Green Coraline or Cyano??

[mattyg18]

Hi everyone. Looking for some help.

I"m about 7 weeks into a cycle and my parameters are as follows:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
PH - 8
Alk - 7.7
Phosphate - 0
Calcium - 415
Salinity - 1.025

60 gallon cube running an in sump protein skimmer with GFO and Carbon Reactors. The water is crystal clear and everything seems to be in order. I slowly started adding corals 2 weeks ago and they are doing well. A few days ago I added a CUC to tackle what I thought was an algae bloom...and perhaps it is.

I started to do some research today and found that it could be either Green Coraline Algae (from what I read is rare), or Cyano (which I dont know much about other than its not good). I'm hoping someone can tell me which it may be, or if its something entirely different. I did try rubbing it off with a toothbrush and its not moving. Also tried my nail and it seems to kinda chip off a little if I can get my nail into there so its on there good.

It started about 2 weeks ago just prior to adding the corals and its been spreading popping up a little more each day. Its only on the part of the rock that hits the light for the most part. Its not on the sand or glass at all from what I can see. I'm using 50 LBS of BRS Live Dry Fiji Rock which was cured in a tub (heater and powerhead) for one month prior to adding.

I've attached some photos to see whats going on.

Any information is greatly appreciated as always and thanks in advance!!

 

[StrangeDejavu]

I started getting this around the same time as you, but haven't seen it since i've added a bunch of Trochus. I think it's just some kind of film algae.

 

[Sk8r]

Probably the start of green hair algae.

 

[mattyg18]

I added 20 snails this past sunday and they are eating it but theres a lot of it.

If it is green hair algae any suggestions on what to do for now?

 

[reef4life07]

Keep up with WC, and scrub the rocks with a toothbrush.

 

[salty55]

It's definitely neither of the two algae that you were suspecting. Its pretty common to see in a new tank. Seems like it's more common to see as dead rock cycles and matures. probably due to a little phosphate seeping from within the rock. Try to limit lighting as much as possible and keep up with water changes. It should go away as the tank matures a little more.

 

[Raintree]

I agree that it looks like a green film algae. Algae is just a part of this hobby, and every tank has it. Even the most well maintained, "perfect" looking tanks get algae films on every surface that isn't already covered by another living thing.

The snails should keep it under control. Otherwise, just keep the tank healthy and well maintained and it should be fine.

 

[mattyg18]

I tried scrubbing the stuff with a toothbrush but it doesn't budge. Its on there real good. I can barely chip it off with my nail. Phosphates seeping from the rock makes perfect sense since the algae is only on the rock and not on the sand. I cut back the lights from 8 hours a day to 6 hours a day with ramp up/down and not maxing out at any point so hopefully that works.

Other thing is that I read on this forum that people who have had similar looking stuff had found that it turns purple after a period of time. I'm hoping thats the case with me but I want to be safe either way.

Thanks again fellas and i'm hoping it calms down the next few days.

 

[kgeig001]

Don't worry about it. Your tank just finished or it's still in the initial cycle. The tank has a lot more phases to go through before it totally stabilizes. You have probably just started the ugly phase. Perfectly normal. Just be patient and keep doing your regular water changes. You can also run carbon and GFO. The GFO will bring down your phosphates which hair algae feeds on.

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[DavidGraves]

I had the same stuff on my dry rock. After a few months it all of the sudden exploded into GHA. The CUC made work of that quickly.


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[mattyg18]

Sounds good. Do you think I should hold off on fish for now or is it safe to get one for my QT? I was planning on keeping him in the QT for about 4-6 weeks.