Corraline?

nikkipigtails · 03-07-2008, 05:55 PM

I've been struggling to get the pH in my tank consistant so the calcium additive would be more effective and about 6 months ago I finally got the perfect balance. My pH is maintaining itself between 8.1 and 8.2 and my calcium is 400-420 (depending on when I test). Anyway, I started noticing these bright pink structures starting to grow in my LR once the pH and calcium started to balance out. I think it's just corraline algae but I've never seen it look like this. It's really difficult to get a good picture but it looks like little trees. They're really hard and small, maybe 3-4mm. These are the best pictures I could get. Also...is the last picture a sponge?

rpawluk · 03-07-2008, 07:27 PM

looks like a sponge. any closer pictures you can take and post?

nikkipigtails · 03-07-2008, 09:42 PM

nope, that was the best one I could get. I've had that one for a while along with another one that looks exactly the same. Any idea about the pink stuff?

tbittner · 03-07-2008, 09:49 PM

What does it taste like?

tbittner · 03-07-2008, 09:49 PM

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention...

I'M KIDDING!!!

CATALYST · 03-07-2008, 09:56 PM

The coralline is the pink and purple stuff on the rocks that look like they are painted. In the bottom picture, it's to the left of the feather duster and in the bottom right. The thing in the middle of the pic looks like a sponge.

XBwlr · 03-07-2008, 11:30 PM

I have a bunch of those sponges... they don't seem to hurt anything.

nikkipigtails · 03-08-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CATALYST

The coralline is the pink and purple stuff on the rocks that look like they are painted. In the bottom picture, it's to the left of the feather duster and in the bottom right. The thing in the middle of the pic looks like a sponge.

The pink stuff I'm asking about doesn't look like it's painted on. It looks like tiny trees standing up on the rocks.

JWarren · 03-08-2008, 11:23 AM

Tiny trees may be feather dusters.

Sponge is good!

nikkipigtails · 03-08-2008, 11:48 AM

Ok, guys. I know the pictures weren't very good but I figured out what it is. I found a picture online that looks a LOT like what I have. It's deposits of coraline algae. Here's the pic.

CATALYST · 03-08-2008, 09:51 PM

The tiny trees are foraminiferans and the painted on looking stuff is coralline.

nikkipigtails · 03-08-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CATALYST

The tiny trees are foraminiferans and the painted on looking stuff is coralline.

Foraminiferans are tiny organisms mostly visible with a microscope. Like I said before, it's deposits of coraline algae. It looks exactly like the picture I just posted but hot pink and smaller. There are giant beds of it around Ireland. It's found in giants sub-tidal beds along the wesr coast of Ireland and is very rare.

I've had a sw tank for 3 years and I know what normal coraline algae looks like. The "trees" are structures growing on the rocks, not tiny organisms.

nikkipigtails · 03-08-2008, 10:29 PM

Dentoid · 03-08-2008, 10:31 PM

Nikki, I have them too. I don't know what they are except pretty!

CATALYST · 03-09-2008, 12:13 AM

I have them too. Here's a link.

03-07-2008, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,033 View Gallery Karma Komment	Corraline? I've been struggling to get the pH in my tank consistant so the calcium additive would be more effective and about 6 months ago I finally got the perfect balance. My pH is maintaining itself between 8.1 and 8.2 and my calcium is 400-420 (depending on when I test). Anyway, I started noticing these bright pink structures starting to grow in my LR once the pH and calcium started to balance out. I think it's just corraline algae but I've never seen it look like this. It's really difficult to get a good picture but it looks like little trees. They're really hard and small, maybe 3-4mm. These are the best pictures I could get. Also...is the last picture a sponge? __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-07-2008, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,033 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? nope, that was the best one I could get. I've had that one for a while along with another one that looks exactly the same. Any idea about the pink stuff? __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-07-2008, 09:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,563 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Corraline? What does it taste like? __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

03-07-2008, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,563 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Corraline? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... I'M KIDDING!!! __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

03-07-2008, 09:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
CATALYST Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,442 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? The coralline is the pink and purple stuff on the rocks that look like they are painted. In the bottom picture, it's to the left of the feather duster and in the bottom right. The thing in the middle of the pic looks like a sponge. __________________ _.:Bonni:._

03-07-2008, 11:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
XBwlr Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kingston, Ohio Posts: 1,224 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? I have a bunch of those sponges... they don't seem to hurt anything. __________________ -Scott "Do I really look like a guy with a plan?"

03-08-2008, 11:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
JWarren Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port Saint Lucie, Florida Posts: 1,426 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? Tiny trees may be feather dusters. Sponge is good! __________________ John Typhoon RO/DI filter unit. My Saltwater web site. Help build ReefPedia!

03-08-2008, 11:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,033 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? Ok, guys. I know the pictures weren't very good but I figured out what it is. I found a picture online that looks a LOT like what I have. It's deposits of coraline algae. Here's the pic. __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-08-2008, 09:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
CATALYST Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,442 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? The tiny trees are foraminiferans and the painted on looking stuff is coralline. __________________ _.:Bonni:._

03-08-2008, 10:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,033 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-09-2008, 12:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
CATALYST Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,442 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Corraline? I have them too. Here's a link. __________________ _.:Bonni:._

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