Bright Red algae in my BB reef

[Znut Reefer]

I can't use urchins in my tank it is acrylic. So not an option here. Before when I had a glass tank it was in there pretty bad. I bought a Tux Urchin and he never ate it. But can't do that now since I have acrylic.

 

[Fountainhead]

Oddy, my red algae seems to only grow ON the coraline. It doesn't seem to thrive on areas where there is no existing coraline. On the back of my tank it'll grow on coraline patches while completely skipping the bare acrylic.

 

[jnfallon]

I have this too. Every rock, although mine isnt so prickly, looks like dark fuzzy coralline.
I have found only two things help.

1) Seems to get overtaken somewhat by pink coralline if I keep my dkh high (9-10)

2) I had a population explosion of stomatella snails. Literally THOUSANDS of them graze starting at lights off.

I really dont mind, though. Its not bad looking, IMO, and as the corals grow in, I see less and less of it.

 

[Znut Reefer]

I have also heard that it won't grow as well under 20K lighting. Anyone here running 20K's only?

 

[Covey]

Urchins and Tangs. Its funny this stuff come into my system on frags and it get mauled. Its gone in three days or less.

 

[Goodwood]

I have 2 400watt XM 20K and it only growns in the really high flow areas. I kind of like the way it looks as long as it does not grow everywhere

 

[cwschoon]

What are stomatella snails and where do I get them?

 

[trueblackpercula]

Great thread

 

[JW Jersey]

here it is on some live rock. I have this turf algae on all of my rocks and on the back of the tank. My pbt keeps it in check but can't get rid of it. I ran p14k bulbs on my system for 6 months when first noticed this algae than changed to ushio 14k this stuff completely went away. I didn't like the color of the bulbs so I changed back to p14k bulb and it is back in full force. Does any one think that a bulb that is a lot brighter and more yellow to the naked eye can cause this algae to subside and go away. Here is a picture of what I have it looks identical to jbny photo.

 

[chadm]

my pencil urchin devours this stuff. In one night an entire rock will be cleaned off. Only problem is he doesn't seem to go after it all the time. Just recently he began to munch on it.

 

[nasotang]

Has anyone had luck ridding their tank of this algae?

I've tried cooking some live rock for 2 months and scrubbed it with a toothbrush but they still wont come off. I dried the rocks in the sun for 2 weeks and tried again with no luck. I'm tempted to try leaving it in some acid or base and melt it away. =) These things wont die.

I've just switched tanks and luckily I was able to remove all the rocks (at least I believe all) with the algae. Do you guys think I should just toss the rocks rather then risk introducing it back into my tank?

 

[DarkXerox]

I've been able to control it at best with large mexican turbos (the ones with the pinkish feet when looking at them from underneath). But it never goes away, no idea why. Before I had the snails, it was rather out of control and was turning into a Kudzu of sorts. However now, the snails slow it enough to the point where the corals have time to grow over it.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Same here large Mexican snails will keep it in check.

 

[cham]

WHOA.... I am glad I saw this thread. I bought a rock from a local reefer with green birds nest and I think its covered in this stuff.


I will get a photo later this afternoon when my tank lights come on so you guys can tell me if it is.

 

[cham]

I just got some pictures of it using flash. Kinda bad pics but will give you the idea.

Any idea what this green bubble shaped guy is?

 

[BLKTANG]

The green bubbles r well "green bubble algae", an emerald crab will eat those.

 

[dvanacker]

Ya valonia...or bubble aglae...get rid if it before it spreads.

 

[cham]

Ack, green bubble algea. I don't want the crabs eating my SPS though.

I'm thinking about breaking off the piece of rock that is holding the green birds nest and tossing whats left in the trash. Maybe squirting the base of the frag with joes juice or something similar too.

 

[Zoom]

Green bubble algae it is no way you can control it at all without some fish / crabs that they like to eat it .

Emerald crabs is no 100% effective some will eat it some will not is what they have to eat in your tank if you have other easy to eat algae they will not go after the BA.
The best fish that eats the BA is the B Naso tang and some of the rabbit fish.


As for the red algae it is still grown well in my tank but the Large turbo snails keep it from getting out of hand.


My tank did crash about a month a go and i lost all my SPS .
As of today I still have some red bright algae in some of the rocks not much but it is still there.

 

[nasotang]

Sorry to here about the crash. Heater issue? Power outage?

Probably an obvious question but if I don't want this red turf algae in my tank, the best thing to do is avoid adding rocks/livestock with it in the first place. So is it probably the opinion to not add the rocks and just toss them?

I guess I could quarantine the rocks and add mexican t-snails and let them do their job, but it sounds like they'll cut it back but not rid the rocks of it completely. I would guess they wouldnt be able to get in the little nooks and crevices.