Red bubbles on my mushroom rock

[Chelymay]

Hello all, new reefer here with a JBJ 45 rimless AIO but I have had freshwater tanks for 10+ years. I decided I would jump in to the saltwater (pun intended).



I have had this up and running for about 3+ months-ish. It has live rock. I have 2 sets of Clowns, a Green Chromis (they only had one and it’s adorable so I bought it) and a Royal Gramma plus 2 snails.

I have two hammer corals that are doing great plus one coral that I don’t know what it is. It looks like silly putty when it’s closed up and long green grassy looking when it’s open, love it and it’s doing great as well. I have some sea grass.



I have lost a flowerpot coral, ouch! LFS didn’t tell me they are hard to keep but my bad for being impulsive. Do your research right



I have question about my mushroom corals which I have had for months. I moved it while I was was cleaning.



I noticed that they did their shrinking thing they do from time to time but I noticed some red bubbles on the rock they are on.

It is no where else in my tank, so after I searched the internet I came to the “ to much information” conclusion.



My water parameters are great (calcium is a little high but I am sorting it out) and I have great lighting. My fish are happy and healthy. I have great bio, I am using carbon in the filtration and I use ion and calcium supplements plus reefroids to direct feed my corals.

I do have a UV sterilizer but no protein skimmer or refugium yet.



I can tell you anything you want to know about a planted Discus tank but reefs not so much.



So I am asking for some help from you guys , who know what you are doing.



What is this and should I like it in my tank or not. I am hoping it will turn into something cool but again I have no idea.



Tanks (lol)everyone!

 

[BaysEndReef]

That would be red bubble algae. I would start feeding smaller amounts, do more frequent water changes, and shorten your lighting schedule a bit. Also, you could try directing more flow toward that rock to see if the bubbles will release.

 

[lavoisier]

I might also be cyno. 3+ months is still a new tank and not yet stable. As BaysEnd said more flow will help. You can also use a baster and blow it off the rock manually. You did not mention your flow rate (gph/45) in the tank. Do you have a powerhead pump(s) in the tank? What are you using for your return pump?

 

[Chelymay]

I might also be cyno. 3+ months is still a new tank and not yet stable. As BaysEnd said more flow will help. You can also use a baster and blow it off the rock manually. You did not mention your flow rate (gph/45) in the tank. Do you have a powerhead pump(s) in the tank? What are you using for your return pump?

Hi,
I cycled it for a month with live rock and substrate plus seeded the bio before I added the clowns. So it’s been more like four months altogether but I agree it is a new system for sure. I am trying to add things slowly. It’s not like freshwater at all. You can make mistakes with fresh without crashing or causing major issues.
Plus it is expensive when you make a reef mistake so I am trying to do the ounce of prevention method. I always have my magnifying glass out

I was able to get through the ugly stage with the diatoms by keeping the lights low but I upped the lighting for the corals and I am starting to see some diatom pop up.

I have two 16watt Pumps with a flow rate of 264 GPH each plus I just recently added two power heads 480 GPH each.
Is that good?
Thanks you guys, it’s great having nice people to help.

 

[Chelymay]

That would be red bubble algae. I would start feeding smaller amounts, do more frequent water changes, and shorten your lighting schedule a bit. Also, you could try directing more flow toward that rock to see if the bubbles will release.

How long do you suggest I run the lights?

I am always messing with them which can’t be good. I am learning to be consistent. Everything is so precise with reefing.

I am loving it though, I want my tank to look perfect like now but I tell myself to just enjoy the journey. But I can’t wait, ya know.

I am really grateful to everyone for your thoughts and advise

 

[BaysEndReef]

What lights are you running? What are the intensity and schedule?

 

[Chelymay]

What lights are you running? What are the intensity and schedule?

NICREW 100 Watts Aquarium LED Reef Light, Dimmable Full Spectrum Marine LED for Saltwater Coral Fish Tanks.
I run it on the blue side and less white. I am not really sure what I should have it on or how long. My LFS just kinda told me to play around with it until I liked the results.
So any advice would be helpful I attached a picture of the light info and a picture of my tank. It is a work in progress so be gentle.
As you can see my mushrooms are tight snd it it the only rock that has the red bubbles, I felt them up, they are soft and mushy.

 

[BaysEndReef]

Get some flow on those bubbles. Whether from your return or a powerhead, they need flow. Reduce your light schedule by one hour in the front and one hour in the rear. Along with that schedule, reduce by 1 hour any other setting you have programmed. Report back in a month with the results. Stay on top of your water changes.

 

[Chelymay]

Hello all, new reefer here with a JBJ 45 rimless AIO but I have had freshwater tanks for 10+ years. I decided I would jump in to the saltwater (pun intended).



I have had this up and running for about 3+ months-ish. It has live rock. I have 2 sets of Clowns, a Green Chromis (they only had one and it’s adorable so I bought it) and a Royal Gramma plus 2 snails.

I have two hammer corals that are doing great plus one coral that I don’t know what it is. It looks like silly putty when it’s closed up and long green grassy looking when it’s open, love it and it’s doing great as well. I have some sea grass.



I have lost a flowerpot coral, ouch! LFS didn’t tell me they are hard to keep but my bad for being impulsive. Do your research right



I have question about my mushroom corals which I have had for months. I moved it while I was was cleaning.



I noticed that they did their shrinking thing they do from time to time but I noticed some red bubbles on the rock they are on.

It is no where else in my tank, so after I searched the internet I came to the “ to much information” conclusion.



My water parameters are great (calcium is a little high but I am sorting it out) and I have great lighting. My fish are happy and healthy. I have great bio, I am using carbon in the filtration and I use ion and calcium supplements plus reefroids to direct feed my corals.

I do have a UV sterilizer but no protein skimmer or refugium yet.



I can tell you anything you want to know about a planted Discus tank but reefs not so much.



So I am asking for some help from you guys , who know what you are doing.



What is this and should I like it in my tank or not. I am hoping it will turn into something cool but again I have no idea.



Tanks (lol)everyone!

Hey all,

Update:
I removed the rock that had the mushrooms on it and put in my hospital tank which was empty with the intention of finding a tool to pick of the red bubble algae so it didn’t spread in my display tank.

I had 2 Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crabs and 2 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crabs in the tank with the mushroom rock and by the time I got around to start picking the red bubbles off, I noticed most of the bubbles were gone!!

I have heard that hermit crabs aren’t really interested in eating bubble algae but wow, I am not sure if it was a coincidence or what but I didn’t do anything but leave the rock and the hermits in the tank for the day.

Anyway I just wanted to share that with you guys because those little crabs did a great job.

Plus I changed my light schedule and put some flow on it in the hopes it doesn’t return. I am also hoping the mushrooms perk up again.

Tanks to you all

l attached an after picture of the rock!