Live Rock turning Red and Green

jw1977

Member
I noticed that my live rock is turning and and green. Is this normal. I've got a new tank that's in its first week of cycling?
 

cprdnick

Active Member
pictures? I don't think you'd be seeing coralline this close to the beginning, even if your LR already had some on it, it wouldn't spread that fast in a tank that new. Does it look like a chalky coating on the rock? hairy? slimy? put ur hand on it, what does it feel like? if it just feels like part of the rock its gonna be coralline.
 

tarball

Member
Most coraline is either purple or pink, algae in a new tank is brown and or green. Brown shows up first then the green algae next.
Its very difficult for an abundance of coraline on live rock to survive in a new tank, because of new water conditions. This is why it takes several months before coraline can begins growth in tank.
 

jw1977

Member
It looks like it is part of the rock. However, there does appear to be a few places where "hair" looks like it's starting to grow.
 

oneradtek

Active Member
are you cycling your tank with your lights on or off? its a personal preferrence, but i cycled mine without any lights on just for this reason. I cant add a clean-up crew to take care of the hair algae until the cycling is done, so without light it doesn't show up. people say you have some die off in the mean time without lights, but mines doing just great! and no algae booms in the beginning
 

oneradtek

Active Member
also im guessing if its red it might be cyano? im really thinking youre cycling with your lights on
 

cprdnick

Active Member
agreed on the lights thing....except for the cyano bacteria part. cyano is not photosynthetic, HOWEVER that is what I was pointing to when I asked if the red looked and felt like part of the rock.
 

oneradtek

Active Member
Originally Posted by jw1977
I haven't even purchased my lights yet. The tank doesn't get very much sunlight either.

could be cyano then
 
Top