it just dies and I have to take it out because it's slimming like crazy.

 

[Bent]

That looks like diatoms to me.

 

[splix]

I'm thinking the same. I had a diatom bloom and it subsided but here in the last couple days it's gone crazy again. It's all over the glass also this time.
Oh well whatever, it's fine.

I'm just curious why my nitrates would be 0

 

[garyinco]

Pray it is not dinos. I had them and fought them for over a year. Is your sump lit part of the day? If not, try lighting it for part of the day (like when you're at work). In my case the only time they grew the long "snotty strands" was in the lit period. Do you have snails? Are they OK?

Are you adding phyto to your tank? Copepods? If not, start researching and do so. They'll only benefit a tank and that's what knocked my dinos down after trying everything else under the sun. The copepods are great food for finicky eaters and inverts like worms, sponges, clams need the phyto.

Algae, dinos, and diatoms will consume nitrates and phosphates giving you the zero readings.