Black algae? Does it exsist?

[Acronuts1]

Has anyone ever had a black form of algae grow in their tank?

I am wondering if this is something I need to worry about.



I also have been noticing that since I have been using a ca reactor my coralline algae has gone from pink and purples to more dark purples and even maroon red.

Could it be possible that my media in the reactor is too old?

Or am I just now seeing my tank mature?



js

 

[Sea Turtle]

the black algae could be a type of slime algae (cyanobacteria). I am currently having a small problem with this same thing and it is black. Maybe some pics might help.

 

[blackcloudmedia]

There is a type of black algae that is notorious in swimming pools. Dont know the details of it but Ive never seen it in a reef tank. Im pretty sure its an algae and not cyano.

 

[Anonymous]

Some of what I think was cyano in marine systems can actually be a very dark almost black red/maroon.

In one tank it actually formed a thick mat which I removed almost in one peice.

Eventually, the macro algaes expanded and I adjusted lighting and the "black" algae went away.

my .02

 

[Ben1]

the black algae could be a type of slime algae (cyanobacteria). I am currently having a small problem with this same thing and it is black. Maybe some pics might help.

Your probably right thats it is cyano. Typically more flow in the tank, and some GAC/GFO can take care of it. If it is growing on your sand and always comes back in the same areas even after adding flow to that area you may have too much detritus built up in your sand, or rocks. I know when I run a tank with sand the LR dont shed as well and overtime have build ups of detritus in them. I can use a powerhead like a maxijet to blow the rocks out right before a water change if I feel like its an issue. One thing I would stay away from are the slime algae removing products like chemi-clean.

 

[Sea Turtle]

One thing I would stay away from are the slime algae removing products like chemi-clean.

Agreed on this one for sure. They all say that they are reef safe and won't harm your corals. I am a bit sceptical of this. I have this gut feeling that this could be one of the main problems that I am having with my sps right now. I added that stuff about 4 months ago to treat a small cyano problem and ever since my corals have beeb looking like junk. Their starting to come around now after loads of water changes, carbon, poly pads, GFO, and more water changes.... However, I do believe that Ben was correct about the nutrients affecting them. I think that the slime control weakened them and the elevated nutrients just overwhelmend them.

I am actually starting to get a hold on my cyano problem now. I have been sucking out as much as possible on each water change and cutting down the amount of fish food each day. It seems to be going away slowly but surely. Also, I recently changed the GFO in my reactor which also seemed to help move it along.

Good Luck.

 

[Acronuts1]

Ok guys thanks for the info.
One more thing.
What is a GAC and GFO?

 

[Ben1]

Granular activated carbon, and granular ferric oxide. GFO is like phosban, and Rowaphos. For GAC I like Rox .8 from Bulkreefsupply.com, and when I reorder I will probably try their bulk GFO also.

 

[Acronuts1]

thnxs for the info. I will still try to get a heads up on it by doing some water changes. Once I change to the larger tank I will add a media reactor.