diatoms?

[greenman]

diatoms?
I have some of this brown algae growing on my rocks. It is slowly taking a good hold on some of my rocks. I don’t see anything trying to eat it “snails, hermit crabs or fish”. Are they diatoms? I will say for sure this stuff grows under direct MH lighting and NO. How do you get rid of them? (other then taking the rock out that its on now) I have more then enough skimming going on and the water is 4 stage RO. I have not tested for phosphates yet but I will as soon as I can pick up a test kit. ANY suggestions?

Pics.
http://24.194.37.124/DSC00496.JPG
http://24.194.37.124/DSC00497.JPG

Sorry the files are 800kb to large for me to post.

 

[lilko]

Since your images are badly out of the focus it's hard to see what it is. In any case here is what worked for me to combat brown diatom. I used Seachem Phosphate sponge, since it also removes silicates after phosp. are gone. Cerith snails love brown diatom (at least in my tank). Shortened light period for a few days helps also. Worked like a charm for me.

rb

 

[Anonymous]

not diatoms. are there bubbles in it?

 

[greenman]

i didnt think they were diatoms.... and no there are no bubbles...

 

[Anonymous]

regardless of what type of algae it is, reduce the photoperiod and feedings as well. if nobody will eat it i think you ought to remove it yourself if possible.

maybe you could remove the rock into a small container and scrub it while changing out some water. then place it back in main tank.

water change is also recommended by many, although i find it can spur the algae on.

 

[Carpentersreef]

From what I can make out, I'm pretty sure that it is that "wafer algae"...darn, I can't remember the name of it right now... :x . It's a good thing, and will come and go with the various nutrient levels in your system.

Mitch

 

[greenman]

Found this on wafer algea .... Not the same, but it does have the same color and texture.

 

[oranje]

not diatoms. are there bubbles in it?

What do the bubbles mean? I just realized that a rock in my new tank has more than a few... appearing towards the end of the day.

I seem to remember this being something evil.

Be kind with your diagnosis.

 

[Anonymous]

bubbles may appear in many places at the end of the day. the light cycle warms the tank and its substrate and bubbles tend to arise.

the reason i asked was that dinoflagellate tend to trap bubbles at all times. the bubbles themselves do no harm, nor are they a sure tell tale sign of dinoflagellates, just a possible indicator.