Coralline Algae Identification

[Liquid360]

I’ve kept reef tanks since the 80’s. After a relatively recent move, I setup a new tank, a 93g corner. The tank has been running for about two years and it’s been rough. Somethings up with my water source. Anyways, despite much effort, I’ve been unable to get any coraline algae to grow. I’ve seeded it, used PurpleUP, among other methods. I am at the tail end of a nasty Cyanobacteria chapter. Suddenly, in the last two weeks, I’m getting deep red algae everywhere. In the past, in every tank, the coraline has been pink/Purple. Is this coraline? It’s the same color as the cyano, deep red. As I show in the video, I use a wire brush to show it’s not cyano. Is this coraline or is it some new form of hell I must contend with, a cyano relative come to ruin my tank?

 

[Mandrew]

I have had coraline that color before so that's what I would say it is

 

[zieg9479]

Try searching the forums for encrusting red algae. I've had an encrusting spot on a rock grow and recede for two years now. I also got some rock from someone else and their red algae was so proliferous it grew into layered 1" flakes. Anyway, red algae is considered coralline but I think it is less common in reef tanks than others.

 

[Liquid360]

Try searching the forums for encrusting red algae. I've had an encrusting spot on a rock grow and recede for two years now. I also got some rock from someone else and their red algae was so proliferous it grew into layered 1" flakes. Anyway, red algae is considered coralline but I think it is less common in reef tanks than others.

Wow! I read that thread. That looks nasty and brutal! Thankfully mine doesn’t look like that, strictly encrusting and not at all platting and appearing only on rock and overfly. It’s behaving like coraline should, but it’s the color that’s caught me off guard. I’ll definitely keep a close watch on it. This is exactly why I keep a 55g trash can filled with rocks, in case I need to replace the ones in the tank.

 

[oceanfreak09]

I would say it is Coraline because it is hard. Coraline comes in an array of colors! I love rocks that are speckled in all the colors! My tanks gets red, purple, and green. (Wish It would get pink!) I have a lot of rock rubble and shells that are covered in Coraline if you wanted to glue them to you rockwork to get other colors started. I'm going to be searching for someone that can spare some pink! Also before I kept my water condition pristine ,as well as having good water sources ,I used to only get the red color. (That was with my FOWLR system, ever since I went reef I started getting the other colors.)

 

[XNavyDiver]

Defiantly looks like coraline to me. I have some of that same color.

 

[Liquid360]

Defiantly looks like coraline to me. I have some of that same color.

That makes me feel better. Thanks! Excited to FINALLY have coraline!

 

[Scott.h]

Just out of curiosity what salt are you using? I don't ask because I question you, but I set up a tank almost a year ago and I'm surprised I only have it on the live rock that came out of another tank. No issues with anything. It has just been an observation. My thoughts previous was high light, low nutrients, or salt, but it's just a theory.

 

[Liquid360]

Just out of curiosity what salt are you using? I don't ask because I question you, but I set up a tank almost a year ago and I'm surprised I only have it on the live rock that came out of another tank. No issues with anything. It has just been an observation. My thoughts previous was high light, low nutrients, or salt, but it's just a theory.

I had the exact same issue. There was no reason my tank shouldn’t have grown coralline like crazy. I tried everything. I use Redsea Coral pro. The strange thing is it just started growing one day and fast. I had made zero changes. I wish I knew why it finally started growing, some secret method. I’m stumped.

 

[Scott.h]

I had the exact same issue. There was no reason my tank shouldn’t have grown coralline like crazy. I tried everything. I use Redsea Coral pro. The strange thing is it just started growing one day and fast. I had made zero changes. I wish I knew why it finally started growing, some secret method. I’m stumped.

Ok, that rules out low alk as the culperate then. I use tropic Marin pro and keep my alk at 7.0. RS pro is probably the highest alk salt out. My other 2 tanks have a ton of coralline, but have 10-40x the N and P. And also half the amount of light. But weren't started with tropic Marin. Any idea what your par is?

 

[Liquid360]

Sorry, No idea on my par. I have one 250w Halide and one Kessil 360w.

 

[Scott.h]

I'm thinking low coralline may be related to higher light. For both of us. Unless of course you have a water contamination issue.

 

[Liquid360]

One thing that’s worth noting. By far most of the coralline I have growing, it’s all in places of high current. It’s all on front of my MP40. One photo is left, one is right, the one with the cable is in front of MP40.