Checking on Algae

[millie3]

Hello
Enclosed are two pictures of the types of algae that are growing on my LR. I know the purple is good, but I am wondering about the lime green and the aqua stuff. I want to be sure it is good algae. None of it seems to be overtaking...mainly spotty, but definitely the green has been coming out more in the past week or so.
Thanks for the help. BTW, no phospates and all water parameters are good.

 

[FishyFry]

I'm not much of a saltwater tank expert, but I do like to read and learn more. I looked over some articles on saltwater tank algae and looked at some photos. The algae does not seem to be out of control, but the darker, brighter of the green algae is interesting. Not sure if it's good or bad. The green algae I saw in pictures of other tanks was the lighter color green.

 

[millie3]

Thanks
I agree. It is not out of control and there are clearly two types..lime (lighter) and aqua (darker). I guess as long as they stay in check I will be OK. I was curious if they were corraline and how do you tell that?

 

[Reefscape]

are they a soft or hard algae?

Niko

 

[millie3]

I am not sure how to tell, but I tried scraping gently and they did not seem to come off.

 

[Reefscape]

It looks like it is corraline algae then...if it nuicence alage, its usally soft to the touch and would just come off....

Niko

 

[jojo22]

I agree, coraline comes in all kinds of colors, generaly hard encrusting algae is coraline.

 

[millie3]

That's great. Will it stay around forever?

 

[Reefscape]

corraline algae will stay around as long as the lighting and calcium stays good...

Niko

 

[jojo22]

You also need to keep you ALK in line for it to live and grow!