Is this all really green coralline algae?

[USMC 4 LIFE]

I have a new 4 month old tank that was set up with dry rock and sand. I've slowly been dealing with what you all refer to as the "tank uglies" while the tank matures and establishes itself.

It's been slowly declining now where the brown algae on the sand and rock completely disappear / subside when the lights go off but slowly reappear once the lights have been on for an hour.

The question I have is whether this is still part of the tank uglies or something else. Parameters are normal (ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate ~5, phosphate ~.001, salinity is kept high at 1.025). Tank lights are somewhat of a mystery to me. Japan made LEDs that I have not been able to find any information on. There are around 70 LED lights on the Fixture (20 blue, 50 white). Is this too much white light? I can only turn the white and blue lights on or off. I can not control the intensity.

The other question I have is whether all this green algae is indeed green coralline algae. I've been told that if it doesn't brush off, it's coralline. Just trying to verify this once more before it progresses.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I have a new 4 month old tank that was set up with dry rock and sand. I've slowly been dealing with what you all refer to as the "tank uglies" while the tank matures and establishes itself.

It's been slowly declining now where the brown algae on the sand and rock completely disappear / subside when the lights go off but slowly reappear once the lights have been on for an hour.

The question I have is whether this is still part of the tank uglies or something else. Parameters are normal (ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate ~5, phosphate ~.001, salinity is kept high at 1.025). Tank lights are somewhat of a mystery to me. Japan made LEDs that I have not been able to find any information on. There are around 70 LED lights on the Fixture (20 blue, 50 white). Is this too much white light? I can only turn the white and blue lights on or off. I can not control the intensity.

The other question I have is whether all this green algae is indeed green coralline algae. I've been told that if it doesn't brush off, it's coralline. Just trying to verify this once more before it progresses.

Green coralline looks about right. It could be a micro algae, though coralline is an algae as well. I would say the tank is on the right track

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

Thanks

 

[Bunnee911]

Looks like regular green film algae. Coralline can take a year or better to show up and in my tank, green was the last to show up. It took off after I started using kalk in my ato.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Looks like regular green film algae. Coralline can take a year or better to show up and in my tank, green was the last to show up. It took off after I started using kalk in my ato.

Interesting.

My tank started with dry rock has green coralline already. With the presence of purple coralline and the tank is only 10 months old. Coralline started growing around 8 months.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

Ok. Hmmm

Is there any way to verify that it's film algae?

I have sporadic spots of purple and pink coralline growing on some rocks but it comes and goes. It's all over the sump and powerheads though.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Ok. Hmmm

Is there any way to verify that it's film algae?

I have sporadic spots of purple and pink coralline growing on some rocks but it comes and goes. It's all over the sump and powerheads though.

That is normal. Maybe @Bunnee911 can explain why you have coralline growth at 4 months and not 1 year.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

Ok.

Yeah I figured that I shouldn't have this stuff growing since I started with dry rock and sand. Nothing I introduced (snails and other live stock) had coralline on it. I'm just trying to make sure this green stuff isn't something I'm going to regret.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

If you really want to know for sure, get your phosphates and nitrates down to a low level. If the green algae disappears, them it is microalgae. If it persists, then it is most likely coralline.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

If you really want to know for sure, get your phosphates and nitrates down to a low level. If the green algae disappears, them it is microalgae. If it persists, then it is most likely coralline.

Phosphates and nitrates are low as stated in my opening comment

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

That's not really low for nitrates, and the phosphates seem too low for a new tank. How are you measuring phosphates?

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

That's not really low for nitrates, and the phosphates seem too low for a new tank. How are you measuring phosphates?

Numbers are accurate.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Numbers are accurate.

Your tank is doing great. If a suggestion could be made, get a couple turbos. I recommend 1 per 15 gallons.

 

[Vaughn17]

Ok.

Yeah I figured that I shouldn't have this stuff growing since I started with dry rock and sand. Nothing I introduced (snails and other live stock) had coralline on it. I'm just trying to make sure this green stuff isn't something I'm going to regret.

Looks like green micro algae to me. You're snails have purple coralline algae growing on them in your photo, btw.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I have green coralline in my tank that is trying to come in, do you think it would help you decide what is it? I have a couple places of it on the glass, so I was able to see it growth pattern to ID it.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I have green coralline in my tank that is trying to come in, do you think it would help you decide what is it? I have a couple places of it on the glass, so I was able to see it growth pattern to ID it.

Glass examples compared to rocks?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I'm waiting for the lights to come up.

No, pictures of the stuff on the rock. I was able to ID it because it was also on the glass. On the glass it was easy to tell what it was because of it's growth pattern.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

Looks like green micro algae to me. You're snails have purple coralline algae growing on them in your photo, btw.

Yeah I had this guy since the start of my tank. He was in the refugium and started to get coralline all over his shell so I put him in the DT to spread it around.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

I have green coralline in my tank that is trying to come in, do you think it would help you decide what is it? I have a couple places of it on the glass, so I was able to see it growth pattern to ID it.

Yeah it might help. Thank you.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I'm waiting for the lights to come up.

No, pictures of the stuff on the rock. I was able to ID it because it was also on the glass. On the glass it was easy to tell what it was because of it's growth pattern.

Purple coralline has a pattern on glass vs rock as well.