Weird Black Algea?

[marineang]

My tank is on week 5 of being fallow - ridding itself of the ****** parasite...one more week to go. Last week I noticed this black...algea I'm thinking it is, it almost looks like mold on the sand. Tank currently only has a LTA, 2 coral banded shrimp, 1 emerald crab, 2 turbo snails and 6 red legged hermits. I scooped some of this algea out last week but it's reappeared again...just want to see if this is normal, and if not, what I should do.

 

[mr.clownfish]

pic?

 

[marineang]

Taken just a few minutes ago

 

[mantisman51]

I had that grow when I had low ph. After getting better water movement at the surface, it disappeared in about a week. FWIW.

 

[hillbillyaq]

I have a ton of this in my tank too, my pH was low when it appeared but it is back up again and this junk is still growing! be careful, if you try to remove it and dont get everything in one scoop then it will spread all over your tank. it will kill your corals too if you dont keep them cleared off.
If you are able to get rid of this please let me know, i'd like to figure out how to erradicate it too.

 

[gmann1139]

Cyanobacteria.

 

[pezenfuego]

Never heard of black cyano...although it is diverse and does come in several colors. I was thinking some darker dinoflagelles. That would go with the off balance pH. In any case, water changes and make sure your params are in check.

 

[gmann1139]

Originally Posted by PEZenfuego
http:///forum/post/2969185
Never heard of black cyano...although it is diverse and does come in several colors. I was thinking some darker dinoflagelles. That would go with the off balance pH. In any case, water changes and make sure your params are in check.
Yeah, when I had my bad infestation, it was black.

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by gmann1139
http:///forum/post/2969298
Yeah, when I had my bad infestation, it was black.
Hm. That's cool. Generally it comes in red in the aquarium. I didn't realize black would too. I guess you learn something new every day. Very cool, also a pita lol.

 

[jaybroreef]

THATS SOME STRANGE LOOKINSTUFF, GROWS LIKE CYANO, BUT ALSO LOOKS LIKE SOME TYPE OF HAIR ALGAE, MAYBE A DINOFLAGELLATE? IF SO- YOU KNOW THE DRILL, WATER CHANGES, REMOVE PHYSICALLY, CHECK PO, AND NITRATES.....GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[jtrzerocool]

its cyanobacteria...i have had some that looked stringy like that...also cyanobacteria can come in several different colors...
doesnt look like dinoflagelles to me...

 

[cabin7882]

my tank is infested with the same stuff!!! we just used the red slime remover cause we'd suck it out and it would be back the next day, the slime remover seems to have broken it down a bit but it's not gone. I didn't use the full dose though i was too nervous. I dunno know what to do my ph and alk are low and my nitrates are high! I tried water changes like 10 gals every other day in my 46 and that hasn't helped anything at all I feel so hopeless anyone have any advice I could use some too!

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by cabin7882
http:///forum/post/2987914
my tank is infested with the same stuff!!! we just used the red slime remover cause we'd suck it out and it would be back the next day, the slime remover seems to have broken it down a bit but it's not gone. I didn't use the full dose though i was too nervous. I dunno know what to do my ph and alk are low and my nitrates are high! I tried water changes like 10 gals every other day in my 46 and that hasn't helped anything at all I feel so hopeless anyone have any advice I could use some too!
YOU could have dinoflagellates. Raise your alkalinity...and it could go away...assuming it's dino.