ID please!

[dacia]

I have a couple of "somethings" growing in my tank.
The first looks like some sort of algae, but I'm not sure if it is good or bad. Should I take it out completely, move it to the fuge, or what?

The second is growing on my sand. I had a water parameters issue about a month ago which is now gone. There are diatoms on the sand, but those are dying off. Now, I have what looks like red diatoms growing a little on the sand where some of the diatoms were. What is that and how do I get rid of it?

 

[reefkprz]

the first is some type of kelp I dont know what type, my friend has some and its very cool looking. I want some. definatly not bad though
the second (third picture) is cyannobacteria. bad.

 

[dacia]

How do I get rid of cyano?

 

[reefkprz]

There are tons of threads about cyanno try using the search feature, the best way IMO is to reduce total overall nutrients in your system for it to consume. reducing lighting does not work, it actually lets the cyanno get a better foot hold over other competing algaes as it can be more dominant over higher light requiring competing algaes in low light situations. reducing phosphates and nitrates as well as detritus build up is important in keeping cyanno in check.

 

[dacia]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
reducing phosphates and nitrates as well as detritus build up is important in keeping cyanno in check.
That's what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks since my problems started. I now have the nitrates and phosphates down to nothing, and they've stayed there for about a week and a half now. I added some nassarius snails to the system, and they've been munching away on the detritus. Is there anything else I can do in addition to what I'm doing now?

 

[kelly]

good water flow can help reduce cyanobacteria

 

[reefkprz]

well you can also take a baster and blow any detritus out of your rocks where it builds up in crannies and holes, high water flow is also important as kelly just mentioned for a couple reasons, cyanno preffers lower flow (though it will grow in high flow as well) and also high flow keeps waste suspended so your filtration can catch it.

 

[teen]

try sucking up as much of the cyano as you can with a turkey baster and discard it. once you get as much of it up as you can, then try increasing the flow, and that may prevent it from returning.

 

[reefreak29]

the first pic is a red macro called Gracilaria. the third is cyanobacteria
CYANO BACTERIA: red slime algea has to be one of the most frustrating for new reefers.It usually breaks out on the surface of the sand substrate.2 ways that i know to remove the cyano is to first increase your water flow u want to remove any stagnent areas by the substrate. Two remove excess nutrients, I prefer to do a 15 percent weekly water change with ro di water or di water. (do not use tap water) while doing a water change syphon out as much red algea as possible,also dont be afraid to cut your light back and your feeding, I leave my light on for 10 hrs a day in my 90 gal tank its ok to cut back to 5 hrs for a couple of weeks.