How to tell what algae you have?

tomreefer · 11/06/2018, 08:58 AM

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 · 11/06/2018, 11:06 AM

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 · 11/06/2018, 11:43 AM

Following

tjm9331 · 11/06/2018, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

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

tomreefer · 11/06/2018, 02:34 PM

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

tomreefer · 11/06/2018, 02:51 PM

Think need better pic...?

mcgyvr · 11/06/2018, 02:59 PM

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 · 11/06/2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjm9331

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

I'm not good at subtle hints

tomreefer · 11/06/2018, 03:15 PM

Here you go

tjm9331 · 11/06/2018, 03:32 PM

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 · 11/06/2018, 03:58 PM

It has been running since May this year

tomreefer · 11/06/2018, 04:06 PM

dinoflagellates a algae?

mcgyvr · 11/06/2018, 05:59 PM

Still kind of difficult to see IMO..
This clearly shows dinos.. Does it look just like this..?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....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 · 11/06/2018, 06:01 PM

Check this out.

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

HTH.

tomreefer · 11/06/2018, 06:13 PM

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 · 11/06/2018, 07:52 PM

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 · 11/06/2018, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomreefer · 11/07/2018, 10:15 AM

Reefcleaners say it looks like Cyano

shred5 · 11/07/2018, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomreefer

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 · 11/07/2018, 12:27 PM

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

shred5 · 11/07/2018, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

That could indicate dinos because some are toxic.

tomreefer · 11/07/2018, 12:31 PM

Yea going to basically rip tank apart today.

mcgyvr · 11/07/2018, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomreefer

Yea going to basically rip tank apart today.

Or you could not overreact....

But if you do please get a video of when you take the chainsaw to it or a massive blow torch or rocket launcher or whatever other crazy not necessary thing you do to it

tomreefer · 11/07/2018, 02:54 PM

This is what I got out so far.. and got the dead out urchin. I am going to blanket no lights in the tank full today and tomorrow good plan?

11/06/2018, 11:06 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	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.. __________________ Who me?

11/06/2018, 02:59 PM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	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.. __________________ Who me?

11/06/2018, 05:59 PM	#13
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Still kind of difficult to see IMO.. This clearly shows dinos.. Does it look just like this..? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....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 __________________ Who me?

11/06/2018, 08:58 AM	#1
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	How to tell what algae you have? 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?

11/06/2018, 11:43 AM	#3
afish70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 688	Following

11/06/2018, 02:51 PM	#6
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	Think need better pic...?

11/06/2018, 03:32 PM	#10
tjm9331 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 340	From that picture it almost looks like dinoflagellates could be diatoms though. How old did you say the system was? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/06/2018, 03:58 PM	#11
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	It has been running since May this year

11/06/2018, 04:06 PM	#12
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	dinoflagellates a algae?

11/06/2018, 06:01 PM	#14
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Check this out. https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide HTH.

11/06/2018, 06:13 PM	#15
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	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?

11/06/2018, 07:52 PM	#16
Bruce51 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: reno, nv Posts: 201	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

11/07/2018, 10:15 AM	#18
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	Reefcleaners say it looks like Cyano

11/07/2018, 12:27 PM	#20
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	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

11/07/2018, 12:31 PM	#22
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	Yea going to basically rip tank apart today.