Algae ID

[stubbsz]

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]

red algae (cynobacteria).

 

[stubbsz]

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

 

[Lordhelmet]

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

 

[Matt_Wandell]

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

 

[Mr. Ugly]

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

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11469606#post11469606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xinumaster
red algae (cynobacteria).

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

 

[xinumaster]

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

 

[GreshamH]

Yah but slime and cotton are two very different looks One is, well, slimy and the other is poofy and airy.

 

[xinumaster]

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

 

[GreshamH]

Because Matt all ready has

 

[xinumaster]

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

 

[GreshamH]

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

 

[xinumaster]

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

 

[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

Matt's picture is pretty much right one. Here is another:
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=101465&highlight=&sid=eb665f06583014bf1773cc7d1f053f1f
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]

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]

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

 

[650-IS350]

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

 

[Mr. Ugly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11472193#post11472193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> 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]

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.