Dark Purple Algae!! What is it??

[shaunj]

My 125g is a swim tank and is about 2 months old... It has gone thru the brown algae cycle and also the hair algae... NOW there is a dark purple algae looking film that is in 3-4" spots on the substrate and also covers some of the live rock... What is it, and what do i do? BTW, my levels are all good...

[sukie80]

Do you have pics??

[RobNJ]

purple people eater droppings... quick get some pictures and a car battery

[shaunj]

I do not have pics, but the alge is a very dark purple and is in several spots thru out the tank...

[Kennyboy1984]

Its is probably cyano bacteria. Do you see any clear bubbles bubbles on the surface of it?

[shaunj]

No clear bubbles just a dull covering of purple algae...

[webbstock]

Here is a pretty good pic of cyanobacteria...Is this what you are seeing?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/steelhealr/substrate.jpg

It's the reddish stuff on the sand on the right

[zacharytrimble]

THat's cyano

[RobNJ]

how do u prevent cyano along the glass under surface of the sand

[shaunj]

Yes and no... I have seen that stuff before in my nano, and it usually occured when something died that i couldn't find, like a snail or something of that nature... My stuff is a far darker purple, and seems to be thicker...

[shaunj]

If this is the same thing that i am seeing, what do i do to get rid of it?

[oxkisses12ox]

i have it in my tank as well.. no bubbles but its on the sandbed only... you could get a small horseshoe crab they ARE AMAZING!!!!!! they really get to work! little hermits wont do the job i tried.. thats why im concidering a horseshoe..

[oxkisses12ox]

oh .. and they are only 4 dollars?!

[shaunj]

The only issue is that i have a s&s puffer, and he would just love for me to put a crab in there...