Are these diatoms or what?

rogeragrimes · 03/22/2018, 08:55 AM

2-year 120-gal. old fish/reef aquarium, with perfect chemical levels. I lost all my fish due to a power outage from Irma (future power issues now resolved). Eighty percent of my corals survived. I let my tank sit without fish for 6 months. During that time it really thrived and everything grew beautiful, and continues to do so now, with lots of fish. While it sat without fish, some brownish/yellow algae/diatom-looking stuff (?) started growing in one area of the tank. I know that most issues such as this are due to over feeding. At the time it starting growing, I was either not doing any feeding, or just "reef chili" where I would put in 1-2 tiny scoops of reef chili every other day...so I don't think I was overfeeding the tank. The unidentified stuff has only continued to grow and spread across my tank bottom. If I vacuum it up, it comes back into the same places. I notice that each morning it is nearly translucent or almost unnoticeable (because the lights are out)...so I know it's photosynthetic. During the day, it gets darker and darker and spreads slowly. What is it (see attached picture)?

[Cross posted yesterday to Reef Chemisty, but no responses]

Dmorty217 · 03/22/2018, 09:44 AM

Can't really tell from the picture if it is diatoms or cyano or dino.

rogeragrimes · 03/22/2018, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Can't really tell from the picture if it is diatoms or cyano or dino.

It's not cyano. I did a chemiclear tx for red cyanobacteria a few weeks ago and it killed all the red cyno but did nothing to this stuff.

Does diatoms or dino grow lighter at night and then darker during the day?

Dmorty217 · 03/22/2018, 01:03 PM

I’m no expert on either. My tank has been up for 7 months and I’m dealing with diatoms myself. It doesn’t seem to get darker or lighter with or without the lights on. Are your Fish eating it? Fish love diatoms, but won’t touch dino

rogeragrimes · 03/22/2018, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

I’m no expert on either. My tank has been up for 7 months and I’m dealing with diatoms myself. It doesn’t seem to get darker or lighter with or without the lights on. Are your Fish eating it? Fish love diatoms, but won’t touch dino

Nothing is eating it. Thanks for your input.

ramseynb · 03/22/2018, 03:14 PM

It doesn't look like diatoms to me. If you lightly blew some water on it with a turkey baster, would it be powdery or more slimly and sheet like? IME diatoms are generally somewhat "powdery", for lack of a better word.

Tripod1404 · 03/22/2018, 03:25 PM

Do they disappear during the night and reappear few hours after the lights turn on. If so they are dino

nereefpat · 03/22/2018, 03:27 PM

You would probably have to look under a microscope to know for sure.

I would still guess cyano, since it changes with lighting and doesn't have bubbles like dinos usually do.

AlSimmons · 03/22/2018, 03:36 PM

It looks like a combination of both Diatoms & Cyanobacteria IMO. It should be pretty easy to remove. Just siphon that blemish out and rinse out the sand. (put it back in) If it comes back quick though there may be an underlying problem. (more flow?)

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

rogeragrimes · 03/23/2018, 03:48 AM

Thanks for the ideas and link

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

It looks like a combination of both Diatoms & Cyanobacteria IMO. It should be pretty easy to remove. Just siphon that blemish out and rinse out the sand. (put it back in) If it comes back quick though there may be an underlying problem. (more flow?)

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

03/22/2018, 09:44 AM	#2
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Can't really tell from the picture if it is diatoms or cyano or dino. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

03/22/2018, 01:03 PM	#4
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	I’m no expert on either. My tank has been up for 7 months and I’m dealing with diatoms myself. It doesn’t seem to get darker or lighter with or without the lights on. Are your Fish eating it? Fish love diatoms, but won’t touch dino __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

03/22/2018, 03:27 PM	#8
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	You would probably have to look under a microscope to know for sure. I would still guess cyano, since it changes with lighting and doesn't have bubbles like dinos usually do. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/22/2018, 03:14 PM	#6
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	It doesn't look like diatoms to me. If you lightly blew some water on it with a turkey baster, would it be powdery or more slimly and sheet like? IME diatoms are generally somewhat "powdery", for lack of a better word.

03/22/2018, 03:25 PM	#7
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	Do they disappear during the night and reappear few hours after the lights turn on. If so they are dino

03/22/2018, 03:36 PM	#9
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	It looks like a combination of both Diatoms & Cyanobacteria IMO. It should be pretty easy to remove. Just siphon that blemish out and rinse out the sand. (put it back in) If it comes back quick though there may be an underlying problem. (more flow?) https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide