New Print and eBook on Amazon Marine Aquarium Algae Control by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Coralline Algae, Cyano, or ???     8/3/19 Hi Bob - I am stumped trying to figure out exactly what's growing on my glass and rocks in my 265 gallon FOWLR tank. I've attached a few pictures. It doesn't come off very easily at all. Frankly, to get it off the glass you have to use a scraper with some force, then to get it off the rocks, good luck as a tooth brush will very slightly thin it out, but if I really wanted it off, more likely it would take a steel brush with some force to get it off the rocks. Further, when I scrap it with force off the glass it comes off as a dust, not in sheets. Thus, based upon this hard consistency my gut tells me it's Coralline Algae, yet I am used to Coralline algae being pink or light purple, not red in color. It's a dark, burgundy red, similar in color to cyanobacteria, but I definitely can't siphon it out like you can with cyanobacteria. Should I be concerned? Thank you, John <Hey John. Coralline (encrusting Reds, Rhodophytes) are very different to the touch than Blue Green "algae"/Cyano... The latter are slimy; and of many different colors. Reds are not slimy, but hard, crusty... From your description and photos this appears to be BGA... Yes to being concerned... conditions that allow, encourage BGA are deleterious to most all other life forms as are some of the metabolites of Cyanobacteria. Please read here re the several approaches to control: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm and the linked BGA Control FAQs above. Bob Fenner>

Re: Coralline Algae, Cyano, or ???     8/4/19 Ugh. Terrific article. Thanks Bob! <Cheers John! BGA is defeat-able, avoidable... Like steering a large ship w/ a small rudder; takes a while, but... slow and steady is the route to go. BobF>

Coralline issue; ID from pix?    12/13/17 <19 megs of pix? Did you read our requirements?> Posted over on r2r and they suggested to email you guys and see if you know what kind of coralline algae this is. <... Kind? As in species? Not w/o microscope imagery> Grow supper fast. Grows in to shaded to dark places and is slimy when removed from the tank or rubbed on in tank. The one shell pic has been out of water now 9 months been rinsed a few times in tap water. Here is the post over on R2R about it and what I have went threw in my tank. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aggressive-coralline-algae-or-some-type-sps.303101/ Thank you if you respond and thank you if you don't would understand. <See, as in READ on WWM re Corallines? Bob Fenner>

Red Stuff On My Rock, Nullipora 11/23/09
Hello:
<Hi Paul>
I have had this problem with my tank for about a year or so and this time I cant seem to solve it.
The tank is a 175G Oceanic bow ,and has various creatures within it and they are no problem.
My issue is a red hard coating on all my live rock I have tried to mechanically remove it and it won't come off. I think it piggy backed on a batch of live rock I bought and it spread and stayed. Its not coralline algae, I have that still in spots, but its the same consistency. Its not slime algae I have had that before and used slime remover and it left, this is different and even though I have taken a piece of live rock out and tried to scrub it off it will not come off easily.
I have seen this red stuff being referenced on the net and its been said that there is nothing that will take it out. I used an urchin and it eats it but unfortunately it also eats coralline algae and can't get in tight spots.
I guess my question if you guys have the time would be, have you heard of something like it and a way of removing it short of scrubbing my rock clean? I have had this tank for 5 years.
I understand that I probably have omitted a lot of info but I am trying to keep this letter short in the hopes someone has heard of this stuff before, and an explanation of all the other stuff I have in the tank would not take up time which I have a feeling you guys don't have a lot of.
<The colors of these algae are most typically pink, or some other shade of red, but some species can be purple, yellow, blue, white or gray-green.
You likely have a red variety of coralline algae. The urchin eating it is a good indication of this.>
Thank you in advance.....
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Paul Carragozela

Brown Coralline? 11/09/08 I've had a dark brown slightly reddish coralline algae starting to spread on my back overflows, Koralia's and some live rock. It looks just like the coralline type but the color is wrong. I cannot seem to find anything about this type of algae on the forum. Any ideas? <It could just be the red coralline instead of the purple you are used to seeing. I'm supposing it looks brown because of your lighting. If it is hard and crusty like the purple then no worries. If it is filmy and slimy then it could be cyano or diatoms. But most likely its just a different color coralline.> Thank you for all the support! <Regards, Jessy>
alan

Algae I.D. 09/27/2008 Greetings Crew, <<Good morning, Andrew today>> Thanks for the great site! I have looked high and low for information on this algae but I can not find it anywhere. Forgive me if I've simply overlooked it. Thanks in advance. <<Corallina elongata i would suggest. Please do use your search engine for plenty of info on this algae>> John T. <<Thanks for the questions, hope this helps. A Nixon>>

Beautiful.

Re: Algae I.D. 11/02/08 Hello again Crew, <Hello, I'm so, so sorry this email does not appear to have been answered after all this time.> I've looked up Corallina elongata but I am unsure that is what I have. I did find this page www.wetwebmedia.com/trialalgaeid.htm <Ah, I'm glad you found that page.> with a similar looking algae. (Very bottom row, in the middle) It's listed as possibly being Fauchea. I'll keep up the search. <Macro algaes are indeed often very difficult to ID by eye, by picture.> Is it not ironic that our passion teaches us patience but when we have questions we want answers right now? <Hehe... "the more we know, the more we don't know."> Thanks again for a great web site and for taking time to help. I live in an area without a LFS and as far as I know have the only salt water tank in town. I could not have done it without Wet Web! <Great to hear, thank you for the kind words!> John T <Best, Sara M.>

Coralline or not? 5/23/08 Hi WWM Crew, <Hello> Sorry to pester, but I've been trying to determine if what is growing on my rock is/is not the much-sought-after coralline algae or not (see attached photo). <Looks like it to me.> I had a bit of a "red slime" problem on my back glass that two Trochus snails resolved, but even when they come to this rock, they have been unable to "clean" it, nor have my burgundy hermits. I just stuck my hand in and scratched it a bit with a fingernail, and it didn't "ooze" off like the red slime did when I touched it. <Sounds like coralline to me.> The rock in question is the white(ish) one in the center. I picked it up from Hanauma Bay seven years ago after it washed onto the beach. When I placed it in the tank a month ago, it was totally white, but this stuff has turned it progressively darker. I am not getting any kind of the same growth on my glass or any other rock, so I'm a bit confused as to why it would limit itself to this rock only. <Something is favoring it's growth in this spot, lighting, water flow most likely reasons.> An added bonus would be if you might be able to give me an idea what this rock is. <Looks like fairly standard reef rock.> Thanks, as always, for your timely and sage replies! -DS- <Welcome> <Chris>

Purple on My Glass 1/1/07 Hello there, <Hi> I need some info on an issue with my 29 salt. I have some light purple spots on my glass and powerhead and other things in my tank. It won't come off with the algae brush. The LFS said that it was ok, and he called it something but can't remember what he called it. It kinda of crust, it scraps off with my finger nails. Is there something that I can buy or use to get this off at least my glass? Thanks for your info. Cody <Coralline algae, many scrappers available to remove it from the glass. See http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm for more.> <Chris>

Coralline Algae/Alkaline Precipitation/Ca Reactor Tuning - 12/07/06 Hi Eric, <<Hey Ken!>> I hope all is well with you. <<Indeed it is...thank you>> Things have been going well with the tank, but I have a few questions. <<Ok>> The tank is set up 6 weeks now. The few soft corals and star-polyps look good. <<Excellent>> I did buy a clean-up crew about 10 days ago. I feel like I should put the snails on the payroll. In the first two days they cleaned all of the greenish algae I had on the rocks. <<Cool!>> The tank looks good. My nitrate is less than 1-ppm and phosphate is zero using LaMotte Colorimeter. <<Very good>> The pH is usually 8.10 to 8.20 and ORP has been about 415MV. <<More good news>> I also have gotten more and more pink coralline algae on some of the rocks. My first question has to do with that in the last couple of days I am getting areas of a burgundy color on the rocks. <<Coralline algae comes in "many" colors>> It looks to be more on the areas that have some of the pinkish coralline. <<Conditions in those locations are likely "optimum" for both species...everything competes for space on the reef>> Also I notice the burgundy color is all of a sudden on a lot of the turbo snails. <<Very common>> Is this just another color coralline? <<Indeed it is>> I am hoping that it is not like red Cyano or something. <<Can usually tell the difference>> I don't see this on most of the rocks and none on sand, powerheads, sand etc. I tried scraping it off with my fingernail and it does come off somewhat. It doesn't seem as hard as the pink coralline algae. <<Differences in structure/composition>> I'm not sure if this is coralline or not. <<Likely so>> I would say that I see this burgundy color mostly on places that had pink to begin with pretty much. My next question has to do with my AGA Mega Flow. Their isn't really any algae on my rocks or tank, but I do have some thick greenish layers of it in the overflow box only. Should I leave it their, or manually remove it, or can I put a couple of my turbo snails in there to eat it. <<Can remove or leave, whichever you prefer...I would not put turbo snails in the overflow box (will probably get there sooner or later anyway, but...) as they will get in to the overflow pipes and restrict/block flow>> I thought about snails and overflows but the Durso pipe and the return pipe are sealed unit and nothing could get in there. What do you think? <<If you have some kind of "screen" on the Durso then this may be fine>> By the way, if I manually remove the algae will anything? <<...?>> I don't want to spread it around the tank? Also is it possible that this algae is in its own "container" and it can act like a refugium in a way? <<Sure...on a very small scale. If nothing else, it is removing nutrients...but I'll bet close observation will reveal some tiny crustaceans living there as well>> My last question and most perplexing and bothersome to me has to do with my calcium reactor. I have an MTC Pro-Cal calcium reactor. I don't run it all of the time as my tank is only 6 weeks old and there isn't much in the tank to take up the Alk and Ca. When my alk gets down to 8dKH, I turn on the CO2 and run it at 1 bubble per second and the effluent at .02 ml as per the instructions. This is their starting point. <<And as good as any>> I will shut of the CO2 once the alk hits 10 or 11 dKH. My Ca usually is in the 410 to 425 ppm range. The strange thing is that once I run the Ca reactor for a day or so, I see some of the rock (usually more evident where the coralline algae is) start to get a whitish tone to it. It does not blow off. Also, and more importantly, when I take a turkey baster, I can blow off what almost looks like ash. <<Sounds as if you may have some carbonaceous material falling out of solution>> This has happened all three times I ran it. <<You may want to consider experimenting with different reactor media>> I was wondering if it was calcium precipitate, but how could it be? <<Easy enough...the water can only "hold" so much material. Maximizing alkalinity (11dKH) and calcium (425ppm) over saturates the water with carbonaceous material. Try test your alkalinity AND calcium after one of these events...likely BOTH have fallen as a result>> All of the parameters are in check. I am not using limewater or any additive and I do 20% water changes weekly with Reef Crystals. Do you have any ideas? <<The reactor is probably "too large" for the system (right now anyway) and is producing to much alkaline and calcium reserve than the tank can "use." I would turn to one of the two-part alkalinity/calcium supplements for now. Based on your future stocking levels/specimens, you may find you don't need the reactor>> By the way, I am using CaribSea Geo Thermal aragonite for the media. <<Mmm, I see...this product is likely soft/more soluble than others...try adjusting the reactor effluent to a pH of about 7.0 the next time you use it and see what results>> I did buy a kalk stirrer and plan on using it with my dosing pump and float switch for top off water once I have the time to set it up in a few days. <<Proceed with caution here...for now anyway>> I appreciate your help. Regards, Ken <<Always happy to assist. EricR>>

Coralline algae 11/19/05 Dear Bob, I have a bit of a stupid question. I have live rock in my tank that has been there for approx 2-3 mos. I have a 180g FOWLR. The rock is growing pink and red encrusting algae. There are areas on the rock where there is green algae growing and I am having a hard time determining if this is coralline algae. The green algae doesn't look like it is "encrusting" but when it grows on the walls of the tank it feels like fine sandpaper. On the rock, the porosity of the rock that is covered by the green is evident. Unlike the encrusting pinks where the rock is "plated" I had a piece of dead fire coral in the tank that first grew pink, then green algae. This algae is not removed very easily and it is not slimy to touch. I have noted that it is now growing in the gravel of the tank. Is this likely to be coralline ? Jimmy <Well... encrusting is a descriptive term... usually associated with given species of red, brown and green algae... if it's hard, rough to the touch... is "encrusting"... but coralline refers to Reds/Rhodophytes of algae species... and these do look red, unless bleached (then white). Bob Fenner>

Red coralline VS Cyanobacteria Hi guys, hope you are all well. <Hi and thank you we are all well and happy.> I am in the process of upgrading my tank after a near total loss, so I let the tank sit with minimal maintenance for several weeks (which did good- the corals I have left all have come out in full). <Sometimes less is more.> I have had red-slime problems in the past, and I would siphon it out and blow it off the rocks with a turkey baster.<That is a good practice but I would use the baster first then siphon it out.> I cannot blow this red stuff off the rocks, its hard to brush off with a toothbrush (even with toothpaste-:)) it "feathers" off the rock (like tree fungi), and is nearly the same color as Cyano. Is it red coralline? <It is absolutely coralline algae. If you want to be sure take it out and put it into some vinegar. If it bubbles then your are in business.> Thanks for being there to answer oddball questions! <Not a problem! MikeB> James

- Questions: Is It Coralline? Or Is It Cyanobacteria? - Hello. I've started the hobby for about 6 months. Now I have: 2 yellow tail damsels 1 fire damsel (mean little buggah, constantly fighting with or getting picked on by one of the yellow tail) 1 clown fish 1 yellow tang 1 blue tang 1 cleaner shrimp 4 brittle stars 4 turbo snails I recently notice a bunch of white critters on my glass...the fire damsel has been picking on these for awhile since I got him. And now the pods are everywhere which I'm assuming is good? <Yes.> During the whole time I started I don't have a sump nor skimmer. my first water change was a month ago...since then I do a 5 gallon water change once a week or more depends. As of now, I notice red pinkish patches on my rocks. The patches aren't very thick... just a very light covering. I was thinking it was Cyanobacteria (something I shouldn't want?) My cousin said it might be coralline algae and the only coralline are on the tips of my turbo snails (I could be wrong) or the water I've been getting. And I don't know what I've been doing to promote coralline. <It happens [or not] on its own... in presence of adequate calcium.> I do however have a killer green algae farm growing on the right side of my tank just for my tangs just until I can put together more rocks to start on coral. If it is coralline, is it possible for one color coralline changing to another color? <Not usually. A quick note: in the future, please don't send along such large images. They clog our inbox and then block other's email from coming in. Thanks... cheers, J -- >

Coralline Algae i.d. Hi Bob. Could you describe in details how to identify coralline algae? Secondly, if these algaes are growing on the power heads, is it okay to remove them or ignore it? Please advice. Thanks. >> Don't know if I can... they're encrusting with CaCO3 base material... so, if you dry some, it'll turn white, foam with the application of an acid... have no pores (old designation, Nullipora, to distinguish...)... Do you have a microscope? Or, can you feel the matter with your hand? If it's hard, this IS likely some type(s) of coralline algae. Okay to ignore on most anything... would remove from viewing panels (gingerly, like with fancy commercial plastic scraper or credit cards), but that's all. Bob Fenner

Coralline Algae Bob- I was reading an article penned by you located at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm. I was wondering if there was any difference between the algae in your article and the encrusting coralline algae located off the coast of California? <Mmm, same groups down sometimes to the genus level as the tropical corallines... and both gorgeous. Dave Wrobel wrote widely on such "cold water reefs" incorporating these rhodophytes... still haven't caught on largely.> They look identical to me...but I'm wondering if they are. Thanks in advance. D.M. Daniels <Be chatting. Bob Fenner>

Yellow Spots... Maybe Algae, Maybe Encrusting, Not Definitely Coralline Bob - Thanks for answering all of our questions. I have yellow spots growing on the sides of my 75 gal saltwater tank. The spots are as large as a dime and start as a small dot. They have to scraped from the sides with my fingernail. Is this a type of encrusting algae? <Not a very encrusting variety if so...> If the spots were purple, I would say they were coralline algae spreading from the live rock. Any ideas? <Lots, but none re this organism or mix... Please read through the many materials posted on WetWebMedia.com re algae, their control, marine system maintenance. Bob Fenner>
-- Thanks

New Print and eBook on Amazon Marine Aquarium Algae Control by Robert (Bob) Fenner