String Algae? (1 Viewer)

[Biocube25]

Hey Guys,

Bit of a problem. I've had this string algae on two of my frags for the last couple days. It seemed to pop up right after I got back from a 3 day trip when I did a major scrubbing on the glass, with 3-4 days worth of build-up. Any thoughts on what it is and how to get rid of it? I've been blowing it off with a turkey baster but it seems to come back overnight.

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[Biocube25]

With polyps retracted, looks like it's trying to come off:

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[Oceanlife Aquariums]

looks like dino. Problem Dinoflagellates and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Biocube25]

Is Dino stringy? It also doesn't have the stereotypical bubble production either.


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[frankc]

Dinos can get stringy, but usually the strings are coming off a blob like this.


I have also had cyano start off as strings like that before forming mats. You might want to try Cyano Clean, although yours doesn't appear to be the typical color of cyano.

 

[Biocube25]

Thanks for the input. Mine doesn't seem to look like that, and I just tested all my parameters and they are spot on. I think it might be hair algae? I'm just not sure how I'm getting it if all my parameters are perfect.


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[Biocube25]

The back toadstool frag shows it perfectly. And after wiping it off it comes back within a couple hours. It seems to grow very quickly but it's not taking over the tank; just seems to growing on the coral, as if it is floating around particles and just getting caught.


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[tektite]

Thanks for the input. Mine doesn't seem to look like that, and I just tested all my parameters and they are spot on. I think it might be hair algae? I'm just not sure how I'm getting it if all my parameters are perfect.


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Dinos can thrive in near zero nutrient conditions unfortunately. Your picture does look like the beginning of it. Its definitely not any kind of hair algae.

You said it comes back overnight? Clarifying question, is it present in the morning before the lights turn on, or does it form/get worse a few hours after the lights come on?

 

[ReefMaster32787]

Just something to think about... I don't know how long you have had your test kits but when my tank was going through some issues my parameters were coming back just fine. Come to find out, my test kits were expired or weren't kept in the right conditions. New tests showed I did have a couple parameters out of balance.

 

[Biocube25]

Dinos can thrive in near zero nutrient conditions unfortunately. Your picture does look like the beginning of it. Its definitely not any kind of hair algae.

You said it comes back overnight? Clarifying question, is it present in the morning before the lights turn on, or does it form/get worse a few hours after the lights come on?

If I remember correctly, it is less pronounced in the morning and gets worse as the day progresses. But I'll have to check on my tank before the lights come on in the morning.


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[Biocube25]

Just something to think about... I don't know how long you have had your test kits but when my tank was going through some issues my parameters were coming back just fine. Come to find out, my test kits were expired or weren't kept in the right conditions. New tests showed I did have a couple parameters out of balance.

Yeah, my test kit isn't expired. Got it maybe 8 months ago. I'm going to retest when I get a chance though.


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[tektite]

If it gets progressively worse throughout the day and lessens at night its dinos, that's a telltale giveaway.

 

[Biocube25]

Ok, thanks everyone for your help. I'm just going to wait it out, blow off the algae on the coral daily and see if it resolves on it's own. I'd rather not introduce chemicals in my tank if I don't have to!


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