Is this orange coraline algae?

[xandrew245x]

Yesterday I noticed a couple spots of this orange stuff on my rocks. My tank is coming up on 2 months old and have had 2 clowns in it for about 2 weeks.

It appears to be growing and spreading, attached are a couple pictures.

 

[whalewhalewhale]

could just be patches of diatoms or cyano?

 

[xandrew245x]

could just be patches of diatoms or cyano?

It doesn't look like either of them based off of pictures on google

 

[EnterName]

The tank is 2 months old which probably means the ugly phase is starting. These patches might be the first diatoms or dinoflagellates to show up. As those patches are really small you probably won't be able to simply blow them away with a pipette or turkey baster. But as they grow you might be able to tell if they are slimy or dusty and can partially removed this way.

Either way, you most likely won't have to act at all. The ugly phase is totally normal and part of the tank's maturation process.
Don't worry if it turns out to be dinoflagellates or cyanos. In the first few months pretty much all "outbreaks" that would be devastating in an established tanks are very common and expected. Keep nutrient levels low, but detectable and don't add corals until the green hair algae phase which will follow the diatom phase is coming to an end.

If you take a look at post #16 of my microscopy thread you will see how your substrate might look in a few weeks.

 

[whalewhalewhale]

It doesn't look like either of them based off of pictures on google

google pictures show you severe ones in different lighting.

I'm assuming you're new to this hobby. Cyano/Diatoms come in dozens of different colors and forms, as does coralline. It could be a sponge, dinoflagellates, or even some hydroids.

I highly recommend getting a microscope. It's not mentioned as a "necessity" in most guides, but it helps so much with diagnosing the millions of creatures that can take residence in your tank unexpectedly.

 

[xandrew245x]

google pictures show you severe ones in different lighting.

I'm assuming you're new to this hobby. Cyano/Diatoms come in dozens of different colors and forms, as does coralline. It could be a sponge, dinoflagellates, or even some hydroids.

I highly recommend getting a microscope. It's not mentioned as a "necessity" in most guides, but it helps so much with diagnosing the millions of creatures that can take residence in your tank unexpectedly.

Not new, but buts been 10+ years since I've had a reef tank and I never dealt with this before in my previous setup.

 

[xandrew245x]

The tank is 2 months old which probably means the ugly phase is starting. These patches might be the first diatoms or dinoflagellates to show up. As those patches are really small you probably won't be able to simply blow them away with a pipette or turkey baster. But as they grow you might be able to tell if they are slimy or dusty and can partially removed this way.

Either way, you most likely won't have to act at all. The ugly phase is totally normal and part of the tank's maturation process.
Don't worry if it turns out to be dinoflagellates or cyanos. In the first few months pretty much all "outbreaks" that would be devastating in an established tanks are very common and expected. Keep nutrient levels low, but detectable and don't add corals until the green hair algae phase which will follow the diatom phase is coming to an end.

If you take a look at post #16 of my microscopy thread you will see how your substrate might look in a few weeks.

Would adding a clean up crew now be beneficial?

 

[EnterName]

The tank is 2 months old which probably means the ugly phase is starting. These patches might be the first diatoms or dinoflagellates to show up. As those patches are really small you probably won't be able to simply blow them away with a pipette or turkey baster. But as they grow you might be able to tell if they are slimy or dusty and can partially removed this way.

Either way, you most likely won't have to act at all. The ugly phase is totally normal and part of the tank's maturation process.
Don't worry if it turns out to be dinoflagellates or cyanos. In the first few months pretty much all "outbreaks" that would be devastating in an established tanks are very common and expected. Keep nutrient levels low, but detectable and don't add corals until the green hair algae phase which will follow the diatom phase is coming to an end.

If you take a look at post #16 of my microscopy thread you will see how your substrate might look in a few weeks.

Would adding a clean up crew now be beneficial?

I'm afraid they wouldn't find enough food and would starve quite fast. If you get hermits they will kill the snails and then each other to get some food.

 

[xandrew245x]

I'm afraid they wouldn't find enough food and would starve quite fast. If you get hermits they will kill the snails and then each other to get some food.

Ah yeah that makes sense, when is a good time to add them? Seems to be a lot of varying information on it.

 

[EnterName]

I'm afraid they wouldn't find enough food and would starve quite fast. If you get hermits they will kill the snails and then each other to get some food.

Ah yeah that makes sense, when is a good time to add them? Seems to be a lot of varying information on it.

Most add them during the green hair algae phase but once it's over there won't be enough to eat again. It also depends on how you started your system. Live rock and sand will certainly provide more food than dry/dead rock and sand. My current system (650L/171gal) has been running for 6 years and the CUC is really small as they simply won't survive if I add more.

 

[BryanM]

Would adding a clean up crew now be beneficial?

This thread has some good info:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-managed-the-ugly-stage.1153778/

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yesterday I noticed a couple spots of this orange stuff on my rocks. My tank is coming up on 2 months old and have had 2 clowns in it for about 2 weeks.

It appears to be growing and spreading, attached are a couple pictures.

Either staining from diatoms or possibly macroalgae but likely diatoms