Algae ID please

sfarid123 · #1 08/16/2007, 08:16 PM

Hey guys,

I have had this algae for the past 2 years and cant get rid of it.
It is small, spotted, redish-brown, velvet texture and has taken over my rocks.

I have tried red and blue legged hermits, lawnmore blenny, and sea bunnies but can't get rid of it. Only extremly low ph seems to work , but do not want to kill my BTA.

I've tried to upload the pics but its in jpeg and its too big

itZme · #2 08/16/2007, 08:40 PM

Sounds almost like cyano bacteria. Try uploading the picture to www.imageshack.us They will give you a link to use in the thread instead of hosting it directly on reefcentral.

If it is cyano it is most likely that you don't have enough water movement in that area.

HTH
-- Kevin

sfarid123 · #3 08/16/2007, 09:26 PM

here is the link for the picture

thanks for the info

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1696/hpim0219dm2.jpg

sfarid123 · #4 08/16/2007, 09:30 PM

BTW
my parameters are 0 phosphate 0 nitrite & nitrate 55 gallon softies 260 watt pc , Remora pro skimmer w/mag 3

schoch79 · #5 08/17/2007, 12:28 AM

Try more flow. Does almost sound like cyano.

sfarid123 · #6 08/17/2007, 10:27 AM

I have tried extra flow, and in fact they have even taken over the power heads sponge and the nozzle where the water comes out. I'm using 2 maxi jet 1200 for my 55 gallon.
Any thoughts?

rustybucket145 · #7 08/17/2007, 10:33 AM

Has you skimmer been producing any skimmate?

How long has it been since you cleaned the injector?

capn_hylinur · #8 08/17/2007, 11:32 AM

It sounds like it is starting to get out of control.
I am in 100 % agreement with using natural methods and conventions--increasing flow, less feeding, water changes or just letting it eat all the available nutrients.
It is indication of poor quality of water.
But adressing all these methods and still having it spread IMO it would be time to use a dose like Red Slime Remover--it will work wonders over night.
One of the big draw backs of using this is it is a bacteriacide so some possible damage can be done to the good bacteria in your tank. This is generally not a worry if your tank is well established

Once it spreads to the rocks the next is the coral and cyano can do major damange to corals so first address why you are getting it and then address getting rid of it

sfarid123 · #9 08/17/2007, 12:25 PM

It is definatly not Cyano because I had that before.

What it is its small clusters of very short red hair algae and it is not slimy at all. You almost have to pull on them really hard to get them off. I think my picture did not do a good enough job showing you guys. I'll try another one tonight.

Hattie B · #10 08/17/2007, 02:14 PM

sfarid,

I know what you are trying to describe.. I have the same thing in one of my 12g tanks.. But I don't know the name.

Kinda like a little plant huh, grows on the rocks, I have had it for a long time, I actually like it. if it's the same thing its not Cyno, and it does not grow on the sand.

It has never caused me any problems and leaves all my corals alone.

I'll see if I can get a pic of it tonight.. One part grows like a little tree.

sfarid123 · #11 08/17/2007, 02:42 PM

Hattie,
yes, it sounds about right. They do remain as very small bushy /hairy clusters and have not grown bigger and "only grow on rocks" . I do Use a spectropure 4 stage RO/DI and do weekly 5% water change and keep the nutrients down to a minimum as possible. I'm trying to get rid of them so i can promote coraline growth on the rocks.

olekaz · #12 08/17/2007, 03:11 PM

I have had this red stuff for many months {about 9}. almost had it gone then in the process of adding to much food for the corals it has become a bother again.

it will get a bit taller that you think,close to maybe 3/8 inch. it can and will choke out small zoo's.

keep a close eye on your nitrates. when at zero it will slowly fade away but it will take a long time.
this whole problem started with one infected frag. grrrrrrrrrrrrr

food is the key. i proved that by putting rocks with it into my 30 gal quarentine tank. in 2 weeks it has about died from the rocks.
there is nothing in my q-tank but a couple hermits and some rubble rock. ph=around 8.28 other readings of nits and ates at 0,running 2-96watt compacts.

good luck in getting rid of it,its a pain..lol

sfarid123 · #13 08/17/2007, 09:08 PM

Great , I guess its going to be a tough one ; are there any natural predators? someone mentioned on wetwebmedia.com that matrix crabs might take at it? is that true?

olekaz · #14 08/18/2007, 09:44 AM

i gave a rock to a freind,put it in his tank and his blue leg hermits cleaned the red carpet right off of it rather fast. keep in mind his crabs were starving..lol..

i am have been target feeding my corals etc to keep excess waste from the system. in doing so i have noticed my crabs are now eating more of the red carpet crap.

i also setup 2 over the tank filters and removed the charcoal media and put in phosbuster filter pads. even tho my phos. reads zero it may be a false reading due to the red algea consuming it as fast as it is being produced.

it is starting to work as i can see color change in some of the red and in places where it had a good hold of the rock it is now easier to pull loose. in a few weeks i will know more.

also i have given the tank a few more hours of darkness.

i have 14 fish, that are getting angry at the limited food i am putting in the tank..lol...just a little bit a few times a day to be sure they eat all that is given to them so there is no left over food in the water.

good luck...