Algae ID & How to Fix

[Danshoe42]

Hello all,

My tank is now six weeks old. As a little background I cured dead rock for a couple of months prior to adding to the tank. Prior to adding and starting the tank the rocks showed little to no phosphate and no nitrate.

I have noticed some algae which has gotten going on all of the rock that gets direct shot from the lights. Also I just brushed off some green algae off the glass that turned powdery after coming off. I just took a reading and nitrates are 1ppm.

I have been running a GFO reactor for a couple of weeks however the algae continues to spread. I do not feed heavy and have a clean up crew. What the clean up crew doesn't get is pulled into the overflow and filter socks.

I have a protein skimmer running, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, a Refugium with some miracle mud and Cheato in it with the light running on a reverse cycle for 10 hours. Also my bioload is low with a watchman goby, pistol shrimp, three small clowns.

When I try to use a hard brush or scrape the algae off the rock it doesn't move.

Any thoughts as to what this is? I have read that this could be the start of coralline algae. At any rate thanks for helping a newbie out.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Welcome to the "ugglies" stage of reefing. Your tank will go through all kinds of different algae and Cyano etc before it gets better. Just have to ride it out. Mexican Turbo snails are wonderful for consuming GHA as well as other algae. Many snails have their own specialty. Pictures of your algae for positive ID helps.

Coralline algae starts out as any one of a number of colors. Green, yellow, pink and you can't rub it off. You probably do have coralline starting from your description. It usually starts between 3 and 4 months.

Can post a picture for positive ID.

 

[Danshoe42]

Welcome to the "ugglies" stage of reefing. Your tank will go through all kinds of different algae and Cyano etc before it gets better. Just have to ride it out. Mexican Turbo snails are wonderful for consuming GHA as well as other algae. Many snails have their own specialty. Pictures of your algae for positive ID helps.

Coralline algae starts out as any one of a number of colors. Green, yellow, pink and you can't rub it off. You probably do have coralline starting from your description. It usually starts between 3 and 4 months.

Can post a picture for positive ID.

 

[Danshoe42]

Another one

 

[Danshoe42]

More

 

[Danshoe42]

a few more and then done

 

[Danshoe42]

Last one

 

[Danshoe42]

Also I do have a clean up crew with about 18 trochus snails, 6 nassarius, some asterias, and a couple of her its. I see them working the rocks however they do not seem able to remove it.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Yep that looks like the beginning of coralline. Now sit back and watch natures beautiful color show Sadly it will all become purple in the end but getting there is fun to watch.