something is going on-I need help

zoie2

zoie2

Active Member
My tank is 3 yrs old (12 gal). I do yearly maintence in Dec. I ordered new lights in Jan, but the daylights are on back order and I still haven't gotten them.
I replaced the actinic lights.
I changed my salt from ? to Red Sea a couple moths ago. I have had a huge coraline algae growth since then. It's kinda a pain cause I have to scrape it off my glass with a razor almost weekly; and EVERYTHING is purple.
But, here's the problem. I am noticing a new algae growth that makes me nervous. One is dark green and one is dark red. The dark red one is also growing on my yellow polyps and they have started to shrink.
I'm not sure WHAT is going on, but SOMETHING is going on.
Could it be my lights?
Here are my water peram. taken with the mad scientist test kit, not a dip stick:
Amonia was a little high last week (.5)water change= back down to 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite:0
PH 7.8
Temp 79
SG 25 (last 2 #s)
calcium 400
Here is a close up of the alge

and here is my yellow polyps:

Anyone have any idea what is going on?
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
The green appears to be coraline, but the red thats on the polyps is it hard or soft and if its soft can you remove it easily?
 
zoie2

zoie2

Active Member
really, green coraline? I don't think I've heard of that.
The red algae is soft and scrapes off the rock easily. Should I just scrape it off, or will it float around and grow else where?
So, is this new algae bad or good or both? Could my polyps be reacting to the old lights and it have nothing to do with the new algae?
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
My guess would be that both are new coralline growth. Read somewhere that coralline likes actinic light. Maybe the new actinics are spurring the growth. Tis a good thing I think.
 
zoie2

zoie2

Active Member
where do phosphates come from? I dont think I have a test for that. I think someone told me if I used RO filtered water (which I do) I wouldn't have a problem with phosphates.
Was I told wrong? Should I go buy a test for it?
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
If the red algae is soft it definitely is not coraline. Have you noticed any air bubbles forming in it?
Its less likely to have phosphate problem when you are using RO but you can still get phosphates from the foods you feed your corals and fish. So it is possible you have some phosphates.
Coraline comes in multiple colors, I have red, green, purple, pink and orange in my tank and possibly blue just noticed that one and I will be posting pics later to see if anyone else has seen it before.
 
A

arlene1995

Guest
Regarding coralline - I have and have seen green, red, purple, I have a small bit of orange, some blue, pink, and a REALLY deep red.
The soft stuff may be a sponge. Just a thought because I have the exact same thing. Mine is pink and there is a red spot too. It is on the bottom of a dead coral piece and is squishy. It does NOT seem to be growing towards the light...
Hope this helps!
 
zoie2

zoie2

Active Member
hmmm, a sponge, that doesn't sound too bad. It won't kill anything in my tank will it?
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
Sponges are usually harmless, some types can be a pest depending on the growth rate I had a sponge in my tank that grew so fast that it would choke out any corals that were near it. It was easy to remove though and now has gone back into somewhat of a dormant state and doesn't grow much.
 
A

abeandlulu

Guest
Is it stringy, loose on the rock. easy to blow off? If it is a would say it is canyo. another pic would help if you have any
 
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