Cyano or Something Else?

[votek]

I have a reddish type of algae that has been very slow growing recently. It's in my 10g fowlr at the moment. I have a couple pieces of live rock, and the it started on that rock, is now growing on my piece of dead coral and a nearby small shell.

It doesn't sound like Cyano though. Its not long and stringy, but a very very dark purple fuz. It almost looks black, but when when looked at closely its a dark purple.

My lighting is 15w 10,000k.
Nitrites 0.
Amonia 0.
Nitrates are around 5 - which is slowly going down.

I did some searches through the forums and the only thing that seemed close to it was, my first consideration, cyano and a FW algae.

I know I should try a calc and alk test, probably the weekend. Anyone know what this could be exactly?

[VoodooChild]

Sounds like cyano to me. Does it come off in gelatinous sheets?

[votek]

No, not really, but it may help to define "gelatinous sheets" a little more :(. It is not slimey at all. Its almost like a purple moss, like a sponge.

I looked closer and noticed a lot of bubbles on the porus dead coral piece.

[VoodooChild]

Um...how to define it....I dunno. Like the skin of a pudding. It can be picked up in large pieces but can easily break apart. Mine isn't always stringy. Actually, most of the times it isn't.

[votek]

I have a feeling it is Cyano then. Much more likely description.