Algae ID

stubbsz · #1 12/27/2007, 09:30 PM

What's the really tufty red stuff called? It's a little like cotton candy. Maybe a little more red than cotton candy.

Will my Tomini eat it if he gets hungry?

-Adrian

xinumaster · #2 12/28/2007, 01:12 AM

red algae (cynobacteria).

stubbsz · #3 12/28/2007, 01:35 AM

I'm pretty sure it isn't cynobacteria, it's algae.

Lordhelmet · #4 12/28/2007, 01:52 AM

i always called it that red cotten candy algea. and none of my tangs eat it. it's all over my fuge.

Matt_Wandell · #5 12/28/2007, 03:11 AM

I have seen it called Asparagopsis sp., but I'm not sure that's correct.

Mr. Ugly · #6 12/28/2007, 03:44 AM

The only thing I've found that eats it are Mexican Turbo snails.

GreshamH · #7 12/28/2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xinumaster
red algae (cynobacteria).

I'd hate to see the cotton candy you buy if you think cyano looks like it

xinumaster · #8 12/28/2007, 12:20 PM

That was my best guess. With out pictures it really is hard to id.

GreshamH · #9 12/28/2007, 12:53 PM

Yah but slime and cotton are two very different looks

One is, well, slimy and the other is poofy and airy.

xinumaster · #10 12/28/2007, 12:56 PM

Why don't you just id that algae as what he requested instead of being sarcastic. That would be more helpful.

GreshamH · #11 12/28/2007, 01:08 PM

Because Matt all ready has

xinumaster · #12 12/28/2007, 01:11 PM

you could have just second him. That will make it more positive.

GreshamH · #13 12/28/2007, 01:16 PM

Thanks Perry, I'll keep that in mind next time

xinumaster · #14 12/28/2007, 01:19 PM

No problem. I was just trying to help too. But if I was wrong I want to be corrected in a positive way.

stubbsz · #15 12/28/2007, 02:07 PM

I'll tell you this much, it is a pain and is popping up in more than one place now. Are Mexican Turbos the big round ones? I think I had one in the early days of my tank. I can't wait to see how many of my Frags (not that I have that many at the moment) he'll knock into the rockwork

Matt's picture is pretty much right one. Here is another:
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopi...73cc7d1f053f1f
An I allowed to link to another board ?

Matt's commented on that thread too:
It is a red algae, a particularly difficult one to eradicate. Not cyanobacteria.

Not what I wanted to hear. I guess it's time to start starving my fish and doing large water changes or something.

GreshamH · #16 12/28/2007, 02:09 PM

It grows in low nutrient conditions I've found so save yourself some salt and water

Best thing I've found is manual remvoal (double

)

ianiwane · #17 12/28/2007, 02:24 PM

Turbos cleared all that I had. Tried this a while back per Norman's suggestion.

delsol650 · #18 12/28/2007, 02:35 PM

Turbo's will typically mow almost anything down except a few known pest algae. like valonia?

Mr. Ugly · #19 12/28/2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stubbsz
I'll tell you this much, it is a pain and is popping up in more than one place now. Are Mexican Turbos the big round ones? I think I had one in the early days of my tank. I can't wait to see how many of my Frags (not that I have that many at the moment) he'll knock into the rockwork

Yah, those big golfball sized ones.

A couple are about the right amount for my 24x48 frag tank. Some of that algae finally showed up in my sump after many months. I move the snails around to wherever they're needed.

If it's a frag tank, use those Coral Cradle things that Gresham has. Helps prevent frag disasters with those bulky snails.

stubbsz · #20 12/28/2007, 04:20 PM

Cool, I wonder if anyone has some locally.

I don't have a frag tank so I have to be very selective about where I place frags; maybe I'll start gluing them down . Or maybe I can put the snail on a leash

Strangely, I have the image of Gary the snail now in my head.