what tyoe of algae is this?

:-/ i have been getting this algae that kind of looks like cyanobacteria but has alot of long strings on it. i have heard that it was not cyano but something different. how can i get rid of it and what is it?

 

where is the picture?

 

Is the algae red or brown? If it's brown, it's probably dinoflagellates.

 

its brown. and it goes away on the night cycle but comes back up after about 4 hours of light.

 

I agree with Amcarrig, it sounds like Dinoflagellates to me too, The common types are photosynthetic but also thrive in water with high levels of nutrients.

I would check the Phosphate and Nitrate levels in the water and if too high would use a method to lower the levels. If the levels seem OK, then shorten or interupt the light cycle for a while and see if that has an effect

JOhn

 

my nitrates are at 10. i am going to buy a phosphate soon so i dont know what it is. i do a 5 gallon water change weekly useing catalina premix from my lfs. is this enough or should i step it up to 10 gallons?

 

Tresguey,

Don't ask me about regular water changes, as I don't do them, ever

John

 

thats the way i used to be. until i had alot of people tell me it was better to do that. maybe i may stop for a while keep up with the chemestry and see what happens. i dont know where to go from here

 

[quote author=tresguey link=board=General;num=1102497463;start=0#7 date=12/08/04 at 23:01:39]thats the way i used to be. until i had alot of people tell me it was better to do that. maybe i may stop for a while keep up with the chemestry and see what happens. i dont know where to go from here[/quote]

You know Tresguey, the subject has been done to death and I am not going to go over the whole water change issue again here, I simply haven't got THAT much energy

To help with the current problem, certainly check the Phosphate levels, and try to get them down if they are high. Just remember that whatever you do, try to do it slowly, without any major and sudden changes unless you find it absolutely necessary

Cheers

John

 

thanks for the help john.