Corraline algae

[Paidbychrist0825]

ok this is a total newbie Q, but i have never really looked ito it, and want to know. Is Corraline algae good or bad? if bad, what does it do that is bad, aside from make you sides look really bad?
side note: be nice, ive never seen this question asked, and have only seen references. in live rock and stuff :oops:

[Telco Guy]

There is no such thing as a bad question. :wink:

As for coralline algae, it is considered good. It is the main thing that builds the rock. It lays down a calcium layer as it grows.

As for looking bad on the back, that's a matter of opinion. Leave it or scrape it off. If you do s\crape it off and you have any LR that isn't covered, try sprintling the stuff you scraped off on the rock to help seed it with new coralline algae.

[Condiman]

Telco took the words right from my mouth :razz:

[mjc]

Coralline algae, if not kept in check, can cover everything in your tank. Assuming correct pH, alk and calcium, the algae will grow on not only rocks, but as you found out, any surface including your tank, powerheads, thermometers, and any snails or hermit crabs. The nice thing about coralline is it will prevent any green algae from growing any coralline covered surface.

Check out the following article on coralline algae
http://www.garf.org/coralline.html

edited to correct dead link. :)