ID help, please - some kind of diatom?

archer1960 · Post by **archer1960** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:06 pm

This a shot from my salt water tank; any ideas? It looks a little like some of the cigar-shaped diatoms I've seen before, but they didn't have the spikes on the ends.

BJ · Post by BJ » Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:02 pm

Hi,

this is the pennate diatom Cylindrotheca closterium (also known as Nitzschia closterium). It will grow attached on a surface (eg the glass of your aquarium) or floating in the plankton. It is a "weed" species and is often abundant in nutrient enriched water and artificial marine environments (eg your aquarium!)

ciao
Brian

archer1960 · Post by **archer1960** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:10 pm

Thanks, Brian.