Name that Algae - Part II

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tbates

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
May 11, 2003
Messages
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Location
CO
Thanks to all that responded to Part I of this post a few weeks back...

After the hair algae had calmed down to a reasonable level and diatoms had started to go down, I did a little landscaping to rearrange LR. As a part of that, I naturally had to disturb the DSB. After a couple of days, this stuff showed up and is now in force.

It's only growing in the sand so I'm thinking it's diatom. But I can't find any pics that show diatom with long stringy filaments. Then I think it's cyano, but it doesn't have bubbles or the usual colors that I'm used to seeing.

Any thoughts? Any good control methods?

Latest tests from API/Salifert test kits are
NH3=0
NO2=0
NO3= < 5 ppm
PO4=0
PH = 8.2
Temp = 76

Bioload:
2 false percs
1 fighting conch
3-4 turbo snails (can't find one at the moment)
multiple nassarius snails (lost count)

PWC using RO/DI water, feeding 2-3 times per week (brine shrimp), light period 8 hrs per day.
 

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must have stirred up something when I did the redecoration...sigh...

thanks for the feedback. Now to figure out where the excess nutrients are coming from that are fueling these guys. I'll plan on a bigger-than-usual PWC this weekend and for the next couple of days.

I guess that would also explain why none of the inverts is interested in the stuff...either the conch is full or just being picky!
 
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12 gallon nano...it's been up for a couple of months. Things have been fairly stable other than an outbreak of hair algae a few weeks ago that seemed to be under control with the addition of the inverts and cutting down the feedings and light.

I had thought that the problem might be diatoms since I stirred up the DSB - the gunk is only growing on that (at the moment) - and figured I'd uncovered silica that didn't get depleted in the initial phases of the tank's life. But now I'm guessing that there must have been a bit of build-up of something in the DSB that was uncovered when I re-landscaped which is now feeding the cyano.

Just when you think everything's good...
 
Actually... with two percs in a 12g tank that's only a couple months old, I think you were on the path to eventually seeing the cyano. Stirring up the sand bed probably didn't help, but that's a lot of fish for a 12g, in my opinion.

{Edit: Just looked over some previous posts, and see I've already commented about the bioload. Oops... didn't mean to harass you more! I'll zip my lips!}
 
No problem with the 'harassment' - I think you may be right. Unfortunately they're 'refugees' from a previous 55gal that had to be taken down for a number of reasons and I haven't been able to find a good home for them locally. I was hoping that the 12 would be enough space for them given that their only about 4 inches worth of fish (at the moment) - or at least hold them until I could get a new set of owners...
 
i am with kurt. it is no doubt at all cyano. ceriths eat it. the planaxis eats it as well under the rocks which is good.
 
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