What Is This? Id Please

[showjyr]

This is growing on a large piece of my live rock. It holds a small amount of bubbles from the fuge outflow and has a brown fuzzy appearance. I don't know if it's a type of algae or diatoms.

 

[nanocubeking]

This is growing on a large piece of my live rock. It holds a small amount of bubbles from the fuge outflow and has a brown fuzzy appearance. I don't know if it's a type of algae or diatoms.

Diatoms. Maybe if it gets overwhelming use a soft tooth brush to scrub it off.

 

[chrissaysyes]

For future reference diatoms are a type of algae...that kind of looks like a sort of slime algae...you're using RO water though arent you?

 

[showjyr]

Diatoms are algae...check. Yes, I am using RO

 

[chrissaysyes]

You're fine then, tooth brush it or CUC it.

 

[showjyr]

Snails don't seem that interested, may have to tooth brush it.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Probably cyanobacteria then...tooth brush and siphon should do the trick.

 

[SkiFletch]

Cyanobacteria indeed. Rmember there are many color morphs of the stuff... Has the growth pattern, texture, propensity to capture bubbles, and one of the colors of cyano. Gotta be it. My suggestion; buy some 1/4" diameter flexible hose and siphon it with that. It will create intense suction right at the end of the hose and will suck the cyano up ith it. Just make sure you dont get any corals stuck in it

 

[chrissaysyes]

when siphoning the substrate and such I always do so in a bucket that I wouldnt mind anything worth keeping landing in...I usually get a snail or two...I just dump most of the water then shake the grit and much around and have a look...wouldnt use your fingers as you'll probably suck up a bristleworm or two

 

[showjyr]

Will do. Wished it wasn't cyano, the little tank ahs been doing so well. What brand phosphate remover do you guys use?

 

[SkiFletch]

Bulk from bulkreefsupply.com (formerly twopartsolution.com). GFO is GFO is GFO. Its all made in the same factory in Germany. If you want a brand name, Rowaphos or Phosban are the big two so to speak.

 

[showjyr]

OK. Thats simple enough. My 2 part shipped two days ago from there, wish I had of thought of it.

 

[chrissaysyes]

rowaphos is probably the most favorite around these parts. Ive used it and fluval phosphate remover. Granular Ferric Oxide...whatever you'd rather do.

 

[showjyr]

Will pick some up this weekend.

 

[jeasko]

im sure you already know but you may want to reduce feeding to avoid excess nutrients in the water which will aid the cynobacteria, also how long are your lights on for as this is another contributing factor, and again syphoning will help along with water changes.