I think my LR is sick ...

[Dinosaur]

Look at the black and dark red patches on my live rock.

The black one is like a layer of membrane which stick onto the S/F of the rock and can be brush off with a brush. But it re-appear after a few day and spreading to other rocks.

The dark red color is quite common in my tank and no matter now I brush I just can't get rid of it.

Is both of thses harmful? If yes, then how can I get rid of it?

Thanks

[TanGo]

Everyone is trying to get as much red coraline algae on their LR and here you are trying to scrub it away..

[Achilles Tang]

LOL!

Sorry... but that was funny. Tango is right! You do not want to clear away coralline algae!

The black stuff may be some kind of encrusting sponge.... or it could be dinoflagellates... but black? hmmm.... can you zoom closer to get a clear shot?

[Dinosaur]

Everyone is trying to get as much red coraline algae on their LR and here you are trying to scrub it away..

huh? So that is is red coraline algae har? The dark red color one. All the while I though coraline algae is pinkish in color and appears in patches

But, how about the blakc color one, what is it? And how can I ensure that it will not spread further.

[Tanzy]

Looks like cyano to me. Sounds like cyano to me.

[lona]

Hey ya ya..mine also has some black patches on the rock..I didn't try to scrub away cos it didn't smell too bad..

AT, dino is right..it really looks black..I tried scrubbing a little but it didn't come off. Don't have a picture with me right now either..

[lona]

Tanzy> Cyano's bad right? Should I take the piece out of the tank? Or just let it cycle and die off..? I'll be finishing off all the adding by the end of the week already..LR after CNY..

[Dinosaur]

LOL!

Sorry... but that was funny. Tango is right! You do not want to clear away coralline algae!

The black stuff may be some kind of encrusting sponge.... or it could be dinoflagellates... but black? hmmm.... can you zoom closer to get a clear shot?

paisei ....... about the black patches, I cannot go any nearer eslse I will get a burry picture. But this is how it look like when I scrap it off.

[Dinosaur]

Anyway, once my friends visited me and commented that the dark red color is a red slime (harmful algae). advice me to get rid of it. But then no matter how hard i scape, it refuse to come off. So just leave it lor ........... so this is treasure har?? heng ar !

[Dinosaur]

Looks like cyano to me. Sounds like cyano to me.

Tanzy, what is cyano? Is it harmful? And how can i get rid of it cos scrabbing doesn't seems to work.

[BarraCudaTM]

is the red algae easy to shrub off?

cyano is like a red film on the surface

whereas coralline algae is "hard" and very difficult to remove

[Dinosaur]

is the red algae easy to shrub off?

cyano is like a red film on the surface

whereas coralline algae is "hard" and very difficult to remove

nope! both the dark red and the pinkish one cannot be brush off (Very hard).

anyway idea what is those blackist one?

Is both dark red & pinkish one known as coralline algae ?

[Tanzy]

Cyanobacteria can be from black to red to green in colour. It is not hard but membraneous like a film. It is easily removed by siphoning and is an indication of poor water quality. It is a real pain to get rid of but it is possible.

Usually, a better protein skimmer or another form of nutrient export such as macroalgae refugium will help reduce it.

After installing a good skimmer, make sure it is running and well.

You will need to siphon out as much of that stuff as possible.

Do a 50% waterchange.

Increase pH to >8.4 and run carbon.

Stop all feeding and blackout the tank for 3 days. Total blackout means covering the tank with black trash bag or something.

Then slowly acclimatise the tank back to original lighting.

It worked for me twice. It is due to overfeeding or overstocking that results in high dissolved organic carbon that feeds the cyanobacteria. They are very resilient and can fix nitrogen so are unaffected by zero nitrate levels.

[Dinosaur]

Cyanobacteria can be from black to red to green in colour. It is not hard but membraneous like a film. It is easily removed by siphoning and is an indication of poor water quality. It is a real pain to get rid of but it is possible.

Usually, a better protein skimmer or another form of nutrient export such as macroalgae refugium will help reduce it.

After installing a good skimmer, make sure it is running and well.

You will need to siphon out as much of that stuff as possible.

Do a 50% waterchange.

Increase pH to >8.4 and run carbon.

Stop all feeding and blackout the tank for 3 days. Total blackout means covering the tank with black trash bag or something.

Then slowly acclimatise the tank back to original lighting.

It worked for me twice. It is due to overfeeding or overstocking that results in high dissolved organic carbon that feeds the cyanobacteria. They are very resilient and can fix nitrogen so are unaffected by zero nitrate levels.

Thanks, but how will total blackout affect the corals and fishes; if any?

[Tanzy]

Fine for me, didn't affect the coral or fish at all. Just have to reacclimatise them to the light carefully.

[Dinosaur]

Fine for me, didn't affect the coral or fish at all. Just have to reacclimatise them to the light carefully.

will do that. Thanks