purple algea...just a question

[sunrider]

anyone ever run into a purple algea...grows thick in sheets on glass but seems to leave rock alone....i remove it with a razor from the glass and it has the same texture and look to it as the purple algea you can buy for tangs and other herbivores?

not generally a problem, it seems to only grow on the side of the tank that gets sunlight in the evenings and is easy to remove....not to mention a slow grower.....was just curious if anyone knew anything about it

thanks

[clown2be]

It coralline (purple algae) It grows all over the tank. My sump, pumps, hoses, skimmer, glass in tank, rocks, even sponges, its growing all over. When you scrap it off, it will seed the tank. its growing on your rocks to. What you have is a good thing.

Eric

[sunrider]

no no......i know bout the corraline that's a whole nother nuisance.......this stuff is so purple it's almost black, and looks acts and feels alot like kelp.......the corraline is distinctly different, but thanks :-)

[clown2be]

Can you get a photo, I would like to see it.

[sunrider]

i can try.......photos for me so far haven't been all that great...but as soon as i can get my sister to cough up the camera i'll be glad to try

[GhostDawg]

its cyano....

[sunrider]

all reports about cyano is that it powders when you try to remove it.........and i've seen that happen......this is a solid purple algea that comes off in sheets and doesn't seem to grow on the substrate just the glass....still working on the picture....removing it from the tank makes it clump up and resemble seaweed...

[GhostDawg]

I do not know what you been reading...but I have had cyano problems and it never "powdered" when I removed it. Cyano acts like a rug and if u get a good piece of it you can peel a few inches of the stuff at a time. I am telling you...its cyano.

[moggyhill]

it sounds like red slime, get a phosphate remover, do more water changes, increase circulation in the tank. Also why would you think coraline is a nusance?

[Peter Eichler]

It's might not be Cyano guys, I've had what sounds to be similar algae form in one of my aquariums. If I recall correctly the one tank I had it in was also exposed to sunlight for some time during the day. It has a more solid structure than cyano and is less oily in structure. If it was Cyano it probably would be growing on his substrate and certain rocks don't you think?

There are over 4000 species identified in the division Rhodophyta (red algaes) yet you insist that it can't be anything other than cyanobacteria. Give the guy a break and broaden your horizons a bit. I might be able to help identify it but without a good photo I and anyone else on here is useless.

Peter

[DeathBringer]

Well for one thing, by scraping it off and removing i you care taking a lot of nutrient out of your tank which must people like to buy skimmers for.
Why pay money for a machine to do what a free living thing can do. ;-)

Think of it as part of your ecosystem and a nice way of it helping you keep it clean.