Curious about some red/purple spots

[BigEfromthe813]

I'm 18 days into my first salt water tank and I'm seeing some of my live rock developing these dark red/purple looking spots. Some bigger than others. I moved a small white rock to the front a few days ago and found a newly acquired tiny red branch sticking off of it.. Any idea what this might be??

 

[Maya]

The red and purple spots are likely coralline algae. The red "branch" is hard to tell. Maybe a formaniferan? Pics would be helpful.

 

[BigEfromthe813]

It's not really a branch it's a really small growth coming off the rock

 

[Maya]

In that case, if it's hard and spiky, most likely a forminiferan.

 

[hackteck]

take a picture so we can get a better idea of what it is

 

[joy13]

Macro algae?

 

[BigEfromthe813]

picture quality is a little iffy