Boring algae

[Steve W]

What is boring algae? What does it look like?

I have a brain coral that has had recession and the books all say to watch out for boring algae as it will kill it, but none of them describe it or tell what it is.

Steve W

 

[Sasquatch]

algae is never boring hehe
Algal boring is a dissolution process performed by the terminal cells of endolithic filaments. The space dissolved away by an alga has the shape of a miniature calcite crystal. Dissolution proceeds along the crystal twinning lines diagonally to the previous microcrystal space. Thetunnel represents a sequence of such microcrystal-shaped spaces. Both biological and mineralogical determinants should be considered in the interpretation of algal boring patterns.
Short Review? algae encroaches on a coral and slowly destroys it, keeping rockwork clean by blowing it off with a powerhead or turkey baster helps, where theres muck... algae grows

 

[eswebster]

@Sasquatch........impressive

Basically as the coral recedes the algae advances until there is no coral left. If you keep it from advancing you might be able to save the coral.