help to identify, please?

[EBR]

Hi Everyone --

Can someone please straighten me out? There are two algae on this conch shell. I believe the green is just the run-of-mill green stuff that is tough as nails. But what of the purple? -- forgive me, as I don't have the names down yet, but is this the "good" algae most strive for to block out the green (which eventually grows hair)?

Also, I've seen many mentions of a "cyano bloom" -- I've gathered that it's bad, but don't really know what it looks like. Anyone got a pic of it, so I know what to look out for?

Thanks.
Matt

[SaltyDawg]

The little bit of purple algae the I see in the pic is coraleen algae and yes that's the good stuff.

It would help if you gave some information on your tank. How long it has been going, what size, filtration, lighting, and occupants.

Thanks.

Wayne

[EBR]

Well, it's a 55 gal with just a couple of shells in there. I am just about sitting on pins and needles as I wait for 70# of LR from liverock.com. The tank has been cycled for 8 months or so with only a couple of damsels (basically, I had a good start, then got de-railed for a while -- better late than never, I suppose). As for levels, everything is pretty nominal. Got a fluval and seaclone skimmer as well.

In any event, once I get the rock, things will get disturbed as I go through the curing (and yes, I've got a QT for the little guys in the meantime).

For future reference, however:

1. how might I combat the green stuff while promoting the coraleen?

2. what is a "cyano bloom"?

Thanks.
Matt

[SaltyDawg]

Your best bet it to get some maintenance critters to help control the algae. Snails for the stuff on the glass and hermit crabs for the stuff growing on the rocks and other ornaments in your tank. Cyano bloom is all that nasty brown algae and that's usually caused by high Nitrates. So keep the Nitrates under control and you should have not problems. From what I have heard Coraleen can come in different colors including green, red, and purple. So if that green stuff is hard to clean then maybe that's what it is. The normal green algae you see in SW tanks is usually easy to clean up, at least that's my experience with it. It's nice to see you taking it slow on getting your tank established. From what I have read, liverocks.com has awesome LR and most people don't have a real problem with it dieing off. Watch your tank closely and test your water to see if you get a cycle. I have never added more than 10lbs to my tank at any one time so I have never had a problem with a cycle of any type. Only because I could not afford to buy LR in bulk. I do plan on getting some from LR.com someday. Maybe when I set up my big reef tank.
Wayne
Wayne

[EBR]

Very cool, Wayne -- thanks for the sound advice. I appreciate it.
Matt

[Puffy]

yea LR.com rocks

[Jimbo]

cynobacteria is not really caused by high nitrates, as it needs very little nitrogen to spread.. flow and phosphates are triggers for cyno bloom.. so the best way to *control* cyno is to make its environment tough to live in by reducing dead spots, controling phosphates, and adding cyno-eating critters..

as far as rock 'dieing off' ? (im assuming u mean die off, which just means bacteria, algae, and critters that have died during transportt and are in the rock rotting and giving off ammonia) doesnt matter who you get the liverock from, its how long it has been out of the water and if its cured or not. i've not tried the liverock from lr.com, but make sure u get figi, as it is the lightest and is very pourus.. which is great for holding denitrifying bacterias.

:wink:

Your best bet it to get some maintenance critters to help control the algae. Snails for the stuff on the glass and hermit crabs for the stuff growing on the rocks and other ornaments in your tank. Cyano bloom is all that nasty brown algae and that's usually caused by high Nitrates. So keep the Nitrates under control and you should have not problems. From what I have heard Coraleen can come in different colors including green, red, and purple. So if that green stuff is hard to clean then maybe that's what it is. The normal green algae you see in SW tanks is usually easy to clean up, at least that's my experience with it. It's nice to see you taking it slow on getting your tank established. From what I have read, liverocks.com has awesome LR and most people don't have a real problem with it dieing off. Watch your tank closely and test your water to see if you get a cycle. I have never added more than 10lbs to my tank at any one time so I have never had a problem with a cycle of any type. Only because I could not afford to buy LR in bulk. I do plan on getting some from LR.com someday. Maybe when I set up my big reef tank.
Wayne
Wayne