What is this? Algae or sponge?

[limemittens]

This stuff is growing on the live rock all over the tank. It is red/brown in color and kinda of sponge-like. A smal bit popped up about a month ago, but more recently in the last week we are noticing large blobs around the tank.

It looks bad but not sure what to do with it. Didn't want to remove it in case it would re-seed the tank.

 

[Sadielynn]

1st how old is your tank what are your parameters. Ammonia , NitrIte , NitrAte , PH and phosphates... What is your bioload .Looks like cyano . Increase flow to those areas . Try to find out what is causing it ,IE over feeding. Can be common in new tanks. . You can remove those pieces wash/scrub with old tooth brush in old salt water will help temporarily but you need to find the cause, you can also siphon off the sand bed too

 

[austinsdad]

Looks like cyano to me too. Deap spots with not a lot of water flow is where it usually lives. Describe your water movement in the tank. Powerheads? Where? How many?

P.S. - don't be at all afraid to siphon it off the rocks with a small hose.

 

[melosu58]

Take it out with the PWC water. As Sadielynn said you`ll need to find out where those excessive nutrients are coming from. Do you have a skimmer?