Identify Live Rock Growth

[ChamorroSD]

I am currently cycling my tank and it is week two and notice some new red growth on one of my rocks. What is it and is it bad?

Thanks for any advice

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hi! Welcome to Reef2Reef! Thats a sweet looking piece of live rock! Id say thats red coralline algae.

 

[taintstick]

If it scrapes off when you rub it with your fingers (haha) it's cyano. You can easily take the rock out and scrub with a toothbrush then rinse with tank water then put back in your tank.

 

[ChamorroSD]

Hi! Welcome to Reef2Reef! Thats a sweet looking piece of live rock! Id say thats red coralline algae.

Thanks for feedback.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks for feedback.

No prob!

 

[cloak]

Those little pink protrusions on the bottom look like Foraminiferans. (harmless) Those other dark patches are either Cyanobacteria or Coralline algae, depending on how hard they are to remove. Lobophora algae is another possibility too, although this is usually more of a dark brown color.