What is this?

[SeeFu]

Anyone have any idea what this is? It's only growing on the bottom of my tank, i have that marine board on the bottom of my tank. I've tried to scrub it off with a toothbrush but its nearly impossible to scrub off. Best way to describe the color is, its like dried blood.

Picture was taken with all the light channels at 100%

 

[Redfoxtang]

Looks like a type of calcifying algae to me.

 

[SeeFu]

is this something that I need to resolve?

 

[vetteguy53081]

It happens and is a combination of inorganics and light and lack of siphoning/maintenance. Not neglect, but requires more frequent follow up. A siphon will loosen and break this up while removing it. Nassarius snails and blue leg hermits may help loosen this up but it needs physical follow up

 

[SeeFu]

siphon def will not help. i can't scrub it off w/o a toothbrush.

 

[SeeFu]

sorry, i meant i can barley scrub it off w/ a toothbruth. its practically permanent

 

[Coralsdaily]

I second some type of calcifying algae, not easy to tell from the lighting though

 

[vetteguy53081]

You may need an algae rake in this case

 

[SeeFu]

i just used my glass cleaner on the algae and this is what's left. i think teh issue is the marine board isn't smooth, so the blade can't get to the deeper pores. again image is taken w/ all the light channels at 100%.

 

[SeeFu]

this isn't the beginning stages of coralline algae right? I'm pretty sure someone would have said that if it was, but just making sure.

 

[Coralsdaily]

this isn't the beginning stages of coralline algae right? I'm pretty sure someone would have said that if it was, but just making sure.

No, this is definitely not coraline.
Just out of curiosity- why marine board for the bottom?

 

[SeeFu]

the plan is to have an sps only tank, but at the sametime i wanted to simulate that white sandy beach. it was white until i got this calcifying algae issue. lol

 

[Coralsdaily]

the plan is to have an sps only tank, but at the sametime i wanted to simulate that white sandy beach. it was white until i got this calcifying algae issue. lol

I see the thought process now. I guess the only downside as you have demonstrated, is that you really can't scape things off of it.

 

[SeeFu]

its actually beren a huge pain in the butt. when the board is clean and white, you get massive disco ball effect from the LED's and i'm on G5's

 

[anthonygf]

I would cover it with sand and get a sand sifting starfish. Just what I would do.

 

[SeeFu]

i'll likely just take it all out if i can't get better results with it. i dont want to run sand since i have my gyres running pretty high all the time.