Algae ID

[CJs Aquatics]

Hey everyone, wondering if for educational purposes you could positively ID a few types of algae I found in the fish room. I’m aware of a few but just want second opinions. Also feel free to comment on the possible cause/ how you would tackle eliminating it… thanks 

Photo 1: 

Photo 2:

Photo 3:

Photo 4: (front glass)

[MattyM]

Algae is mostly your aquarium trying to balance itself - there are nutrients in the water, and I don't see many plants - so the algae is taking care of the excess nutrients. 

What does a test strip show?

Adding a bunch of plants, especially fast growers, can help - as will water changes to remove the nutrients the algae are feeding on. 

I'm not great at identifying algae, but maybe this will help: 
https://www.aquariumcoop.com/pages/algae-identification-guide-1

 

[nabokovfan87]

There's some blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) as well as brown diatom algae, green spot algae, as well as what looks a little bit like the moss ball stuff.  That last one, I'll find the name, but it's very hard to tell.  It's the one I see in the tidal skimmer and it's the one I'm not quite sure about. Cladophora algae is the name.

[CJs Aquatics]

@nabokovfan87 Which is which in your opinion? 

[nabokovfan87]

On 10/23/2023 at 9:20 AM, CJs Aquatics said:

Glass = green diatom

 

 

On 10/23/2023 at 9:20 AM, CJs Aquatics said:

brown diatoms

 

 

On 10/23/2023 at 9:20 AM, CJs Aquatics said:

lower rim, cyano / blue-green algae

 

 

On 10/23/2023 at 9:20 AM, CJs Aquatics said:

filter + sponge + left glass, you have chladophora or some sort of green hair algae.

[CJs Aquatics]

@nabokovfan87 thank you, its algae irradiation week here in the fish room 😅

[nabokovfan87]

Remove as much as you can manually, scrape the glass, and then do a big siphon with the substrate.  Scrape all of the glass. 80-90% water change to remove as much of it as you can.  Then clean out the filters as much as possible.