Diatom Bloom...  BGA 3/20/08 Hi Crew, <Hello there.> I seek your advice once again. Recently I've experienced what appears to be a diatom/Cyano bloom. <It is what it appears to be.> I have a 90 FOWLR. The recent change I've made was switching from 110W PC's to the Nova Extreme Pro T5 HO (324W). I'd like to start introducing polyps, xenia, etc to start into the reefkeeping life. <Great!> I started seeing this bloom around the time of this lighting switch, but I'm not sure this is the root cause based on the readings, which indicate I should be looking for issues with water parameters and nutrient export. <Exactly, while the lighting has spurred the growth, there are underlying causes that need to be addressed.> I've tested Phosphate (0), Silicate (0), Nitrate (.25), and pH (8.2-8.3 with lights on). I'm using Salifert test kits, so I believe these are reliable numbers. <Yes, these test kits are good. Do be aware these numbers can be deceiving, nitrate and phosphate can be used up as they are produced, allowing BGA growth and yet still yielding low numbers when you test. The proof is in how the tank looks.> I employ an AquaC Urchin skimmer, a 3gal refugium w/ a DSB and Chaetomorpha (which is growing and being trimmed), and 30% water changes every other week. I've attached a few pics of the sand as well as the growth on the rocks. With a diatom/Cyano, I was expecting to see this develop in more stagnant areas, but the pics are where my powerheads are hitting the rocks pretty much head on and is where the growth is thriving. <They idea behind not allowing stagnate areas is to keep detritus in suspension to be exported via your filtration (mechanical/skimmer) or processed by live rock and its inhabitants. The nutrients that cause the outbreak will be spread throughout the tank, causing growth all over. It merely originates from the stagnant areas more than others.> I'm a bit confused on this and I'm wondering if this is really a Cyano/diatom issue or something else. <Nothing else, BGA it is.> You're help would be greatly appreciated, especially if I need to be testing or looking for something else. Thanks again <Welcome, a link with related FAQ's to help you learn how to control this outbreak. Good luck, Scott V.> http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

Red Slime Algae?? 12/26/07 You guys are awesome and I greatly appreciate everything you are doing to help me! You are so quick on your responses as well! Thank you. <Happy to help.> I'm not sure if I have red slime algae or not. I just started my 55 saltwater tank almost 2 weeks ago. I have a 55 high tank. Wet/dry system with bioballs. Protein skimmer, (2) 96 watt aquarium lights. One I believe is 10,000 actinic. The other is a growth light. Pinkish color. I bought the set up used. The guy will not help me too much. As you can tell I am new to saltwater. Experienced freshwater. My ammonia is 0. Nitrites 0. ph was 7.7. I added a ph up and now it's 8.0. <Start with some water changes, your ph is still on the low side. Water changes with a good quality salt will remedy this. Also do invest in a carbonate hardness test kit if you haven't already.> My temp is 78. I bought 20 lbs. of Fiji "cured" live rock. I know I need a lot more. I am starting slow and working up to 60-90 lbs. I don't want to shock my tank or lose a lot of money all at once. <Very difficult to kill off live rock. It will be easier on your end to get your rock now and cure together. Even cured rock will likely go through a curing process once moved and placed in your tank.> I picked a few pieces that looked very pretty because it had a lot of purple and red coralline growth on them. That's what the LFS told me it was. Now I am hearing more about this red slime algae. My rock has red colored growth on it! <Not necessarily BGA (red slime) just because its red.> It's a dark burgundy. Included is a pic of the main rock. <Appears to have some BGA.> There are a few others with the same stuff on it. Just not as much. It had this on it when I bought it. If it is Red Slime, wouldn't they treat that and not sell it? <Not always.> I just added 6 snails, and 3 very small hermit crabs because I am going through the brown algae cycle. (that's what they told me). <Same cause and problem. The cleanup crew will be of little help, you need to treat the source of the nutrients fueling it. I suspect a new tank with curing rock, needing water changes.> They also told me to keep my lights on 12 hours a day due to the live rock. It was just today that I added the snails and crabs. It was after the fact that I started seeing pics of the red slime. I have no fish or inverts yet. Just the snails and crabs. Please tell me if I should be worried. <No, this is normal growing pains of a new tank. It won't hurt anything you have except the aesthetics of the tank.> I am already sick to my stomach and so scared to add any fish. <I wouldn't until you have all the rock you want, unless you plan to cure any additional rock outside your tank.> Thank you VERY MUCH for all of your help! Raesunrae <You are very welcome. Sleep easy and read the following links and related FAQ's regarding your situation, Scott V.> http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm http://wetwebmedia.com/marphalk.htm http://wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i3/Live_Rock/live_rock.htm

Oh yeah!

Re: Red Fuzzy Coralline? '¦Not likely, perhaps another Rhodophyta... BGA   8/28/07 Mich, <Hi there Dave.> Thank you, for your quick and very helpful response! <Welcome!> I have been researching your suggested algae species and I am continuing to have problems identifying which is growing in my tank. <Yes, does not look like what I was picturing in my head with out the photos.> I hope that they attached picture of the red substance growing on my glass magnet might help you take a better guess at what it is. <Mmm, pics are helpful. Is not a red tree Foram and likely not many of the algae I suggested previously, is a nuisance alga, likely a Rhodophyte, but beyond that I can't tell. Perhaps RMF will comment on the dailies page.> <<Is highly likely Cyanobacteria... a quick look under a few hundred power microscope would show the absence of nuclei, organelles, the distinctive circular DNA if higher powered... Please read on WWM re BGA... RMF>> This is the way it appears everywhere in my tank, (rock, hermit shells, powerheads) short, red, and fuzzy. <No fun. Perhaps some improvements in husbandry would help? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/maintenance/marineMaint.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/avoidingalgaeproblesm.htm > Thank you for your time, <Welcome, wish I could be more helpful. Mich> Dave Mmm, think I forgot to move an image into the emails with images folder... re: fw: re: Red Fuzzy Coralline? atten: Mich <No worries... was there somewhere. Found, posted> Also He stated earlier: It is very difficult to scrub off, and grows in high flow areas unlike Cyano. <Is almost assuredly BGA... B>