Help ID Please

blitt

Member
It's not the best picture but does this look like coralline algea. I've headr it starts in circle formations. I hope it's not Cyanobacter. This is the back glass of my tank. I have roughly 75 lbs of live rock in 55 gal tank setup since 10 june 2004.
 

blitt

Member
What would the yellowish algea be? I rubbed it with my finger and the yellow comes right off. the rest stays there and kind of feels like tiny rocks.
 

blitt

Member
Should i use my magnet scrubber on the back glass and see what stays or should i leave it alone. Will the magnet scrubber remove coralline?
 

blitt

Member
I know I want coralline but I want to make sure it's not cyanobacter. So I thought I'd use my magnet scrubber. If the magnet scrubber will remove coralline I don't want to use it.
 

blitt

Member
I do have cyanobacter. I'm starting to think the majority of this stuff on the back glass is cyanobacter as well. When i rub my fingers along the back glass I feel some hard spots that are to small to see and some that are white but still very small. I also have a lot of hair algea growing on the rocks. I tried to kill the cyano bacter with leaving the lights off for a week and doing water changes with RO/Di water from LFS. I guess I need to add a good clean up crew. to help get rid of the detritus before it causes this problem huh. If I add lots of snails at one time will it make a signifgant change to my bio load? Will a cleanup crew eat hair algea? I guess I need some tank cleaning tips. I'm also concerned about adding snails because i have a chocolatechip star. Any help would be great.
 

bigarn

Active Member
Emerald crabs will get rid of hair algae real well. The addition of a good clean up crew won't upset the Bioload of your tank.
I really don't know about choc. chip stars.....but IMO snails and a good cleanup crew are more important to the success of a tank.:D
 

clarkiiboi

Active Member
Since you are on the reef forumn, I highly suggest giving up your CC star, its not reef safe. Use your magnet and clean (the best you can) the back glass, it won't scrape off coraline. If you do see cyano on your rocks and/or sand read this thread. Cyano can be caused by many reasons, that thread states them. Hair algea is another story--your pic looks like hair algea to me. List your tank readings.
 
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