Algae identification, red or coralline?

[Manchild]

my apologies as I know there are several of these posts, but I'm horrible at making this determination as I am new to the hobby. Recently added some snails from my LFS that had coralline algae but started to see this grow. Was just wondering if I'm looking at red algae or coralline? It's like a maroon color under the moonlight and a dark reddish under the whites? -bottom left of photo of course-

I was battling some green hair for a min but was able to get that under control. My parameters are nitrites-0.0 , nitrates .10, phosphates-0.2, pH-8.0. It's a two year old tank that was established and moved to my place, I replaced the crushed coral with live sand and only have two clowns and a Valentini puffer as well as some corals currently.

 

[Manchild]

It actually glows under the moonlights , @audikers

 

[Diesel]

The good stuff......................... coralline algae.
Coraline comes in different shades of red, this is one of it.

 

[audikers]

Im more worried about the stuff growing on the TOP of that rock. It its different that the coraline that i have seen. This actually lights up like coral, but its a dark red. And it doesnt cover completely like a coral. There are little patches of it,

 

[Manchild]

 

[Manchild]

So everything I'm looking at is coralline?

 

[twilliard]

Yup from what I can see that is coralline.

 

[Manchild]

Woo! Definitely happy it's not the slime! Now to get my nitrates down from 20 :(

 

[twilliard]

If this is a new tank the best way to bring that No3 down is a large water change 50+%

 

[Manchild]

Well, it's a few weeks old for me but it's been up and running from someone else for a couple years

 

[Diesel]

Yep.............. water change is best.
Check your Po4 as well.
I see that this tank got moved from one place to yours.
If the live rock got exposed to air you will get some die-off on there.
The results are when put back in water is a spike of Po4 and No3.
Test for these # as often as possible and go after it before it get out of control.

 

[Manchild]

Rock was never exposed to air, they were kept in buckets with the aquarium water. Numbers have been down for a while, around .5-.10, but I feel I may have been feeding Corals too much. I was alternating Reef energy and Reef Roids back and forth for the past week...

 

[twilliard]

Rock was never exposed to air, they were kept in buckets with the aquarium water. Numbers have been down for a while, around .5-.10, but I feel I may have been feeding Corals too much. I was alternating Reef energy and Reef Roids back and forth for the past week...

That will do it!
A good export method should be looked into :)

 

[Diesel]

And there you have it.
If tank was moved the proper way in most if not all case feeding your fish or corals is the problem.
When you feed the fish you can feed the corals at the same time.
Use frozen food at all times add 5ml AA, a few drops of Aqua Forrest V and 5ml phyto feast any other you have and when frozen food is ready feed it to the fish.

 

[Manchild]

Out of curiosity is what I'm feeding too much? I only have two clowns and a Valentini puffer? I have some semi-frozen mysis that I feed the clowns and puffer, clowns will also get pellets on occasion but just one each

 

[twilliard]

And there you have it.
If tank was moved the proper way in most if not all case feeding your fish or corals is the problem.
When you feed the fish you can feed the corals at the same time.
Use frozen food at all times add 5ml AA, a few drops of Aqua Forrest V and 5ml phyto feast any other you have and when frozen food is ready feed it to the fish.

Good lord ben! I think you forgot to mention the blender LOL

 

[twilliard]

Out of curiosity is what I'm feeding too much? I only have two clowns and a Valentini puffer? I have some semi-frozen mysis that I feed the clowns and puffer, clowns will also get pellets on occasion but just one each

It may not be too much but a lot about feeding is how you get rid of any extra foods that are not eaten.
For instance the helix 5000 skimmer I use, doesn't let anything by ;)

 

[Diesel]

Good lord ben! I think you forgot to mention the blender LOL

Nope blenders aren't good to use as the will blend it left ways.
You need it to blend right ways and from the bottom up never down.
The temperature to blend need to be the same as you sump temp.
If feed with a spoon use a clear plastic spoon as a metal can drop the temp of the food your feeding.
Always feed the same time of day as the Co2 in the air around the tank can be absorbed by the food and we all know that CO2 is never a good thing.
Feed with the opposite hand that you write with............. not sure why but just do it :p

 

[twilliard]

Nope blenders aren't good to use as the will blend it left ways.
You need it to blend right ways and from the bottom up never down.
The temperature to blend need to be the same as you sump temp.
If feed with a spoon use a clear plastic spoon as a metal can drop the temp of the food your feeding.
Always feed the same time of day as the Co2 in the air around the tank can be absorbed by the food and we all know that CO2 is never a good thing.
Feed with the opposite hand that you write with............. not sure why but just do it :p

<--- is taking notes.. classic!

 

[Diesel]

<--- is taking notes.. classic!

It's true though.................. (with a straight face)