Bright Red algae in my BB reef
- Thread starter Zoom
- Start date
Small Mexican turbos worked wonders for me. (3/4"- 1" range)
Smaller Mexican turbos can be hard to find though. You don't need many of them either, they're quite effective.
Tuxedo urchins - didn't do much.
Rabbitfish - Hit and miss, I did have one that would pick at it consistently.
Good Ol' Yellow Tang - gobbled it up on a consistent basis.
Smaller Mexican turbos can be hard to find though. You don't need many of them either, they're quite effective.
Tuxedo urchins - didn't do much.
Rabbitfish - Hit and miss, I did have one that would pick at it consistently.
Good Ol' Yellow Tang - gobbled it up on a consistent basis.
Travis
10 and over club
One thing I've noticed is that this stuff LOVES flow. It grows right on the inside of my 6200 stream output. It also grows right on the inside of the outputs of my Sequence 5800 CL. These are areas with such high flow that you wouldn't even be able to put your finger there with the pumps running. Mine has seemed to decrease in coverage in the past few months. Not sure if it is a fish eating it or if it is dying but the rocks are getting cleaner.
Travis
10 and over club
I did have a Pacific sailfin in the tank for a while and I saw it pick at the stuff but I don't think it was making any dent in it. If it is a fish eating mine, it is most likely my powder blue tang. That thing eats algae like there is no tomorrow. It also seems to have the right "hardware" to get this very tough algae. Most other herbivorous fish I've had don't have strong enough mouths to tear at this stuff.
Kirklan
Clam Addict!
Mine love flow also!
Mine love flow also!
I have this stuff also. It only grows on the output nosle of my Sea Swirls, everything else (rock) is clear as can be. I tried scrubbing it off with an algae cleaning pad and it took some serious force and I still couldn't get everything off. Hoping it won't spread to the rest of my tank.
Mine love flow also!
Travis said:
I have this stuff also. It only grows on the output nosle of my Sea Swirls, everything else (rock) is clear as can be. I tried scrubbing it off with an algae cleaning pad and it took some serious force and I still couldn't get everything off. Hoping it won't spread to the rest of my tank.
Travis
10 and over club
Any more info on a grazer yet?
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I've had this stuff for a long time but it has stayed in check very well. It is spread throughout the tank but only covers about 5% of the rock total. I had a guess that my powder blue tang was helping to keep it in check because this fish was constantly nipping at it. This fish also seems to have a stronger mouth than a lot of other tangs and herbivorous fish I've had. Last week the PBT had to be removed because it was eating the tips on my acros and the edges on my monti caps. It has been less than a week and it looks like the red turf is going to take over.
So I guess a PBT, or possibly any acanthurus sp. may help to keep it in check. Now I'm afraid that with nothing grazing on it, it is going to get a good hold all over and by the time I find another grazer it will be too late for the grazer to keep it trimmed back.
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I've had this stuff for a long time but it has stayed in check very well. It is spread throughout the tank but only covers about 5% of the rock total. I had a guess that my powder blue tang was helping to keep it in check because this fish was constantly nipping at it. This fish also seems to have a stronger mouth than a lot of other tangs and herbivorous fish I've had. Last week the PBT had to be removed because it was eating the tips on my acros and the edges on my monti caps. It has been less than a week and it looks like the red turf is going to take over.
So I guess a PBT, or possibly any acanthurus sp. may help to keep it in check. Now I'm afraid that with nothing grazing on it, it is going to get a good hold all over and by the time I find another grazer it will be too late for the grazer to keep it trimmed back.
Bocaswim
New member
I added about 150 assorted snails, the nerites do the most to actually remove it and the astreas are also making a dent. I have reduced the algae by about 50%. Previously it had covered about 90% of my rock. My powder blue does his best but nothing has made an impact like the nerites. I can actually see tract marks 
Zoom
Premium Member
Travis
Travis
I only had to remove the first PBT because it was a killer yes it got big and very aggressive kill one Kole tang and two purple tangs.
Are you sure the tang was not nipping on the algae on the tips of the corals? i saw my do that when a tip will die back some and grow some algae on the tip and the tang will nip it off.
As for the red turf no changes still there just not getting all over the tank i put 50 large turbos but is still there.
I think the turbos keep it so dos not spread all over the tank but as you know they like the water cool about 78F max or they start to die , they can go for some time with higher temp but they like it lower than 80F, you can try them if you like.
My yellow tang will nip on it also but i really don't know for sure if it put a dent on it.
Travis
I can not belive it i never saw anything like this you have no luck with fish .
I only had to remove the first PBT because it was a killer yes it got big and very aggressive kill one Kole tang and two purple tangs.
Are you sure the tang was not nipping on the algae on the tips of the corals? i saw my do that when a tip will die back some and grow some algae on the tip and the tang will nip it off.
As for the red turf no changes still there just not getting all over the tank i put 50 large turbos but is still there.
I think the turbos keep it so dos not spread all over the tank but as you know they like the water cool about 78F max or they start to die , they can go for some time with higher temp but they like it lower than 80F, you can try them if you like.
My yellow tang will nip on it also but i really don't know for sure if it put a dent on it.
Travis
10 and over club
Zoom, I don't have any corals that have algae on their tips. The tang mostly preferred the new growth tips. It would munch them right down. I wathed it go from coral to coral munching on the tips. Not just eating the tissue but the whole soft skeleton of the tip.
I may try some turbos. It is getting cool out and I am keeping my tank at 78 so they should be ok. I usually bump my temp up a few degrees in the summer to save on electricity but I may not have to next summer. I have been taking your advice on "downgrading" equipment. I replaced my 400 watt Radiums with 250 watt XM 10k's. I sold my large beckett skimmer and am waiting on a Bubble King to come in. I also added a stream 6200 pump and now only run 1 CL for 2 hours a day and the other for 10 hours a day. So I think I will be fine keeping my tank cool. I would like to get to the point where you are and not even need a chiller at all.
I may try some turbos. It is getting cool out and I am keeping my tank at 78 so they should be ok. I usually bump my temp up a few degrees in the summer to save on electricity but I may not have to next summer. I have been taking your advice on "downgrading" equipment. I replaced my 400 watt Radiums with 250 watt XM 10k's. I sold my large beckett skimmer and am waiting on a Bubble King to come in. I also added a stream 6200 pump and now only run 1 CL for 2 hours a day and the other for 10 hours a day. So I think I will be fine keeping my tank cool. I would like to get to the point where you are and not even need a chiller at all.
Zoom
Premium Member
Travis
Travis
I was looking for the BK 300 also they are superb skimmers, i have the Deltec 851 is doing very nice job but i need a new toy that fits under the stand
Let me know how you like the BK i may get one my self .
Travis
That is so crazy, was that fish hard to catch? they can swim fast.
I was looking for the BK 300 also they are superb skimmers, i have the Deltec 851 is doing very nice job but i need a new toy that fits under the stand
Let me know how you like the BK i may get one my self .
Aquaduck
New member
I too have this algae growing in my 90 gallon SPS tank. I have crazy flow too. A closed loop consisting of a Sequence Dart and Oceanmotions 4-way + Iwaki 20RLXT as a return pump. This stuff likes to grow right inside the closed loop returns and on the rocks that are closest to the return nozzles. It has started growing on the sides of the tank now. 40 blue leg hermits eat it. They will scale the walls of the tank to get at it but only eat the first 2 or 3 inches up from the rockwork. My yellow tang also eats it but can't keep up. I'm thinking about adding another 40 hermits. I'll try and get some pictures of this red scourge tonight.
Znut Reefer
Premium Member
I'm also battling this algae. I have used, purple tang, foxface tang, a lot of trocus and Mex turbos. They all eat it but have made a small dent in it. It still continues to grow. They keep it in check but thats about all. I have found it does like high flow. And it doesn't matter about water quality it still continues to thrive.
Reefflections
New member
I had the same problem at one time.When I set up my refugium ,I order some marco alage for it.It hitch a ride with it.I thought at the time was a good algae.But it grew like wild fire in the fudge.Luckily it never enter the main tank.I found a post a long time ago on this stuff.What was said that sea turtles feast on this stuff.But by no means we can put a turtle in there.You touch the stuff,and even spreads more.I wish I could be more help here.But was wondering how many people,order the macro algae?Because that's how I got it.And of coarse don't have a refugium anymore either.I'm not saying taken down the refugium cures this.I just didn't have a need for it.
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