Cause for "red coralline" ?

[ellisbart]

Does anyone have any theories as to what causes the proliferation of "red coralline"? I believe the species isn't actually a part of the coralline family but rather a red thalloid algae from the genus Peyssonnelia sp. or maybe Hildenbrandia rubra.

Some systems appear to have none, whilst others can have varying amounts to blanket coverage, much like I have experienced on some areas of rock.

It is documented that algae can grow on precipitation sites until the precipitated elements are exhausted. Could it be the precipitation of trace metals (Fe, Mn, etc), phosphorous, and or halogens like iodine leading to deposits that algae, including (H. rubra?) take advantage of? @Hans-Werner

Could there be a link with the salt products we use, which contain anti-caking agents, iron (ferrocyanide) and manganese? It is often said that these elements have no biological effect and rapidly precipitate after a water change. However, can those Fe and Mn precipitates not fuel algal recruitment and growth?

 

[exnisstech]

Im not much of a science guy so I don't have any theory but I do find it interesting that I have multiple tanks but only have that type in one tank. I only see it in the rocks and have the more typical light purple type on the back glass.

I have much less now that I added a pincushion urchin.

EDIT. The tank pictured uses the same salt (IO purple) that my other tanks run and gets nothing dosed except AFR so in my case I have no idea why it only appears in ine tank.
The only difference i can think of between my tanks is that this one gets much more intense lighting for the acros. I get about 500 par at the top but nothing close to that in my other tanks.

 

[rlman41299]

I am having the same issue with this plating red purple coraline algae. It is taking over my tank and suffocating corals even encrusting over and killing them. Any way to control it?

 

[Hans-Werner]

It is documented that algae can grow on precipitation sites until the precipitated elements are exhausted. Could it be the precipitation of trace metals (Fe, Mn, etc), phosphorous, and or halogens like iodine leading to deposits that algae, including (H. rubra?) take advantage of? @Hans-Werner

Coralline algae need, like many other marine macro algae, bacterial partners for growth. Bacteria on their side may benefit from phosphate and metals in precipitates and may make the precipitated elements and compounds bioavailable to the coralline algae. I think in cyanobacterial growth a similar mechanism is involved.

I am quite sure calcification of coralline algae, like calcification of corals, needs and consumes some phosphate.

 

[exnisstech]

I am having the same issue with this plating red purple coraline algae. It is taking over my tank and suffocating corals even encrusting over and killing them. Any way to control it?

The type I have does not seem to hinder my coral growth.

Same coral month apart.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I have a couple miscellaneous pieces of the red in my tank, but mostly the purple. My red, does not really seem to grow much.