Oh no! Cyano, or something else?

[ELBee]

Noticed red on my rocks very very sloooowly growing/expanding. This is my first foray into salt water (what I lack in experience, I try to make up for in effort and monitoring) so I don't have much exposure to all the fun, and not-so-fun things that can pop up in our tanks.

Can anyone identify?

 

[civics14]

Its hard to tell, but could be. Cyano is nothing to worry about though. It’s inevitable in our tanks.
I always just vacuumed it out with an airline hose until it ran its course.

 

[Magic031707]

I was told if it blows off, it's cyano. If it does not its more than likely coralline

 

[ELBee]

I was told if it blows off, it's cyano. If it does not its more than likely coralline

Ooooh nice tip! I'm about to find the out!!

 

[ELBee]

Okay guys- ready for your expert judgement/confirmation!

I rubbed it very hard with my (gloved) hand- none came off. Then tried scraping with my fingernail- none came off. Then just to see I just went and started gouging with my tweezers- they did leave a small streak where algae was removed but it REALLY doesn't want to go anywhere.

Could it really be coralline? I hope so, but I've heard that it usually only grows in established tanks 6months old or MORE- but haven't done much research yet. My tank was started in late Nov 22...

 

[Bluemoon]

The green stains really look early stages of coralline. What about your sand bed?

 

[jcook54]

It sure could be coralline. All of the not-so-good stuff that looks similar rubs off pretty easy. Normally it takes a little longer to show up but that's just an average. In my experience the first signs of coralline show up pretty quick and I think "Terrific! The coralline is coming in quick!" Then it takes a long time to get much else because I'm not dosing Alkalinity.

 

[ELBee]

The green stains really look early stages of coralline. What about your sand bed?

Sand bed is pretty clear- my CUC keeps most of it churned regularly.

But near the glass, you can see some purple/pink in the sand that's up against the glass

 

[Bluemoon]

Sand bed is pretty clear- my CUC keeps most of it churned regularly.

But near the glass, you can see some purple/pink in the sand that's up against the glass

Ok, they do look like coralline - notice you always have some green near the purple, that's a sign for new coralline. Cyano will not spare your sand and on the other hand coralline rarely grow on sand.
Below is tank from a friend with cyano on the sand, and has coralline between the sand and front glass, too

 

[Bluemoon]

btw Chemiclean is a really good treatment for Cyano per my experience. But i do not think you have cyano.

 

[MathCat58]

This is an older thread but I’m wondering if I may also now have cyano. The tank is about a year old and I’m starting to get this red and somewhat fluorescent algae of some sort. Any clue?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Reefplumber13]

Sand bed is pretty clear- my CUC keeps most of it churned regularly.

But near the glass, you can see some purple/pink in the sand that's up against the glass

That is 100% coralline