Help - what is this?

[haighy]

Hey guys,

Long time lurker here, first time poster.

I have been researching everything for 6 months and finally took the plunge late last year setting up my very first 150 gal marine tank.

Everything was going well two weeks into the cycle so I added some chaeto on an alternate light cycle. Within a few days I notice that the chaeto was going brown in some areas which I thought must be die off so increased the light cycle to 24/7.

At this point I have noticed some brown algae with bubbles in it growing on the refugium wall (pictures attached):

I also noticed that my Chaeto is continuing to brown (Pictures attached):

And finally some brown algae on the rocks in my DT (pictures attached):

Am I right in assuming this is just a diatom bloom? Or am I looking at something more similar?

If so - does Diatom usually kill of Chaeto?

Nutirents are below:

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 5+ ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
Phosphate

*Apologies if the pictures aren't appearing properly, this is my first post on RC

Thanks,

Haighy

 

[Reef noob_]

looks like cyanobacteria to me, Both the stuff on the side of your sump and on your chaeto. It eventually can block the light from reaching the chaeto which will kill it. That being said cyano is normal in a new tank and usually goes away on its own.

Edit: The picture in your tank does look like diatoms and that also should go away as levels stabilize.

Hope this helped, Good luck

 

[haighy]

looks like cyanobacteria to me, Both the stuff on the side of your sump and on your chaeto. It eventually can block the light from reaching the chaeto which will kill it. That being said cyano is normal in a new tank and usually goes away on its own.

Edit: The picture in your tank does look like diatoms and that also should go away as levels stabilize.

Hope this helped, Good luck

Thanks Reef noob,

Would it be worthy mechanically removing the cyano from the sump, or just let it run its course?

 

[H2OCulture]

With that much Chaeto I say let it run its course. You can try changing some water as well to hasten the process. Are you running a skimmer? If not, now's the time to turn it on.
-Cheers!

 

[haighy]

Thanks guys, thought I would supply some updated photos after a week:

- it looks more brown than red.
- it bubbles
- I have a 750g/hour power head blowing it at which hasn't done much.

Is it still likely to be cyano?

Thanks guys!

 

[Xxero]

Just looks like Diatoms to me; I can't really see any Cyano. It'll go away soon, but it's hard to look at, huh? :facepalm:

How long has your tank been set up, and how's your Chaeto doing?

 

[chimmike]

couple things:
1) the light cycle should not be 24hrs. When I ran light in my refugium I ran the light OPPOSITE to the DT, so the fuge light stayed on all night. I'd heard it helps maintain pH, but never scientifically tested myself. Either way, ~12hrs of light is plenty.
2) I'd try to get one of those red/green LED grow bulbs if you can. Algae seems to like that spectrum of light
3) that nylon tubing you're using...becomes brittle and hard (if it hasn't already after a year), highly recommended to replace with spa-flex.

diatoms...better in the fuge than the DT!

 

[haighy]

Help - what is this?

Thanks guys.

Tank has only been up for 5 weeks now which makes me hope to only diatoms .

The chaeto seems to have responded better to the 24/7 lighting (less die off) but I might seek out a coloured globe and change the cycle to alternate with the DT.

Was thinking it was cyano due to the bubbles but it just didn't seem right.

Will update you if there's any change!

Thanks,

Haighy