Algae of some sort

Kehaulani · Dec 18, 2015

So this stuff just started growing in my tank. All my parameters are in check. I only have two clowns, a wrasse, and a blenny in my system. So the only thing I can think of is maybe I don't have enough flow? Could anyone tell me if this is Cyanobacteria or something else? It looks like green hair algae, it's just red. Thanks in advance

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 18, 2015

Does it blow off with a baster? its cyano. The baster is a good Idea as regular maint. If the corals are happy dont mess with the flow. I found that was a myth. Cyano do what it want.
It will grow where food builds up. IMO if the corals are happy, consider them first or youll chase your tail.
Feed a lil less skim a lil more.

Kehaulani · Dec 18, 2015

It doesn't really blow off but it waves back and forth with the flow. corals are all happy so I'll try the cleaning the rock and skim more. Thanks

twilliard · Dec 18, 2015

Its not cyanobacteria

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 18, 2015

twilliard said:
Its not cyanobacteria

Do tell...
You know I wanna know.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 18, 2015

cmon T. Its been seconds already

twilliard · Dec 18, 2015

That is no where near the color or style of cyanobacteria
No present bubbles and sways in the water.
Its an algae

Reefing Madness · Dec 18, 2015

Its not Cyano.
Looks like sponge growth.

Kehaulani · Dec 18, 2015

Idk if it's a sponge. It's anointing like algae. I've scrubbed the rock once and it grew back within two weeks

Kehaulani · Dec 18, 2015

Annoying* lol

DeniseAndy · Dec 18, 2015

If it is tough and really short to the rock, could be red turf algae. Mine was more maroon red rather than the brightish red in the pic, but could be lighting. Red Turf algae is very hard to scrape off. Really sticks. Only thing I found that worked was a red tuxedo urchin.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 18, 2015

twilliard said:
That is no where near the color or style of cyanobacteria
No present bubbles and sways in the water.
Its an algae

I hope for sponge thats cool. What kind of algae I wonder.

I dont trust color in photos.
Light is prob around 9 to12k on a camera phone that will process and substitute colors(like Image stabilization or jepg compresion's frame duplication etc), and limit spectral overages in most case to help color rendition after the A/D processor.
Reef light usually has little G,O &R and usually balanced in camera. Might be MH with the nice sharp shadow though.

A closer pic would be awesome.

Dtackett · Dec 18, 2015

pull the rock out of the water, spray the algae with a good amount of h202 (3% is common but you really want 35% which can be found at some health foods stores) allow the h2o2 to soak in for about 5 minutes then rinse with clean water and place rock back in the tank. do this every few days until its all gone. shouldn't take more than 2 times, normally one.