Rocks turning powder green.

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

Hey everyone,

Since I’ve destroyed my hair algae infestation, I’ve noticed my rocks are quickly turning powder green in daylight. (See pictures) It looks pretty cool but I’m wondering what it may be. It doesn’t seem to be green coralline algae from the Google pictures.

I can get better pictures if you need. Was hard to get these with the glare.

Any ideas?

Saltyreef · Oct 4, 2020

Did you use chemical methods to rid the algae?
How old is the tank?

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

Saltyreef said:
Did you use chemical methods to rid the algae?
How old is the tank?

I did a few things:
1) I used a Sea Hare to eat the existing
2) I added a GFO and charcoal RX (IM AIO 20gal version)
3) started using Dr Tim’s eco-balance
4) stopped using UV and replaced with sock I change out every 3-4 days

The green seemed to always have been there just only a small spot or spots. Now it just took over.

In the past I used Vibrant for a small amount of time, NO3PO4X, and algae barn purple and pink coralline bottles.

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

W00F said:
I did a few things:
1) I used a Sea Hare to eat the existing
2) I added a GFO and charcoal RX (IM AIO 20gal version)
3) started using Dr Tim’s eco-balance
4) stopped using UV and replaced with sock I change out every 3-4 days

The green seemed to always have been there just only a small spot or spots. Now it just took over.

In the past I used Vibrant for a small amount of time, NO3PO4X, and algae barn purple and pink coralline bottles.

I didn’t realize but tomorrow will be exactly one year.

Saltyreef · Oct 4, 2020

Yep, likely nothing else in the tank feeding off free nutrients after you nuked all the biodiversity.

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

Saltyreef said:
Yep, likely nothing else in the tank feeding off free nutrients after you nuked all the biodiversity.

Yeah- trying to add more biodiversity now with Dr. Tim’s products, pod packets, and algae barn coralline. I added some bio pellets in the back a week or so ago but after this green spread. It only shows up in daylight really. Blue doesn’t make it green.

I’m more interested in what the green is though or if anyone is familiar.

Saltyreef · Oct 4, 2020

Its a nuisance algae bloom from knocking back a year of establishment.

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

Saltyreef said:
Its a nuisance algae bloom from knocking back a year of establishment.

I’m trying to follow. At what point did I nuke the tank? Vibrant?

Why would you consider it a nuisance algae?
It just seems to cover the rock in the well lit areas. It doesn’t seem to impact coral. I would think it’s not bad since it would compete with hair algae.

KRas1014 · Oct 4, 2020

W00F said:
I’m trying to follow. At what point did I nuke the tank? Vibrant?

Why would you consider it a nuisance algae?
It just seems to cover the rock in the well lit areas. It doesn’t seem to impact coral. I would think it’s not bad since it would compete with hair algae.

Im curious to hear the answer to your question as well because I have been dosing Vibrant quite frequently in my tank lately to combat dino/diatom outbreak and thinking that this was going to help promote diversity.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 4, 2020

Its a product from silicate which produce duiatoms. Reducing your white light intensity should help.
Is tank at or near a window??

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Its a product from silicate which produce duiatoms. Reducing your white light intensity should help.
Is tank at or near a window??

It’s not near a window and only get an hour of direct sunlight (through trees) in one spot of the tank. A spot were at one time I had cyanobacteria.

I do add white light (“color” setting) with my kessil for awhile in the morning to give coral more color. A few really successful shops and reefers I follow do this.

If it looks good, is it a problem? It doesn’t seem to impact coral from what I’m seeing- yet.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 4, 2020

W00F said:
It’s not near a window and only get an hour of direct sunlight (through trees) in one spot of the tank. A spot were at one time I had cyanobacteria.

I do add white light (“color” setting) with my kessil for awhile in the morning to give coral more color. A few really successful shops and reefers I follow do this.

If it looks good, is it a problem? It doesn’t seem to impact coral from what I’m seeing- yet.

Not a problem at least now and can be partially triggered by that one hour of sunlight as sun UV is strong. Cleaner snails should be able to help control this.

Turbo snails-3-4
astrea - 3
Nerite - 3
Cerith - 3
Nassarius - 3

W00F · Oct 4, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Not a problem at least now and can be partially triggered by that one hour of sunlight as sun UV is strong. Cleaner snails should be able to help control this.

Turbo snails-3-4
astrea - 3
Nerite - 3
Cerith - 3
Nassarius - 3

Thanks for the input but I’m not seeing it as a problem right now. Nobody has said anything bad about it. It looks pretty interesting during the day when lights are off.
Do you think there’s an issue with keeping it?

vetteguy53081 · Oct 4, 2020

W00F said:
Thanks for the input but I’m not seeing it as a problem right now. Nobody has said anything bad about it. It looks pretty interesting during the day when lights are off.
Do you think there’s an issue with keeping it?

Not all

W00F · Oct 5, 2020

After taking hydrogen peroxide to a small rock a week or so ago and this green color was not impacted, I’m starting to think this green is a “stain” on the rock.