Brown Algae appeared on my new reef tank

[TbSaysNo]

Anyone know What this is?

they are only on the Liverock i bought from whitecorals

They are not on my dry rock

 

[homegrowncichlid]

natural progression as algae species colonies a new area. Diatoms, cyano and dinos. Looks like diatoms. 3 days of total black out will kill any of them off, though that won't prevent their return as you introduce new "seeds" with purchases.

 

[TbSaysNo]

natural progression as algae species colonies a new area. Diatoms, cyano and dinos. Looks like diatoms. 3 days of total black out will kill any of them off, though that won't prevent their return as you introduce new "seeds" with purchases.

Wont they reappear after i turn on lights? And do you Think this live rock has Any coraline?

 

[homegrowncichlid]

Wont they reappear after i turn on lights? And do you Think this live rock has Any coraline?

Yes, they will recolonize. The nutrient's they used while growing, will be recycled back into the water, where it can feed the next generation of algae. If you do the 3 day black out on a regular cycle, like once every month or two, you can control their population, and make some of them go extinct in your system. Unfortunately, they are so easily reintroduced with your new additions. The goal is to control the nutrient's with your regular maintenance, nutrient export, AND wipe out 99% of any algae growth that does accumulate. Coraline is also an algae, which can survive without light for more than 3 days, so if you're able to get the schedule just right, the coraline will outcompete the pest algae.
In theory, day 1, you have 1 algae of each, coraline and your diatoms,1 month later, you'll have a million of each. you turn off the lights for 3 days, the 99% of the diatoms die out, but you still have all your coraline. when the lights come back on, the coraline will go towards 2 million, while the diatoms are just at 2. Do this a few times and you'll have rocks of coraline.
In using live coraline rocks to seed your new system, as I can see you have, you have jump started your system from day one, to, all the way down the calendar to one year later. You have enough coraline to propagate indefinately.

 

[TbSaysNo]

Yes, they will recolonize. The nutrient's they used while growing, will be recycled back into the water, where it can feed the next generation of algae. If you do the 3 day black out on a regular cycle, like once every month or two, you can control their population, and make some of them go extinct in your system. Unfortunately, they are so easily reintroduced with your new additions. The goal is to control the nutrient's with your regular maintenance, nutrient export, AND wipe out 99% of any algae growth that does accumulate. Coraline is also an algae, which can survive without light for more than 3 days, so if you're able to get the schedule just right, the coraline will outcompete the pest algae.
In theory, day 1, you have 1 algae of each, coraline and your diatoms,1 month later, you'll have a million of each. you turn off the lights for 3 days, the 99% of the diatoms die out, but you still have all your coraline. when the lights come back on, the coraline will go towards 2 million, while the diatoms are just at 2. Do this a few times and you'll have rocks of coraline.
In using live coraline rocks to seed your new system, as I can see you have, you have jump started your system from day one, to, all the way down the calendar to one year later. You have enough coraline to propagate indefinately.

thanks for the detailed reply.
so my liverock is already seeded with Coraline algae?

do you think I am ready for LPS corals? or maybe a red plate monta Sps / bubble tip anemone?

 

[homegrowncichlid]

thanks for the detailed reply.
so my liverock is already seeded with Coraline algae?

do you think I am ready for LPS corals? or maybe a red plate monta Sps / bubble tip anemone?

I assume the other Pink colored rocks in your photo are live and not painted? that pink would be desirable coraline algae, which people try to grow. That algae competes with other species, so you already have a competitive advantage. Also, most herbivores can't eat coraline, (just urchins) so your clean up crew, if hungry enough, will eat and control all other fleshy, green algae. Snails can control diatoms. Not much controls dinoflagellate or cyanobacteria, except for the 3 day black out period. As for adding corals, that's a different question, heh. I have no problem adding corals to a new system, I actually quarantine corals in empty setups. As for how well they do, that's up to you.