Purple Algae???

[jhnrb]

Holidayrj posted as follows; relocated from the articles section

I've got this stuff in my tank, covering most of my LR, and the invertibrate shells that is like purple spraypaint or something. It is a very thin layer, and I can't get it off or the shells, or the glass on my tank even with a razer blade. So, what is this . Just looking for a lil insight fron the Reefing Gods

[squibley2]

What you have sounds like coraline algae.

[jhnrb]

There are some very good articles on algae in the helpful articles forum. I recommed you go there and read read read all the articles on algae, new tank setups, water quality as you will find in those articles enough information to give you a basis to decide what you have. a pic would help a bunch. based on the difficulty to remove I too suspect coraline algae. a calcerous algae that is sought after by many reefers. after browsing the helpful articles, if you still have questions let us know here. welcome to the forum.

[amonya]

Im confused you asked question you all ready know right?or is this a glitch

[holidayrj]

it's a glitch, i made the inital post, and it sounds like coraline algae to me, from the reading. I'll post a pic tonight. But, should i be concerned, cause it's covered eveything, including some corals?

[amonya]

Good but not when it starts to cover corals move coral (if you can)out of its path im not sure how to remove off corals though Ive never had the problem before.how fast did it cover everything?p.s coralline allge it sounds like inless it happened over night then its something else coraline alge grows slowly

[amonya]

come to the chat room

[holidayrj]

Sorry about the confusion, the coraline algae is growing on "bleached" coral, not live. But I'm concerned about adding live coral to the tank. Previously I have been running a fish only tank, with LR, some LS, but mostly CC for a substrate. I've had no problems other than a rebel snail escaping , and a serial killer crab . Within the past few months, closer to a year the coraline has been growing, now it seems to be out of control. It's on probably 80% of my LR, most of my CC substrate, and even on crab and snail shells. I'd like to add some corals, but if I add it and in a month it's covered, there is no point in doing that. It looks beautiful, but I need a way to tame it. Like I said In an earlier post, I'll put up some pics tonight, or Monday. Thanks for all the help so far, but still struggling

RJ

[squibley2]

I have never heard of coraline algea growing on live coral (correct me if I am wrong anyone), so I would say your tank is doing well. Most people I know would love the have that problem. I would go ahead and add a coral and see what happens. Not to mention you probibly only want to add one at a time anyway. I have a lot of coraline algae in my tank and it is not bothering any of my corals. I hope this helps.

[amonya]

(correction) it does grow on corals but not all or (i've just not seen)i seen some just yesterday, i like to pick on my fish store owner about none healthy specimens or diseased fishes when brought into the store but its mostly because of shipment,but it does happen sorry.Also in my tank my coralline allege covers 50% of the LR and around corals but have not seen CLa growth on corals yet(cross my fingers).hope this helps a little