algae mat id - cyanobacteria?

[alix2.0]

So I've had this algae for as long as I've had my tank - three years, and it only grows on one rock, a little on others, but nothing major. It is a deep purple color and builds up a thick, squishy mat. When I peel it up the underside is either brownish gray (and flakey) or bright green. It has a soft, velvety texture and is smooth with no bubbles (the ones in the picture are just stuck to it because it was by the skimmer outflow at that point,) or strands.
I currently don't have any in the tank as I just scrubbed the rocks to get rid of it, but it will probably be back soon. My parameters are good, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are all 0, calcium 460ish, SG 1.025, ph 8.2, and temp 80.
Is this cyanobacteria? And if not any ideas? It doesn't really bother me, and I used to think it was sort of pretty, but I've just decided to get it out of the tank because it makes the rock look kind of messy, and I want as little algae as possible so I can get more coralline growth.
thanks

 

[snakeblitz33]

yup. Do you have crushed coral in the bottom of your aquarium? One day, I am going to post my studies of crushed coral vs. live sand.
Blow it off a little by little with a turkey baster, then do a water change, sucking up as much as possible. Then, check your parameters again and keep doing water changes. Make sure that your protein skimmer is pulling out enough gunk in the water.
The best type of export of nutrience is water changes, sorry to say. Have fun!

 

[coral keeper]

I don't know what it is but it looks nice!

 

[alix2.0]

Yeah, it is actually kind of pretty. If there was a lot of it I would be worried, but it's always on the same rock.

I do 3 gallon water changes every Sunday, (the tank is a 29) and like I said, my parameters are fine, so I'm not sure what i should be checking for? I am running an Aqua-c Remora, and it works great. I empty the cup about every three to four days.
Nope, definately no crushed coral! Lol live sand all the way for me.
Also, I thought that when Cyano got thick it formed bubbles under the "skin" of the mat or got stringy, which this has never done.

 

[alix2.0]

Yeah, it is actually kind of pretty. If there was a lot of it I would be worried, but it's always on the same rock.

I do 3 gallon water changes every Sunday, (the tank is a 29) and like I said, my parameters are fine, so I'm not sure what i should be checking for? I am running an Aqua-c Remora, and it works great. I empty the cup about every three to four days.
Nope, definately no crushed coral! Lol live sand all the way for me.
Also, I thought that when Cyano got thick it formed bubbles under the "skin" of the mat or got stringy, which this has never done.

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2498163
Yeah, it is actually kind of pretty. If there was a lot of it I would be worried, but it's always on the same rock.

I do 3 gallon water changes every Sunday, (the tank is a 29) and like I said, my parameters are fine, so I'm not sure what i should be checking for? I am running an Aqua-c Remora, and it works great. I empty the cup about every three to four days.
Nope, definately no crushed coral! Lol live sand all the way for me.
Also, I thought that when Cyano got thick it formed bubbles under the "skin" of the mat or got stringy, which this has never done.
The only thing I can think of is mix a thing of new water and check for phos. When I had my biocube I had a rock that had the same stuff but in green, and it would only be on the one rock

 

[alix2.0]

Hmm well I don't have a phosphate test, it may be a stupid question but does phosphate come from the water only or can it come from the salt mix? Because I only use RO/DI water in my tank and my filters are brand new. I am using Instant Ocean salt.

 

[55galgill]

dare i say, i dont think what you have is cyanno. i have it on some of my rocks too. it doesnt exibit the same properties, its almost like a sponge. but thats MHO. does it appear on your sandbed, or any other areas of low flow?

 

[alix2.0]

Nope it's not on the sandbed, and I don't have any algae problems (no diatoms on sand, glass or rocks, no hair algae). Recently it's been growing a little on the tops of the powerheads, but other than that and a few patches on random rocks, it stays on the one rock. I dont really have too many low flow areas in the tank, so im not sure if that's having any effect on it. I also thought about the possibility that it could be a sponge, but I've taken that rock out (exposing it to air) and scrubbed the stuff off so many times, and it just keeps growing back. Also, if you peel it up, underneath the older pieces theres flakey brown tissue and detritus, but the beneath younger areas, theres a bright green tissue that's got the same texture & thickness as the stuff on the surface. So I don't know.

 

[coral keeper]

If it isn't spreading or looks ugly, just keep it?

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2498269
Hmm well I don't have a phosphate test, it may be a stupid question but does phosphate come from the water only or can it come from the salt mix? Because I only use RO/DI water in my tank and my filters are brand new. I am using Instant Ocean salt.
It can be in the salt or water. but you have a rodi unit right? so its prob not phosphate

 

[wfd1008]

i don't know if it's the same stuff, but i bought a rock from a lfs here and it had a thick brown/purple mat on it. the guy said it was a type good algae. trusted him and as soon as i put it in my tank, my lawnmower blenny and hermits took it out in about three days. like i said, don't know it it's the same stuff, but i wish i had more of it whatever it was.

 

[alix2.0]

I found this in The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium. Not sure if this is the same thing, but it looks like it might be.

if the type in the picture is too small-
Peysonnelia sp.
family- Squamariaceae
range- circumtropical
description- this is a beautiful species that can be found at depths of up to 650ft (198m). it is an encrusting alga that is deep reddish-brown in colour. the surface of the encrustation has an unmistakable soft, velvety look. this species is not known to form rhodoliths and is moderately calcified.
aquarium suitability- specimens are easy to keep if the aquarist is lucky to get hold of a piece of live rock that has this species in evidence. unfortunately, this is a rare occurrence. the specimen featured here has survived in a tank for several years. it is under direct lighting from two metal halides lighting units and two blue actinic tubes. the dark brown velvety texture contrasts beautifully with the reds and mauves of other crustose corallines.

 

[alix2.0]

I found this in The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium. Not sure if this is the same thing, but it looks like it might be.

if the type in the picture is too small-
Peysonnelia sp.
family- Squamariaceae
range- circumtropical
description- this is a beautiful species that can be found at depths of up to 650ft (198m). it is an encrusting alga that is deep reddish-brown in colour. the surface of the encrustation has an unmistakable soft, velvety look. this species is not known to form rhodoliths and is moderately calcified.
aquarium suitability- specimens are easy to keep if the aquarist is lucky to get hold of a piece of live rock that has this species in evidence. unfortunately, this is a rare occurrence. the specimen featured here has survived in a tank for several years. it is under direct lighting from two metal halides lighting units and two blue actinic tubes. the dark brown velvety texture contrasts beautifully with the reds and mauves of other crustose corallines.

 

[alix2.0]

I found this in The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium. Not sure if this is the same thing, but it looks like it might be.

if the type in the picture is too small-
Peysonnelia sp.
family- Squamariaceae
range- circumtropical
description- this is a beautiful species that can be found at depths of up to 650ft (198m). it is an encrusting alga that is deep reddish-brown in colour. the surface of the encrustation has an unmistakable soft, velvety look. this species is not known to form rhodoliths and is moderately calcified.
aquarium suitability- specimens are easy to keep if the aquarist is lucky to get hold of a piece of live rock that has this species in evidence. unfortunately, this is a rare occurrence. the specimen featured here has survived in a tank for several years. it is under direct lighting from two metal halides lighting units and two blue actinic tubes. the dark brown velvety texture contrasts beautifully with the reds and mauves of other crustose corallines.

 

[alix2.0]

bump- any ideas? does anyone think it could be this Peysonnelia stuff? im not so sure. has anyone else seen/heard about/had it? anyone think its cyano? or something else entirely? i dont know why its bugging me so much but id really like to know what it is.

 

[babyb]

the stuff in the last pic from the book looks kinda hard and doesnt look like it would come off very easy, i dont think that that is what you have

 

[metweezer]

Bump for Alix. Hey if it is this Peysonnelia maybe she should not be trying to remove it. Anyone

 

[alix2.0]

thanks. well im almost 99 percent sure it isnt cyano, as i just got my first algae bloom in about a year, its minimal but it still looks bad. this stuff is definately cyano, its a lot thinner than the other stuff and translucent maroon. it also has bubbles and is easily blown off rocks and stuff with a turkey baster, where the other stuff is thicker & harder to remove.

 

[raymondcookjr]

I Have The Same Stuff On One Of My Lr