Black Algea? What is this?

[mikelee031]

Does anyonoe know what this black algea I have is? No algea blooms anywhere else in 125g tank. Snails or hermits wont touch it.

 

[Reefing Madness]

It appears to be a new rock, so I'd call that die off, and not algae.

 

[mikelee031]

I had an attack of small starfish that were eating the purple off the rocks... got a harlequin shrimp to rid me of the pests but I have some work to do to get all my purple back. This is on a rock thats out of direct main light. This black spot has been getting bigger and it sheets like slime algea.

 

[mikelee031]

Rock is over a year in the tank

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ok, can you get a clearer pic of that rock?

 

[mikelee031]

 

[3Twinklets]

It almost looks like a patch of Cyano.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ok, now it looks like the Black Sponge
I'd suck it outta there.

 

[mikelee031]

Yeah i sucked it out will see if it comes back

 

[mikelee031]

3Twinklets whats Cyano is it bad or just annoying?

 

[saltyphish]

cyano is a bacterial growth similar to algae. It is both annoying and bad depending on how difficult it is to remove. While increasing flow in the area where the cyano is may help it does not always cure the problem. Cyano can feed on both nutrients and/ or light. What are your nitrate, phosphate readings?

3Twinklets whats Cyano is it bad or just annoying?

 

[mikelee031]

My readings are good now. About a month ago I had a phosphate spike but it is under control now. Can it be holdover from that?

 

[mikelee031]

3 days since i sucked out the black junk. It hasnt returned yet woohoo.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[ruppertb]

I have had this once before it's just like cyano just black

 

[mikelee031]

Update: Ok think I figured it out. Had a phosphate boost. My harlequin shrimp is eating all my small starfish (which i need her to dp badly)and she leaves behind a small carcass. I have put in a GFO to help pull it down. So far so good.

 

[mikelee031]

Ruppertb what did you do to get rid of it?

 

[tfink660]

Battling this now

 

[NanaReefer]

Rock looks easy enough to remove. During a water change I'd do so and treat area with H2O2. Rinse well in old tank water, replace.