Good Algae and Bad Algae

[Haskellf]

I read alot of concerns about Green algae called Derbesia/Poryopsis. Are there any other troublesome Algae I should be aware of when cycling my tank? I'm going onto week number 2 for my 30g reef tank. I'm using an Eheim professional 2 series filter, have live rock (although I need more) and 3" of live sand, heater and a skimmer on order. I have not turned on my lights as yet (as suggested on this BB).The only lightsource so far is from light reflecting off my walls onto my aquarium... so no direct sunlight. So far I am algae problem free, but would like to introduce some of the colorful types.

What are the good Algae types. I hear that you can purchase spores of red algae to add color to the live rock. Is this true or is all Algae problematic?

Also, and I know this is a long question, is introducting plantlife at this stage of the cycle beneficial or problematic?

Thanks a bunch

 

[Anonymous]

> ...purchase spores of red algae to add color to the live rock.

You might get disappointed by doing this. Sometimes it never show up, sometimes, it show up even if you did not get the spore...

Anyway, rather an algae is problematic or not is your own personally preference. One man's weed is another's prized algae. For example, Halimeda can fetch some money on the market, while some will try very hard to get rid of it. Same for Caulerpa, Sagassum, and other macroalgae. Rule of thrumb is that hair algae and other algae that you can't control easily is bad.