What is this?

About a year or so ago I realized I had a high level of phosphate .55ppm so I started testing different and started switching out my GFO more often based on that test. My phosphate is around .06 usually now. I never had cyno problems before, but this tank is different. This 125 has been set up for about 3 1/2 years. When I look at some of the pics of some great tanks they don't have this red stuff. It looks like some of the purple coraline is coming back, but take a look at these pics and tell me, "What is this and what can I do?"

Honestly I have coralline that looks just like that.

Have you felt it yet? Is it slimy or is it something hard that flakes?

I have some of the slime, but most is well attached. Its hard to see, but some is fuzzy. It likes to grow on pumps, too.

If it's soft it's more than likely a nuisance algae. If it's hard it's coraline.

I've always been a big proponent of Chemi Clean or Red Slime Remover once in a while to keep the slime algae down. As long as you follow the directions it works like a charm. Just be sure to avoid the one with arithromicin.

I like that stuff too. I need to run a batch in mine soon just to tidy up a little. I just hate the big water change lol.

Looks like coraline, but if its slimey try to suck it out with a siphon hose.

I've used RSR before with no problems. Thought getting my nutrients down would starve it out.

I dunno, after my year plus of diatoms on the sand, its finally gone....but now i have cyano in spots. no detectable nutrients, so i'm hoping its just a short cycle. I'm over a month or two overdue for a w/c though

Looks like coralline to me. Is it fuzzy like a short hair algae?

About cyanobacteria, cyano can produce its own nitrogen so even if you have very low nitrates you can still get it. Getting phosphates really low is what you need to do to get rid of it. We i get cyano i like to let it grow and then siphon it out. Kind of using the cyano like macro algae. Let it eat what ever its eating and then export it. Things like chemi clean work but they dont export the nutrients.

Thanks. Actually that shot is not the short fuzzy stuff. That tends to grow on power heads.

Does it blow off the rocks easily? Or is it hard?

Its hard. There are some areas flaking off which are looking like old dead cyno. Some of the darker areas in the pic. I do have some soft areas/spongy of cyno. I'm hoping that the purple will proliferate. I see some cool tanks and they're not so red. I've been using Instant Ocean Natural Nitrate Reducer and nitrate is below 20. Switched out GFO today. Should see .06 or below. I find it interesting that systems with much lower nutrients have similar issues. I'm a bit old school, but I try to keep up.

If its hard then its coralline. Id be happy with red, kind of unusual

I haven't seen much red, that's true. Thanks for the positive comment. I've been trying to get rid of the cyno. Sometimes the problems overshadow the entire tank. Here'sa shot.

there is a red fuzzy algae called (commonly) red turf algae. It's a PITA!! I had it in my tank, ironically in the lower light areas. I added many astreas and they turned my turf into turds. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, my own pics are on another computer so I stole these off google... but here's some close up examples.
red turf algae or normal - Reef Central Online Community

Thanks for the pics. I dohave some of that for sure. Snails helped get rid of it? I currently have no snails.

The stuff I had in my tank, yeah the snails ate it. I didn't try Mexican turbos although which looking for pics I see that some have had success with them, also a tuxedo urchin. But asteas are a safe cheap bet.

wow that cap is big

another way to stop cyano is to increase flow in areas that it grows. so if it keeps growing in the same spots add a pump that blows in that area

Yes, Its my monster cap. I've had it for over 3 years. It was a piece the size of my hand. Grows like a weed. Here's a top view. This is an older shot. Its bigger now.

that's really pretty!!!!