Algae Colors

[Maybaer]

Okay, here's a real newbie question: Besides purple and pink, what other colors are good for the tank? What colors are bad and what colors are just ugly? I have the purples the pinks some deep maroons some reds, greens, greys and I even have a couple of spots of neon orange. Thanks for all the help.

 

[bertoni]

Color really isn't a useful guide. You might be seeing algae various types, or sponges, etc.

 

[Maybaer]

Okay, if what is on my live rock is uniform in shape and has the same appearance as the purple coraline algae with the exception of the color, am I to think that it is anything other than algae? And... if it is algae, are there colors that I should beware of?

 

[javajaws]

If its soft, furry, and green or red its typically bad.

If it grows like a weed...its bad.


Coralline algaes come in various colors and form factors. Many will not survive in your tank for long...so enjoy them while they are there. The purple coralline algae is the most common survivor in a captive reef tank.

 

[bertoni]

There are some encrusting sponges that look a lot like coralline. If you don't like the color, they're bad. Really, most of the time it comes down to personal taste.

 

[Maybaer]

Okay, so if it's not furry and I like the color it's okay. Right? So red algae is okay? Will the purple with good lighting take over most other colors?

 

[javajaws]

If the red algae looks like your purple coralline algae...then sure, it should be OK. If it looks bushy however you may want to get a better identification on it.

 

[Maybaer]

Thanks, I seem to get conflicting advice. I also have a couple of pieces with brown leathery growths that look like leather with fine hair on it. I assumed that they were some type of sponges. They're very small and don't seem to be growing. Should I worry?

 

[lossman]

Maybaer, what type of rock do you have? The brown fuzzy sounds like star coral. The others sound like encrusting sponges. You might like to check out my gallery and see if anything there looks like what you have.

Sally

 

[Maybaer]

I have fiji LR. However, the rock in question comes from a tank that I recently purchased. I bought this 100g tank with 150lbs of LR. He was using only 130w of pc light. So, the algae growth wasn't very strong. However it was a good deal and the rockscape looks great. With the added light 4x96w I'm hoping that the algae will start to really pick up and take over for the duller greens and greys. I'll check out your gallery. Thanks!