Dinoflagettes - Algae on rock

[ReefStar]

I have a brown growth of some sort of algae or dinoflagette. I can easily remove it with a toothbrush from the rock. I cannot seem to get rid of it. Does anyone have any idea what causes it and what I need to do to get rid of it?

Thanks!

 

[camel shrimp]

Is it long and stringy and has a carpet effect????
If so I have the same thing and I need to get rid of it. It seems to be choking the tank.
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Mercedes Benz OC500LE

 

[ReefStar]

This stuff is not long and stringy. It is not cynabacteria which is what I think you may have. What I have is brown in color and grows in spots, and kinda looks like a small piece of rotten lettuce where it turns brown and mushy....what a comparison....

 

[fishpoo]

if it's brown snot algae also known as dinoflagellates, i can help.
what it is is a group of small, unicellular algae. i wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, but there is hope.
This is how i got rid of it:
first do a water change and get all you can out of the tank.
Shut off the lights for 24 hours and cover tank with black plastic bags around sides and front. (total darkness).
After 24hrs allow two hours of light.
Syphon out any that reappears with water change.
Continue with the lighting period adding one hour per day until you are back to normal.
You may have to do another water change after lights are on for awhile, but each time you'll be winning the battle.

 

[camel shrimp]

How about erythomycin?? Would that work??? I am looking for a method that will eradicate this problem. If I cover the tank completely won't that kill some corals????
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BMW 1 Series

 

[ReefStar]

Does anyone know where I can see a picture on the web of dinoflaggette?

 

[polar1]

I had the same problem 2 months ago. I was told it was "snot algee" or Dinoflagettes. It looked like cyanobacteria but with a light brown color. It would also accumulate on the waters surface proportionally to the photo period. Another member sugested to do massive water changes, remove any bio-balls or mechanical filters and reduce feeding, thereby reducing the nitrates and organics causing the problem.
2 weeks after removing the mechanical pre filter in my sump, which was not cleaned in about a month, all signs of snot algee were gone. It has been over 2 months now and every thing is great. Also, without the pre-filter my pod population has exploded.

 

[fishpoo]

you won't hurt your corals using my method. it has worked for me and i have tried many other options and it always came back.