What is this algae??

[drakken]

My 54 gal corner FOWLR tank just finished cycling. I got the usual diatoms on the glass and substrate but now I see a fuzzy brown algae or something growing on the rock, substrate and other surfaces.
What is it? I searched this site and the web and didn't find anything similar.
salinity - 1.023
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 50
Lights are a 20 watt Power Glo and a 15 watt atinic. Lights are on for about 10-12 hours a day to keep the caulerpa growing.

 

[shanev]

Could be a hair algae, or it could be cyano.

 

[flamingkingofhe]

i dont think your tank is done cycling yet with your nitrates at 50 typically you want them under 20 also do you run a protein skimmer that may help to lower your trates if you dot have one as far as the algae can you post a pic it is going to be hard to identify especially if it is a something and not algae

 

[drakken]

Here's some pics...

 

[flamingkingofhe]

hard to tell by the pics but to me it just looks like good old diatoms try spraing them off with a turkey baster to see if that is what they are
if they truly are diatoms then they will come off when you baste

 

[dreeves]

Also..now that your cycle is for the most part completed...you need to get your nitrates down...do some water changes with RO/DI.

 

[drakken]

I've had diatoms before in other tanks. I thought diatoms leave a dust on the glass and substrate. This stuff is a short fuzzy hair growth.

 

[clarkiiboi]

I get something similar to that too, but only on the sand. Its brown like diatoms, but with very short "hair" on it (I can only see this hair when looking in at sand level and it moves with the current), but I can roll it up into the net. Basting it only makes it clump up, and the tank looks worse, then in the am its back.....does that sound similar? Sorry I didnt help, but at least your not the only one with this problem (if its the same).

 

[joecavender]

test for phosphates you can get one from sea chem try seachem's phosgaurd also uv ster. will help kill algea even if you use ro water it can still be there

 

[drakken]

Originally posted by ClarkiiBoi
I get something similar to that too, but only on the sand. Its brown like diatoms, but with very short "hair" on it (I can only see this hair when looking in at sand level and it moves with the current), but I can roll it up into the net. Basting it only makes it clump up, and the tank looks worse, then in the am its back.....does that sound similar? Sorry I didnt help, but at least your not the only one with this problem (if its the same).
Yup, that sounds like the stuff. I'm going to try some crabs or something that will hopefully make a meal out of it.