Purple Coralline algae..? or Cyano? (pics)

[fmfox]

Hi. I know everybody wants purple coralline algae, and I have a nice amount around my 55 gallon. But lately I've been getting splotches of a different colored algae, way more toward the maroon side of red- a bright purply maroon (as opposed to a brownish maroon).

It seems to have the same consistency as the purple algae (ho hairs, no slime, no bubbles, no relief at all - looks like it is painted onto the rocks). It seems to like areas of high current, especially the rocks in the path of my powerheads.

I like the way it looks but, at the rate it's going, it will completely engulf my tank in the next couple of weeks - it's already made my turbo snails turn maroon.
Is this good stuff? Or should I try to do something to eliminate it?

Cheers,

Martin

 

[r2dtwo]

i think that's normal, my friend tank has that same color.

 

[Tone]

coraline to me

 

[smithcreek]

I'd guess a red algea. IME coralline doesn't grow like that, it's edges are much more defined.

 

[JayM]

I agree; Some kind of red algae, coraline does usualy have more defined margins. It is also too 'red'

 

[fmfox]

If it is, in fact, some kind of rogue red algae.....any suggestions as to how I should combat it?

One thing is for sure: If I don't do anything, in a month my tank will resemble the surface of Mars.

 

[smithcreek]

If your tank has not been up for long I wouldn't worry about it. I switched tanks a little over 3 months ago and I've still got some. IME it doesn't get out of hand.

 

[Leroy]

It's cyano in it's first stage. Coraline builds up in a spot type that is very defined as an edged appearance as JayM has posted. Coraline is a pink/purple, cyano is maroon in color and is feathered at the edges. Cyano at this stage won't blow away off the rock, glass or sand with a turkey baster at this stage. Given time it will build up to the point it will build up and when on the glass it will bunch up as you rub it and will float spores in the tank and spread slowly. I have the same thing in a new tank. How I got it, unknown to an exact reason. Could have been nutrients, lighting, not enough flow, or here's a tough one, introduced spores from another water source, rock, or coral. Any way you look at it, it's there and needs to be removed. Below is what I went through to completely rid my tank.

I used Chemi Clean which I ask Jays Aquarium to order some in. It took 4 days to eliminate all of it, 2 doses, 1 dose every and exactly 24 hrs, remove all carbon, Purigen, and Pura Filtration Pad. Shut down skimmer. I included the sump/refugium in the water volume since my refugium was also affected. On the 5th day I did a 20% water change, changed out my filters and added charcoal back to the system. My skimmer would overflow so I elevated as much as I could adjusting my valve to control the circulation foam in the chamber. I skimmed wet but moderately for 3 days. Chemi Clean had no affect on corals, fish, or micro fauna. I have not had any sign of cyano what so ever in the tank since. To get rid of it will take some work but it's worth the effort.

 

[cobraz]

Cyano... for sure.

 

[JayM]

It's cyano in it's first stage. Coraline builds up in a spot type that is very defined as an edged appearance as JayM has posted. Coraline is a pink/purple, cyano is maroon in color and is feathered at the edges. Cyano at this stage won't blow away off the rock, glass or sand with a turkey baster at this stage. Given time it will build up to the point it will build up and when on the glass it will bunch up as you rub it and will float spores in the tank and spread slowly. I have the same thing in a new tank. How I got it, unknown to an exact reason. Could have been nutrients, lighting, not enough flow, or here's a tough one, introduced spores from another water source, rock, or coral. Any way you look at it, it's there and needs to be removed. Below is what I went through to completely rid my tank.

I used Chemi Clean which I ask Jays Aquarium to order some in. It took 4 days to eliminate all of it, 2 doses, 1 dose every and exactly 24 hrs, remove all carbon, Purigen, and Pura Filtration Pad. Shut down skimmer. I included the sump/refugium in the water volume since my refugium was also affected. On the 5th day I did a 20% water change, changed out my filters and added charcoal back to the system. My skimmer would overflow so I elevated as much as I could adjusting my valve to control the circulation foam in the chamber. I skimmed wet but moderately for 3 days. Chemi Clean had no affect on corals, fish, or micro fauna. I have not had any sign of cyano what so ever in the tank since. To get rid of it will take some work but it's worth the effort.

I won't contradict Leroy's treatment, because it worked for him. It took 2 doses to get rid of it in my tank, and diligent nutrient export to prevent it from coming back.

The only thing I would ADD to Leroy's treatment is to make sure you add some type of extra airstone or other oxygenation source to keep your ORP up when the skimmer is off.

 

[Leroy]

I won't contradict Leroy's treatment, because it worked for him. It took 2 doses to get rid of it in my tank, and diligent nutrient export to prevent it from coming back.

The only thing I would ADD to Leroy's treatment is to make sure you add some type of extra airstone or other oxygenation source to keep your ORP up when the skimmer is off.

Doh...good catch JayM, I put the air stone in my section of the refugium where my skimmer resides. I completely missed that step in my post. The directions will emphasize adding an air stone.

 

[stingythingy45]

Red turf algae.
Put a couple big hunking turbos in there to munch on it.
Coralline algae will start growing soon but will come in a lot slower than this stuff.