What is this algae?

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Reakwonthachef, Apr 24, 2013.

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  1. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2011
    Messages:
    218
    Location:
    pennsylvania
    This stuff has been on my rock for about 3 months. It doesn't seem to spread but it's ugly and I think it's restricting coralline growth.

    Tank specs:
    40 gal
    ph: 8.3
    Mg: 1400
    Ca: 450
    KH 9-10
    Nitrite - 0
    Phosphate - undetectable
    temp: 79.5
    SG: 1.026
    Flow:
    Mag drive 7 on my skimmer
    Koralia 3 in tank
    Aqueon 55 HOB ref

    90 watts of LED light; 30 watts at royal blue and 60 at 19000K

    Everything is healthy and doing very well including SPS which are showing a very pleasing growth rate. I just want this stuff gone and want to know whats causing it. I don't feed and I have no fish. I also have what I think are some kind of pod that appears to be eating it? They are small 2mm with black at both ends and white in the middle?

    Any help will be appreciated
     

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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    If it blows off the surface with a turkey baster or powerhead it's probably cyanobacteria.

    "They are small 2mm with black at both ends and white in the middle" this has me puzzled though.
     
  4. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

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    pennsylvania
    It doesn't come off, like at all. I had ran some carbon once and I guess I didn't rinse it well enough and afterwards (weeks) this algae started showing up. Now it just chills. I can't get a good pic of the bugs. They are white on both ends and brown in the middle. (i just studied them for a while) They have two antennae and have legs. They hide in holes in the rock and seem to come out to scavenge
     

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    Last edited: Apr 24, 2013
  5. Chance

    Chance Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Amphipods! Or Copepods, I've never been real great at differing the two. But it's a possibility that they are eating it. Cyano is a bacteria, although it's often treated as an algae in the aquarium hobby. If it's real hard, it very well could be just a different color coraline. I've had Purple, blue, red, and green!
     
  6. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Agreed. Is it slick and hard?
     
  7. reefer Bob

    reefer Bob Montipora Digitata

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    Largo, Fl
    I'm also betting its coralline algae. As your tank ages you'll get more colors.
     
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  9. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

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    Location:
    pennsylvania
    It is hard, but its slick. Slick like when algae covers shale in the bottom of a creek. Maybe there is coralline under the algae but as you can see from pic # 2 there is some brown stuff. I thought it was dino but it releases no air bubbles and seems to stay real close to the surface of the rock. Also I see spots of pink corraline on my glass but none on the rock? I figured the algae is out competing it. It looks terrible and I can't find a picture that accurately describes what I have. I started with all dead rock and only 1 seed of live rock with corraline fwiw. I was thinking of adding a cyano removal product but I don't want to add stuff if it's not going to clear the mess up. My chaeto is going nuts, so there must be phosphates coming from somewhere that are fueling this. The only thing I can think of is the rock itself, I figure that must be why the algea has attached so well because it's feeding directly at the source. I just wish I knew what it was.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2013
  10. Renee@LionfishLair

    Renee@LionfishLair 3reef Sponsor

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    There's two different organisms in that first pic even though it looks like just coralline.....

    It reminds me of dinos.