What's this algae? Coralline?

[Emaychzee]

Hey all, can I get an ID on this algae? I started this tank about a two months ago with dry rock, biospira and live sand. Funny thing is, I only see any of these on the rocks, not the glass. There's some residual diatoms and a bit of what looks like to me to be some sort of basic green film algae, I'm mostly curious about the light pink spots and the darker pink fuzz. I recently got some clean up crew and a Florida ricordea from reef cleaners and I think that's where the darker fuzz is from.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Welcome to R2R! Hard for me to tell from the pics. However, it looks a little like cyano to me. If it is somewhat easily removed from the rock it is not coralline.

 

[Adam_M]

Agreed that it's more likely to be cyano based on the age of the tank. Shoot some water at it with a turkey baster and see if it comes off or not.

 

[2000se]

^agree

 

[Billdogg]

Welcome to the NEW TANK UGLIES! You have what appears to be cyanobacteria growing. It is a phase that all tanks go through. It can easily be removed during water changes by siphoning it out, but it will reappear the next day. Perhaps in the same spot. At this point I don't know that I'd stress too much over it.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Hi! The darker parts look like cyano to me. The pink spots however could be the first coralline algae signs. Try to brush it with a toothbrush. If it doesn’t come of rasily and looks to be calcified, you have some coralline coming up aswell.

IME coralline starts of on rocks before it jumps to the glass.

 

[Emaychzee]

Hi! The darker parts look like cyano to me. The pink spots however could be the first coralline algae signs. Try to brush it with a toothbrush. If it doesn’t come of rasily and looks to be calcified, you have some coralline coming up aswell.

IME coralline starts of on rocks before it jumps to the glass.

Thanks everyone! The darker stuff comes right off. I wasn't holding my breath that the light pink was coralline, cause from everything I read it seems wayyyy too early. But it doesn't scrape off! Fingers crossed! Also, wow, reef algae is so much more cooler than what I am used to seeing in fw tanks!

I fixed a flow issue and threw in a little sack of purigen to get through the ugly stage. At least the snails will have plenty to eat