GREEN Coraline?

[jc061471]

Is this green coraline on my base rock? The green stuff started out really tiny but ever since I started dosing seachem reef fusion 1 & 2 (almost 2 weeks now everyday) the green coraline or whatever it is has really started to kick off. I don't mean to be an a%$ but please don't tell me to rub it to see if it comes off or not. I try not to stick my hands in my tank whenever possible. I'm just trying to get some educated opinions from all the experienced veteran reefers out there.

120g fowlr sumpless 3-1/2 months old
temp 78F
pH 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 20ppm

I know I'm going to get some flack for it but I don't have a test kit for phosphates, calcium, and alkalinity. Really hard with a family watching kids and all but I will eventually get one. I can say though that I don't have any algae problems (had a diatom bloom earlier but is under control) and I run a reactor with carbon and rowaphos GFO to control organics and algae.

[2smokes]

Its green coraline,nothing to worry about.

[Ron Reefman]

Originally Posted by 2smokes

Its green coraline,nothing to worry about.

Such an absolutely sure and confident reply... how?

It's really hard to say based on your pics and very limited info.

Why are you unwilling to see if it rubs off? That would likely answer your question so easily. There is nothing wrong with doing work in your tank when it's needed. Try an old toothbrush. If you don't want to get your hand in the water, tape it to a dowel rod and try to brush it off. Or blow at it with a turkey baster.

And why are you dosing stuff to what appears to be a new tank with little if any coral AND you don't even have the proper test kits to know if you need to dose or how much to dose??? This is just very wrong.

It would help to know how long the tank has been running? Based on your recent join date, the pic in your avatar, the rocks in the pic look so bare (new) and the fact that you don't have the appropriate test kits yet, I assume (I know... it's a bad thing) that your tank is fairly new? And if that is the case, it's pretty unlikely to be coraline. And green coraline algae is really pretty uncommon.

[2smokes]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

Such an absolutely sure and confident reply... how?

It's really hard to say based on your pics and very limited info.

Why are you unwilling to see if it rubs off? That would answer your question so easily. There is nothing wrong with doing work in your tank when it's needed.

It would help to know how long the tank has been running?

Its not limited info at all.He doses 2 part from seachem and higher alk and calcium helps coralline grow faster,like ,,purple up,, from red sea.Im convinced that is green coraline because i had lots of green coraline too.He also have a litle cyano(brown one) on sand and a bit on the rocks but the green one is coraline.

[jc061471]

The tank's been running for about 3-1/2 months now (which includes 5-1/2 weeks of cycling). So 2 months after the cycle completed if that's what you're asking. I'm at work right now burning the midnight oil but I guess I will rub it first chance I get to see if it comes off.

[jc061471]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

Such an absolutely sure and confident reply... how?

It's really hard to say based on your pics and very limited info.

Why are you unwilling to see if it rubs off? That would likely answer your question so easily. There is nothing wrong with doing work in your tank when it's needed. Try an old toothbrush. If you don't want to get your hand in the water, tape it to a dowel rod and try to brush it off. Or blow at it with a turkey baster.

And why are you dosing stuff to what appears to be a new tank with little if any coral AND you don't even have the proper test kits to know if you need to dose or how much to dose??? This is just very wrong.

It would help to know how long the tank has been running? Based on your recent join date, the pic in your avatar, the rocks in the pic look so bare (new) and the fact that you don't have the appropriate test kits yet, I assume (I know... it's a bad thing) that your tank is fairly new? And if that is the case, it's pretty unlikely to be coraline. And green coraline algae is really pretty uncommon.

I'm dosing because like most people who get into the saltwater hobby I'm trying to grow purple coraline on my rocks and I would eventually like to convert my FOWLR into a reef someday. Besides, purple rocks are much nicer to look at than bare white rocks. I fully understand that it will probably grow in other undesirable areas like the back of the tank, on the powerheads, etc. but I'm willing to accept that.

As for the appropriate test kit (phosphates, calcium, alkalinity), yes I know. But like I mentioned in my original post, I'm planning on purchasing one.

[pisanoal]

Originally Posted by jc061471

I'm dosing because like most people who get into the saltwater hobby I'm trying to grow purple coraline on my rocks and I would eventually like to convert my FOWLR into a reef someday. Besides, purple rocks are much nicer to look at than bare white rocks. I fully understand that it will probably grow in other undesirable areas like the back of the tank, on the powerheads, etc. but I'm willing to accept that.

As for the appropriate test kit (phosphates, calcium, alkalinity), yes I know. But like I mentioned in my original post, I'm planning on purchasing one.

I'm with ron on this one. Stop dosing until you have the test kits. You shouldn't need to dose until you have coralline or corals to consume. And too high of Ca/Alk is just as bad as too low for it to grow. If its coralline, as it grows, it will have a smooth appearance to it, rather then maintain the rock texture. Its likely green film algae being that its a young tank started with dry rock, but possible to be coralline if you have introduced something that could have brought it in. What is currently in the tank for livestock?

[jc061471]

So this morning I stuck my hand in the tank and rubbed a section of the green stuff with my thumb several times. Stuff didn't come off. So is it safe to say this is green coraline?

[jc061471]

Originally Posted by pisanoal

I'm with ron on this one. Stop dosing until you have the test kits. You shouldn't need to dose until you have coralline or corals to consume. And too high of Ca/Alk is just as bad as too low for it to grow. If its coralline, as it grows, it will have a smooth appearance to it, rather then maintain the rock texture. Its likely green film algae being that its a young tank started with dry rock, but possible to be coralline if you have introduced something that could have brought it in. What is currently in the tank for livestock?

ocellaris clownfish x 2
blue green chromis x 2
pajama cardinal x 1
neon dottyback x 1
rabbitfish (foxface lo, magnificent, scribbled) x 3

100lb dry rock
80lb aragonite sand

[jc061471]

A small fist size chunk of live rock also.

[pisanoal]

The fact that id didn't scratch off is not in itself conclusive. Either way, it is not concerning. My bet is film algae or indeed green coralline. Time will tell. Nothing to be worried about, especially with the grazers you have in there.

[2smokes]

This is how green coraline looks like.I got it on almost every frag with corals ive buyed from manny different sellers.Its verry common and it spreaded on almost all the live rock from my aquarium.Its a calcareous algae like the pink and violet corraline and it will die when the rocks will start leaching phosphates because coraline doesnt likes phosphates.Your rocks and sand allready started to leach phosphates as you can see from the litle brown spots covered in cyano.

[Bugboy2020]

It's either coralline or the beginning of hair algae. Also, since you do not know what your parameters, are you really need to stop dosing before you add toxic levels of compounds into your aquarium. If you want to keep stable parameters without test kits, do a water change weekly.

[jlmawp]

Originally Posted by jc061471

I know I'm going to get some flack for it but I don't have a test kit for phosphates, calcium, and alkalinity. Really hard with a family watching kids and all but I will eventually get one. I can say though that I don't have any algae problems (had a diatom bloom earlier but is under control) and I run a reactor with carbon and rowaphos GFO to control organics and algae.

You have time to do everything else, though...

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but this is a very quick thing you can do (relative to many of the other aquarist chores), and it will remove doubt from your current levels, AND whether or not what you are currently dosing is too much.

You could potentially be over-dosing and doing harm. You bought the stuff and you are dosing regularly. Just do the same with the test kit.

[jlmawp]

Originally Posted by jc061471

I know I'm going to get some flack for it but I don't have a test kit for phosphates, calcium, and alkalinity. Really hard with a family watching kids and all but I will eventually get one. I can say though that I don't have any algae problems (had a diatom bloom earlier but is under control) and I run a reactor with carbon and rowaphos GFO to control organics and algae.

You have time to do everything else, though...

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but this is a very quick thing you can do (relative to many of the other aquarist chores), and it will remove doubt from your current levels, AND whether or not what you are currently dosing is too much.

You could potentially be over-dosing and doing harm. You bought the stuff and you are dosing regularly. Just do the same with the test kit.

For me, testing 6 parameters with API takes a grand total of 10 minutes.

[Tripod1404]

Do you have any on your aquarium glass? I have both green and red coralline and both grow on glass,rock, pumps, snail shells... You can try to scratch it of the rock. If it crumbles like limestone it is carroline, but if it comes of like a mat or a film it is something else.

I have two types greens in my tank. One is dark green and does not look particularly good. But other type is really bright green and it is kinda appealing. Yours look similar to my bright green one, if it is carroline.

[Preble]

That is not the good stuff.



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