is this coralline algae?

BretCreager · 03/14/2013, 12:53 PM

I am just about done my second week of cycle. While cleaning the glass i noticed for the first time today red spots starting to appear everywher...

Im not sure if the coralline algae will spread druing the cycle or not. anyway a couple pics of it... what do you think?

if it isnt should i be concerned about what might be growing in there right now?

staindsoul · 03/14/2013, 01:01 PM

It's a algae. Had the same during my cycle. It does mean your cycle is moving forward.

Reeferz412 · 03/14/2013, 01:02 PM

Looks like cyano

BretCreager · 03/14/2013, 01:06 PM

just let it do its thing or should i be trying to get rid of it?

Reeferz412 · 03/14/2013, 01:10 PM

Is it the same stuff that is on that rock in the back with your powerhead in the picture?

Reeferz412 · 03/14/2013, 01:10 PM

If so, try to siphon it out. Looks like too many nutrients are in the tank and the cyano is thriving off of it. Coralline algae takes time to grow on powerheads and rockwork so it is definitely not that.
Have you tested your parameters yet? What are your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels?

BretCreager · 03/14/2013, 01:12 PM

no that is just a piece of dry coral i put in with the dry rock... this is very small amounts that i just started seeing today, wasnt home much yesterday to look. the only thing i have thats alive right now is one snail that came in with some live sand. but i am putting in a small pinch of flakes each day like one of the cycling stickies mentioned to do.

Cymonous · 03/14/2013, 01:17 PM

I would just wait it out. You are going through your cycle still. There is no point in trying to rid something during your cycle. You also can just turn off your lights till the cycle ends. This will help get rid of algae and prevent growth of some algae.

Reeferz412 · 03/14/2013, 01:22 PM

test your parameters. If your ammonia and nitrites are down and your nitrates are high, it means your cycle is done and it time to perform a water change. My cycle took about a week and half, so test your water and when performing the water change, try to siphon it out. If it starts producing red string like substance with bubbles, it is cyano.

BretCreager · 03/14/2013, 01:30 PM

i test every day, i havent seen the ammonia go about .25 and if it was a little high it def. wasnt a spike.

i will watch for bubbles, and if it starts getting too much i will kill the lights for a few days, as of right now i am only running them for about 6 hours a day.

nynick · 03/14/2013, 03:45 PM

Siphon them out, they have eaten a lot of your phosphates and this is something you want to get rid of anyway.

For the pics, if you can rub it off with your finger it is Cyano. If it holds like a rock it is Coralline.

03/14/2013, 01:01 PM	#2
staindsoul Calvin for President Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: R'VA Posts: 509	It's a algae. Had the same during my cycle. It does mean your cycle is moving forward. __________________ Mitchell-60g, 2-A150W 10ks, 2-Hydor 425s, 1-240, 20gL sump/refugium “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm” – Winston Churchill

03/14/2013, 01:02 PM	#3
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	Looks like cyano __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

03/14/2013, 01:06 PM	#4
BretCreager Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 122	just let it do its thing or should i be trying to get rid of it? __________________ why cant i find a cheap hobby?

03/14/2013, 01:10 PM	#5
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	Is it the same stuff that is on that rock in the back with your powerhead in the picture? __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

03/14/2013, 01:10 PM	#6
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	If so, try to siphon it out. Looks like too many nutrients are in the tank and the cyano is thriving off of it. Coralline algae takes time to grow on powerheads and rockwork so it is definitely not that. Have you tested your parameters yet? What are your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels? __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

03/14/2013, 01:12 PM	#7
BretCreager Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 122	no that is just a piece of dry coral i put in with the dry rock... this is very small amounts that i just started seeing today, wasnt home much yesterday to look. the only thing i have thats alive right now is one snail that came in with some live sand. but i am putting in a small pinch of flakes each day like one of the cycling stickies mentioned to do. __________________ why cant i find a cheap hobby?

03/14/2013, 01:17 PM	#8
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	I would just wait it out. You are going through your cycle still. There is no point in trying to rid something during your cycle. You also can just turn off your lights till the cycle ends. This will help get rid of algae and prevent growth of some algae. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

03/14/2013, 01:22 PM	#9
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	test your parameters. If your ammonia and nitrites are down and your nitrates are high, it means your cycle is done and it time to perform a water change. My cycle took about a week and half, so test your water and when performing the water change, try to siphon it out. If it starts producing red string like substance with bubbles, it is cyano. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

03/14/2013, 01:30 PM	#10
BretCreager Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 122	i test every day, i havent seen the ammonia go about .25 and if it was a little high it def. wasnt a spike. i will watch for bubbles, and if it starts getting too much i will kill the lights for a few days, as of right now i am only running them for about 6 hours a day. __________________ why cant i find a cheap hobby?

03/14/2013, 03:45 PM	#11
nynick Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,029	Siphon them out, they have eaten a lot of your phosphates and this is something you want to get rid of anyway. For the pics, if you can rub it off with your finger it is Cyano. If it holds like a rock it is Coralline.