Green coralline algae?

[Garcia2460]

Hi everyone,

I’ve had my tank for about 6 months now and for the most part it has been progressing smoothly. For the past several weeks I’ve noticed my rocks becoming progressively darker green in color. I’ve tried scraping it off with a brush but it doesn’t seem to do anything. Some of the forum threads I’ve read say that it may be green coralline algae. However, I want to make sure that this is the case and it’s not some sort of algae issue that I am not aware of. Please let me know if this is normal progression for a new tank set up with dry rock, or if I should be acting on it.

one thing to note is that the green color is only really noticeable when the lights are off. When the lights are on, the rock works looks white and clean and purple and pink colors are noticeable on the tops of my rock work. I can update with those pictures soon.

 

[Redfoxtang]

That’s normal for using dry rock. It’s going to go through different stages of life and colors as the tank progresses. Nothing to worry about!

 

[DeniableArc]

Hi everyone,

I’ve had my tank for about 6 months now and for the most part it has been progressing smoothly. For the past several weeks I’ve noticed my rocks becoming progressively darker green in color. I’ve tried scraping it off with a brush but it doesn’t seem to do anything. Some of the forum threads I’ve read say that it may be green coralline algae. However, I want to make sure that this is the case and it’s not some sort of algae issue that I am not aware of. Please let me know if this is normal progression for a new tank set up with dry rock, or if I should be acting on it.

one thing to note is that the green color is only really noticeable when the lights are off. When the lights are on, the rock works looks white and clean and purple and pink colors are noticeable on the tops of my rock work. I can update with those pictures soon.

Have you introduced coralline to the tank? Eg snails frags, looks empty to me. If that was dry rock and you have not introduced it, no chance being coralline.

 

[Garcia2460]

Have you introduced coralline to the tank? Eg snails frags, looks empty to me. If that was dry rock and you have not introduced it, no chance being coralline.

Yes I added several frags that came in on coralline encrusted rocks. I have some purple and pink colors on my rocks that are visible during the day when the lights are on

 

[old salt reefer]

Doesn't look like green coralline to me. Looks like the start of green algae which means there is food in the water for it to feed off.

 

[Garcia2460]

Doesn't look like green coralline to me. Looks like the start of green algae which means there is food in the water for it to feed off.

Thanks for the reply! Do you know how I can tell the difference? This stuff doesn’t come
Off the rock even when I brush it. To my knowledge if it was algae it should be able to scrape or rub off?
Let me know thoughts

 

[Nubomb]

My tank is 6 months as well, all dry rock. Purple/pink spots are starting to explode. I also just noticed green spots on the acrylic fake wall (AIO EVO tank). My rock looked like yours a month or so ago butcis now a lighter shade of green and I expect it’s now coralline.

 

[Nubomb]

I also have a sizable cleanup crew. Hermits and variety of snails.

 

[Krully]

Thanks for the reply! Do you know how I can tell the difference? This stuff doesn’t come
Off the rock even when I brush it. To my knowledge if it was algae it should be able to scrape or rub off?
Let me know thoughts

This is the very classic unavoidable ugly phase of dry rocks, they'll look like this for a few months before turning darker and darker/grow coralline. Just be patient, you can't put it out, it's not green hair algae growing it's just your rock maturing and coloring.

 

[SMSREEF]

I understand what you mean... I have new rock that went through algae period. This kind is different. It's even on the front of my fuge acrylic and it doesn't come off easy like regular algae does.

I do think it is a kind of coralline, but I very well could be mistaken.

My rocks are right at the 3 month mark under the light so the timing would be about right. I hope the pink and purple start moving in soon too. I seeded my new tank with live rock from my 3 year old nano and it has purple, pink, red, white and greenish colored coralline. Different colors grow in the different lighting in my nano. The pinks and purples seem to like the lower light areas, the greenish/gray seem to grow in higher light in my nano.