Cotton Candy Algae?

[Edward Smith]

I have a lot cotton candy algae that grows very rapidly in my frag tank (I know, control the phosphates).

There's not a spec of it in my display and there has been ample opportunity over time (6 months) but I do have a blue hippo and turbo snails in there?

So my instinct is to purchase a small tang or foxface for the frag tank (turbo snail wasn't interested).

Thought?: Since it grows so fast and well, shouldn't I isolate it and encourage it to control phosphates, since my display is clear?

Side note: In the wells of the display, I can see the cotton candy growing in there, but it seems like it doesn't make it outside the wells?

 

[cheezybuda]

I think it is turbo dependent....I have big Mike, the turbo, in my sump who feasts on it. I have tried some of my other ones down there but they would rather eat film algae.

 

[madadi]

why not a small blenny?

 

[jfuka78]

Big turbo, just make sure he doesn't get into your drain and stop the flow. I speak from experience, but they did the trick

 

[Sullyman]

I've had luck dosing some selcon into the tank. The algae must absorb some of the sugars and vitamins in the selcon and start tasting good to fish, snails and hermits.
My 190g was full of red mat algae and some funky red fuzzy algae like candy cane, after a few weeks adding the selcon I noticed big patches of the algae stripped down to rock.
It's in my new 210 fowlr and there isn't a spec of algae on the rock.
Something to try, under $20, and good for the fish and coral in the display too if systems are connected.
Good luck Ed.

 

[ostrow]

Bob, that is really interesting! I had never thought of this.

Did you try that on a whim or had you read something about doing this? How much did you dose? I'm guessing maybe a dropper full a week but curious. I searched but didn't find anything conclusive.

 

[Sullyman]

Joel I had been soaking food in it and pouring the food and selcon into the tank for a few weeks and then it happened. About 12 drops per day on an approx 250g system. Within a month all algae gone, the rock is in my new 210 fowlr and is still algae free.
It just clicked that I had the same problem and the same results in my 125.
A bottle of selcon is cheap and trying it won't hurt anything. You have to have fish and snails that like algae though, the selcon won't do anything to the algae on it's own.

 

[ostrow]

Cool. Well Rods has selcon but I will start doing this.

I have tangs and various species of snails and hermits so we shall see. Cool....

 

[Edward Smith]

Cool, I just placed a turbo in two days ago (approx 30g frag) and will try some selcon. It can't hurt?

Otherwise, I may consider just more turbos. If that doesn't work, I'll move on to blennies and tangs