Bad Case of Algae Diatoms or Cynobacteria?

[gonzos01]

1445214453144511444814447Can someone identify this algae. I've had my tank up for roughly 2 months now. I went through the first phase of diatoms weeks after initial setup. I been doing my water changes with tap water on a weekly basis. I have had this algae for a few weeks now and can't seem to get rid of it. I siphoned the sand with a turkey baster. Two days later it looks the same way. I am thinking about getting RO water (water dispenser in front of HEB) for all future water changes. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I also think that one feeding of phytofeast might have contributed to this.

Sorry about the upside-down pictures. All 3 pictures uploaded upside-down. Not sure how to flip them.

[Kristy]

It looks like anoter diatom bloom to me. Your tank is still pretty young and those first several weeks there is a constant balancing act between the bacteria levels that have been achieved and the nutrients going into the tank, so the phytofeast very well may have pushed it over the edge and set you back to the diatoms again. Given a little more time and more conservative feeding of the tank, you will be right back on track again. Definitely continue good tank maintenance with water changes and definitely try the RO water. Have you been using tap? What livestock do you have in there? (What were you feeding the phytofeast to?)

[Bill S]

What Kristy said. This is common with tanks just a couple of months old. This is why we try and get folks to be patient - let all of this maturation go on without livestock to kill.

BTW, I'm curious. How do you keep the water in your tank? I think you might have more success if you turn your tank right-side-up! :rofl::rofl:

[gonzos01]

Yes I was using tap water. I know the patience thing plays a big role. I just thought i was past that already since I had completely gone through the diatom stage during the first weeks of running my system.

Correct me if i am wrong. Diatom algae is brownish while cyno is more to the red side. I have both colors present in my tank. The smell is pretty horrific and slimy.

I'll definitely keep up with my maintenance and monitoring the levels. Thanks for your help Kristy and Bill.

Livestock: 3 damsels, small snowflake, small lionfish

[Kristy]

You are right on that diatom is more brown slime and cyanobacteria is more red slime (except when it's bright green slime occasionally). Cyano also gets a little thicker and diatom stays more stringy. It's a little hard to put words to. You may very well have a bit of both and that would be quite typical at this stage of the game.

So unless this is a huge tank (and maybe even if it is a huge tank) that is a lot of nutrients and waste for such a young tank / fragile level of good bacteria with the livestock you listed. Try to hold off adding anything more that could contribute to nutrient levels and waste levels while things get more stable. And don't get discouraged this is all part of the process. at the six month mark when things are looking beautiful, this will all be a pleasant memory!

[allan]

Hey brother,

Your smell sounds like your tank may be cycling. What are you water parameters? If you've measurable ammonia or nitrite your tank hasn't cycled.

If this is the case I'd remove the livestock. Get it into an established tank.

Bill told me something three years ago. Stop! Don't add anything else.

I think, considering the length of time your tank has been up, that you're about 2-4 months from adding anything like an eel.

[Mr Cob]

I'd switch to RO/DI...if you can't get a filter then go to your local LFS and buy water from them.

Converting to RO/DI and keeping up with it will help this balancing act. :)

I wouldn't add any fish or coral until you get balanced.

[Bill S]

Yeah, that's a big bioload for a newish tank. With mainly predators, you'll be doing a LOT of water changing.

Get your water tested, and let's see how it looks.

[gonzos01]

Just completed a 15% water change and siphoned as much of the algae from the substrate as possible. Tested all levels before changing water and here is what I have:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
PH: 8
Calcium: 480
Phosphate: 0 - .25

All test seem to be ok. I am going to try and do water changes 2-3 times a week to rid the nasty algae unless anybody objects. Any other recommendations are appreciated.

I also decreased my lights from 8 hours to 5 hours to help the extermination process. Thanks for ever-bodies help so far.

[Bill S]

With a lionfish and an eel, I'm having a hard time with 0 nitrates. There should be SOME - unless you have a way to export them (macroalgae, denitrifyier, etc.)

[gonzos01]

Well i've been persistent with weekly water changes. I just completed my last water change on Sunday and i don't feed them heavily. Keep in mind that they are juveniles. They are extremely small. Nitrates are at zero with an API test kit. I'll probably take some water to the LFS to see get another opinion. My tank is also a 90 gallon.

How inaccurate do you think the test kit can be if its giving me 0 nitrates?