Any idea what this red stuff is??

[ricky stubbs]

Evening all

Sorry if this is a silly question. I am new to this and trying to learn and gain knowledge.
I have just noticed this red stuff starting to spread in the tank ?? And idea what it is and if it is harmful for the tank

 

[sfin52]

Does it blow off eaaily. Looks like cynobacteria

 

[madweazl]

Looks more like coralline algae than cyano to me but that's a possibility.

 

[ricky stubbs]

I just took my big coral plunger thingy to and linked air on it softly and it did not come off the corals. And then squeezed it hard and it blow off the coral.
Is that the best way to tell between
cynobacteria And coralline

 

[ricky stubbs]

just took my big coral plunger thingy to and linked air on it softly and it did not come off the corals. And then squeezed it hard and it blow off the coral.
Is that the best way to tell between
cynobacteria And coralline

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome aboard ricky stubbs! No question is silly in our hobby.

It actually is a good way if uncertain.

Cyano will blow off with a turkey baster coralline algae will not.

 

[ricky stubbs]

Welcome aboard ricky stubbs! No question is silly in our hobby.

It actually is a good way if uncertain.

Cyano will blow off with a turkey baster coralline algae will not.

Thank you for the welcome.

Well it does blow off with a hard press of the turkey baster so I guess it is cyano

It this dangerous for the tank.
I will do some research too but can't beat other people's experience

Also it is hard to get rid off

Thanks in advance

 

[madweazl]

Do you have nitrate and phosphate test results? Seems to be most common when one of those measures 0.

 

[ricky stubbs]

Do you have nitrate and phosphate test results? Seems to be most common when one of those measures 0.

These were my results a couple days ago, although it was my first time doing them all so not sure If I read the results correct

 

[madweazl]

Based on the ammonia results, I'm guessing you have an API test kit (often shows .25 ammonia); what was used for the phosphate levels? And what is that nitrate reading, 50?

 

[Captain Quint]

Removing phosphates and nitrates out of the tank will starve the cyanobacteria out. Water changes as well. Sometimes lighting can be a factor but most of the time dissolved organics are by large a contributing factor for cyanobacteria.