What is this? Algae? Cyano? Dinos?

[saltysailor]

Hi friends!
I went out of town for a few days and I had a few algae spots but it has grown considerably since I left. My phosphates were high, about .3 about two weeks ago. Since then I printed and have been running a media reactor that has kept it low but only got within parameters (.05) yesterday. Anyways, I’m not concerned about green hair algae as I have a few snails to eat that up but I’m wondering about the brown and red spots. I’ve heard bad things about cyano and Dinos and I would rather not.

Should I be concerned? Thanks!

 

[Coralsdaily]

it seems like there is a mix of algae & cyano on that rock. Do you want to maybe circle out the area of concern to isolate what you are looking at?

 

[saltysailor]

it seems like there is a mix of algae & cyano on that rock. Do you want to maybe circle out the area of concern to isolate what you are looking at?

Just kind of the whole thing in general. Is the cyano something to be concerned about?

 

[Coralsdaily]

nothing to concern. People hate them only because they don't look pretty. But it is part of the cycling and EVERYONE had them at one point or another. it is an indicator that you are in the middle stage of the cycling process, and once the cyano bacteria clears up your cycling is at its tail end.

 

[saltysailor]

nothing to concern. People hate them only because they don't look pretty. But it is part of the cycling and EVERYONE had them at one point or another. it is an indicator that you are in the middle stage of the cycling process, and once the cyano bacteria clears up your cycling is at its tail end.

So it should naturally clear up now that I have phos in line?

 

[terraincognita]

Just kind of the whole thing in general. Is the cyano something to be concerned about?

i wouldn't worry about anything on that rock right now.

I would scrape that glass though and try to keep anywhere not on the rock super clean.

If you're going for one of these "gorgeous" systems start that maintenance now on that glass, get a glass scraper and get to it.

The glass won't magically clear up and neither will your Rock, but the algae on the rock will slowly start to be replaced by a nice coraline, looks like some of the algae there is coraline spores already.

 

[saltysailor]

i wouldn't worry about anything on that rock right now.

I would scrape that glass though and try to keep anywhere not on the rock super clean.

If you're going for one of these "gorgeous" systems start that maintenance now on that glass, get a glass scraper and get to it.

What about the back black wall?

 

[terraincognita]

What about the back black wall?

Yeah, anywhere no rock, scrape it clean.

Hopefully your filters will catch it, if not try to suction it out.

Also on that note, I never touch my own back wall, but it looks not so nice lol. I just let me algae grazers pick on it all day. they love it. it's like a personal feeding ground.

 

[saltysailor]

Yeah, anywhere no rock, scrape it clean.

Hopefully your filters will catch it, if not try to suction it out.

Also on that note, I never touch my own back wall, but it looks not so nice lol. I just let me algae grazers pick on it all day. they love it. it's like a personal feeding ground.

Kinda want coraline to grow on the back...but I’m def gonna scrape the bottom. As long as my rock looks ok and the rest of the tank looks ok I’m good. I know every tank is different but is there a normal time frame for when this will be done? Tank has been up for about two months.

 

[scabbedwings616]

Nothing there looks bad but just watch your clean up crew and replenish every so often. A few snails here and there will help that out a lot.

 

[terraincognita]

Kinda want coraline to grow on the back...but I’m def gonna scrape the bottom. As long as my rock looks ok and the rest of the tank looks ok I’m good. I know every tank is different but is there a normal time frame for when this will be done? Tank has been up for about two months.

Every tank's different man.

unfortunately you can't put a time on it. There are things you can do to help it along, but it'll do what it does, with time.

If you have a friend who has an established tank with coraline you can ask him for 1 small piece of rock with coraline on it, and put it right on your rocks. That will help.

Or you can have him scrape it off his rocks or walls and give it to you like that, and you can just put it on your rock and hope the spores attach and grow.

Otherwise just let it be man, keeping learning about reefing and improving water parameters.

Your knowledge of how to keep the tank "healthy" for good Coral growth, will help Coraline growth.

Good SPS conditions make speedy coraline growth. If you click my build thread I have a bunch after just 1 month, but I can only accomplish that through my knowlege and study. It's too much for me to try to type in 1 post it's like half a paper back book of information.

 

[saltysailor]

Every tank's different man.

unfortunately you can't put a time on it. There are things you can do to help it along, but it'll do what it does, with time.

If you have a friend who has an established tank with coraline you can ask him for 1 small piece of rock with coraline on it, and put it right on your rocks. That will help.

Or you can have him scrape it off his rocks or walls and give it to you like that, and you can just put it on your rock and hope the spores attach and grow.

Otherwise just let it be man, keeping learning about reefing and improving water parameters.

Your knowledge of how to keep the tank "healthy" for good Coral growth, will help Coraline growth.

Good SPS conditions make speedy coraline growth. If you click my build thread I have a bunch after just 1 month, but I can only accomplish that through my knowlege and study. It's too much for me to try to type in 1 post it's like half a paper back book of information.

Thank you for the info! I’m trying to keep things stable. My first tank so working on it. So far I think I’ve done a good job with keeping my salinity and alkalinity stable through ato and water changes. Thankfully my nitrates and ammonia have also caused my no problems. The temp is obviously stable as well so the only thing I can think of that is unstable is phosphate. Keeps swinging but I’ll get it!!! My main thing is trying to get that reefer look. I see a lot of tanks on here that look stunning and then I go on Facebook and see peoples tanks look awful and green and honestly not worth keeping. Trying my best to not do that.