Coraline already?

Breakthecycle2 · Jul 4, 2015

I just got back a few hours ago from my honeymoon. I was away for a week. I had someone looking after my tank, that has done it before for me. He's a fish guy, so I trust him. Anyway, by the time I got home, my blue lights were on, but I noticed all my rocks were very dark and looked brown. My tank is almost three months old and I used new dry rock for the whole thing basically. Well, my light cycle ended and I had ambient room light on and I noticed all my rock was green. Anywhere from a light green to some dark patches. I tried scarping it off, but it will not come. Is it possible its coraline already? If so, how could it possibly cover 85% of my rock work in just 7 days?

abinder · Jul 4, 2015

It sounds like your rock work is just following the natural process. You'll probably start seeing some coralline in s couple of weeks. Keep a look out for some appearing on the back wall of the tank as well.

Breakthecycle2 · Jul 4, 2015

abinder said:
It sounds like your rock work is just following the natural process. You'll probably start seeing some coralline in s couple of weeks. Keep a look out for some appearing on the back wall of the tank as well.

How exactly? What is the green on it then?

Tahoe61 · Jul 4, 2015

There is a fluorescent green coralline algae that sets in before the pinks and purples. Google fluorescent green coralline images and compare it to what you're seeing.

saltyphish · Jul 4, 2015

Yup it won't stay green though. I t will change to purple, or red in time.

Breakthecycle2 · Jul 4, 2015

But in a week?

oh207 · Jul 4, 2015

It's likely algae that is normal with new tank setup. I've setup a few tanks and it took almost a year before I see coraline algae without dosing additives.
And at 3 month mark its highly likely to be some kind of algae.

Tahoe61 · Jul 4, 2015

Breakthecycle2 said:
But in a week?

Didn't you post your tank was 3 months old in the 1st post? No you'll not have purple/pink coralline growth in 3 months.

Lynn52 · Jul 4, 2015

My tank's at the three month point and I am just starting to see pink coraline on my power heads, overflows, and rocks. New spots every day.

Breakthecycle2 · Jul 4, 2015

oh207 said:
It's likely algae that is normal with new tank setup. I've setup a few tanks and it took almost a year before I see coraline algae without dosing additives.
And at 3 month mark its highly likely to be some kind of algae.

It does not scrape or scrub off at all. Its not hairy, bubbly or stringy. I have had coraline grow in m y other tanks after only two months, but this is just on my rock work, no where else.

Tahoe61 · Jul 4, 2015

Did you google images of fluorescent green coralline algae and compare? Sure I have had a speckles of pink/purple coralline in a 3 month old tank using cured rock, but not dry rock, but we're talking about a green appearance.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ima...CIY3WoAT-hZDACw&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1352&bih=610