Coraline Question

[NoobSalt]

Hey gang,

So its been about 5 weeks, tank is doing great for the most part, all water params are right where they should be, fish are all healthy, cuc is healthy, no bad algea problems...except possibly one?

There is the green/yellow stain on my lr. and random little shells in the sand. theres none on the actual sand. i tried to see if i could brush it off the live rock with like a sponge and i cant. I don't know what it is, and trying to read bout 'green/yellow' algea has not led me anywhere helpful so i figure I would attach a photo and see what you all may think.

Water Params

Am- 0
Ni- 0
Nitrate- 10ppm
pH- 8.4
temp - 78-80ish
S/G- 1.023

I use distilled water for water changes with instant ocean mix about a gallon a week in my 12 gallon tank.

If I left anything else you may need to know out, let me know.

My question is mostly that I have heard it could be the first color of coraline algea before the reds and purples take over, but I have no clue. Is it coraline or something else? I don't think it is but I have no idea what it is.

Thanks!

[Original Fin]

If its hard/encrusting, and its not growing on the sand bed, my money is on it being coraline. It comes in quite a few different colors, green being one of them.
In my tank, there is sometimes a progression from green to pink/purple.

[chrisfont23]

Looks like Coraline. Mine went from green to pinkish to purple.

[NoobSalt]

It is hard and encrusting its just I didn't think coraline would spread that fast on ever rock and shell! Will it eventually change color?

[chrisfont23]

If Ca and Alk are in line, you can grow coraline like it's no ones business, encrusting a piece of rock in a month or so.

[NoobSalt]

Dunno about Alk and Ca, don't have the test kits for that yet, I will with the next paycheck, but yeah I mean its green and i tried to scrape some off a small shell with a knife and its damn near impossible to scrape off, so I guess coraline? I don't mind so long as it doesn't stay green forever!

[Original Fin]

Yes, that's coraline, and don't worry...everything will be pink and purple before you know it.

[Original Fin]

Make sure you get all those test kits soon, esp cal, Alk and mag. Running a reef tank without the proper test kits is kind of like piloting a plane without instruments. You might keep it in the air for a while, but eventually you're going to stray into unfriendly airspace.

[NoobSalt]

I plan on it man, just need to be able to pay rent and things too! haha,this is an expensive (but totally worth it) hobby! Good to know it won't stay green forever. Any advice for the best way to get it off the glass? It's only at the bottom of the glass, but I wanna take care of it before it get's out of hand.

[Original Fin]

If it's a glass tank, just a plane old razor blade like you'd use in a paint scraper. Just stay away from the silicone!

For acrylic, I'm not sure, but I doubt you'd want to use a razor blade...too soft for that.

[chrisfont23]

this is an expensive (but totally worth it) hobby!

I estimated tonight I am at $2500 in about 7 months.

[NoobSalt]

Im pretty sure its Glass, its a nanocube and I have read they are all glass, but I don't see any silicone anywhere, so I dont know if it is acrylic. I think glass though. Also, have you ever just lost a critter? My blue spotted sea hare is suddenly nowhere to be found....

[NoobSalt]

and just to avoid being yelled at, I didnt buy the sea hare, it was just given to me by an idiot friend of mine who wanted to give me a gift for the tank. He brought it over out of nowhere randomly and well I didnt want the thing to die or make my friend feel bad so I added it to the tank, but it has been doing great in the tank so far, until now, I just noticed it was missing..I literally can't find it.

[NoobSalt]

I estimated tonight I am at $2500 in about 7 months.

thats not too bad! Im at almost $1000 and Im only a month and half in!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

If it's acrylic, you can get some plastic razor blades. Not sure if hope depot and such carry them though. A sure bet would be a automotive detailing supply store.
If you can't get a hold of plastic razors, you can use a newer credit card edge but it will wear out fast.

[Original Fin]

I've only spent about $75. As far as my wife knows.

[Original Fin]

and just to avoid being yelled at, I didnt buy the sea hare, it was just given to me by an idiot friend of mine who wanted to give me a gift for the tank. He brought it over out of nowhere randomly and well I didnt want the thing to die or make my friend feel bad so I added it to the tank, but it has been doing great in the tank so far, until now, I just noticed it was missing..I literally can't find it.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I've only spent about $75. As far as my wife knows.

[Original Fin]

I had a seahare for a while too, and man was that thing hard to find sometimes. He could be right in front of my nose, parked on a rock, and he was camoflauged so well, I wouldn't see it till it moved.

The other thing it would do once in a while is burrow under a rock, so I'd give it a couple days before pulling rocks, unless it seems like water Q is rapidly heading south.

[Brianh]

The first pic doesn't look like coraline to me at all. It's some sort of green algae. I had the same stuff. My green algae disapeared about a month or two ago. I use RODI water, and I have a phosban reactor. My tank is 5 months old, and is just starting to grow purple coraline on the overflows, etc. Actual coraline can take 8 months or more to establish.