How to tell what algae you have?

[tomreefer]

I have what it appears to be brown like carpet all over my tank on rock etc. I siphoned what I could but didn't want to overdue it. Anyway, is this diatoms or something else?

 

[mcgyvr]

A picture posted here may help..
A microscope is sometimes required to ID

Diatoms (brownish/redish dust) is very common in a new tank.. How old is your tank?
Can you post a picture please?

It could just be cyanobacteria or dinos or others..
Picture is a good start..

 

[afish70]

Following

 

[tjm9331]

A picture posted here may help..

Can you post a picture please?


Picture is a good start..

I could be wrong here, but if you could post a picture it might help :lol2:

 

[tomreefer]

I am trying to upload pic but says error and don't know why

 

[tomreefer]

Think need better pic...?

 

[mcgyvr]

Rule #1 of posting pictures here..
Always turn your blue channel off or way down.. All that blue light prevents proper color rendition and also causes many devices to have troubles with focus.

Proper color rendition is often imperative to proper identification..
And focus..well.. you know..

 

[mcgyvr]

I could be wrong here, but if you could post a picture it might help :lol2:

I'm not good at subtle hints

 

[tomreefer]

Here you go

 

[tjm9331]

From that picture it almost looks like dinoflagellates could be diatoms though. How old did you say the system was?


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[tomreefer]

It has been running since May this year

 

[tomreefer]

dinoflagellates a algae?

 

[mcgyvr]

Still kind of difficult to see IMO..
This clearly shows dinos.. Does it look just like this..?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1962211

If not do you see it here..
https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

Regardless there is absolutely no need to "start over" as your other scared reaction post you just started indicates..
Just tackle it like anything else..
Suck as much out as you can with water changes..
Continue working on lowering nutrient levels
3 day lights out every couple weeks
Siphon more
water changes
Time

 

[AlSimmons]

Check this out.

https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

HTH.

 

[tomreefer]

Looks like more Dinos ugh... so what should I do? Seems like snot for sure and comes off easy though.. Should I really boil my rock?

 

[Bruce51]

Do not boil your rock,,,,as mcgyvr said, stay the course, water changes, 3 day blackout(I completely cover all glass with cardboard) and less feeding, boiling your rock is a expression, you should NEVER really boil, mybe start running gfo,

you never said how old your tank is,,,, or any test results, whats you phosphates at? Nitrates? What kind of lights?, all these things make a difference

 

[tjm9331]

Looks like more Dinos ugh... so what should I do? Seems like snot for sure and comes off easy though.. Should I really boil my rock?

No absolutely do not boil your rocks. Give it time, your system is just over 6 months old. Still fairly new in the salt water world. Follow McGyvrs suggestions and you should be just fine. Water changes, suck out as much as you can, reduce nutrients and time.


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[tomreefer]

Reefcleaners say it looks like Cyano

 

[shred5]

Here you go

Looks like dinos but it seems to have a green tint which means it could be cyano? Cyanobacteria is actually a bacteria and not algae.

How old is the tank?

 

[tomreefer]

It's running about 6 months... I will try and take a better pic.. My plan today is to take out some rock and clean it. I think my urchin died as well