In newish tank will green film algae eventually turn to purple coraline?

My tank is sitting at about 4 months old and am starting to see some purpele coraline algae growth on the live rocks. However on the glass in the back of the tank there is a lot of green film algae will this turn to the purple stuff? I have seen people that have a coating of purple coraline on the back of their tank and would be content having it cover the back...this green **** not so much.

 

its normal to get the green film. your snails will go after it and do a good job on it. the coraline will eventually start to cover your back glass too.

 

Coraline algae is different from the green film algae, the film algae will not turn to coraline. Given time and the proper conditions, the coraline will start to grow on the glass.

 

+1 on above

green film algae or any other soft algae utilises nurtients such as nitrate and phosphate
coralline algae does not, and high phosphate levels interefere with the absorbtion of calcium, which the coralline algae does use , as do SPS corals for example hence phosphates are not welcome in a reef tank

so keep nutrient levels low (Phosphate and Nitrate)
maintain levels of calcium and magnesium

and you get a progression from 1 type of algae( the one you dont want) to the other kind of algae (which at 1st you do want, but then sometime in the future probably wished it hadnt arrived)

Steve

 

do you have a powerhead aimed at the back glass area? might need to get some more flow there.. as far as snails check out reefcleaners.org they got what you need.

 

All the coraline that I have seen starts on bare rock or glass... not on the green film algae. It starts as a small purple dot and grows. The green film goes away... then bare rock...then purple spots... then it grows.

Others may have experienced differently. +1 on keeping params right.

Mark