help with red turf algae!

[AquaPython]

so far i still have it. i did find somebody that gave me a good deal on a one or two new mexicans, and for a time it looked like it started to recede. it was quickly replaced by some other macro algaes that kept popping up. i finally figured out the pump driving my skimmer was never up to par, so i over drive it now for the last 2-3 weeks and the algae growth seems to slowing dramatically. every week for months i would manually pull out as much macro as i can, and it all kept on growing. (i couldnt pull out the red turf, just the other stuff).

the red turf is back just like it was.
those mexicans died or stopped eating it. now the plan is to go and get an army of them. newer ones from the store come in hungry and will eat anything. also, if their is less junk for them to eat food sources get low, i am hoping they clear out the turf before they starve to death. btw my tank is large with other hermits and brittles etc that can handle a dieing mexican turbo or two with no problem.

so thats where i am at with it.

 

[AquaPython]

also,
i am still considering adding a fox face, and other tangs to my tank to help.

my flow is massive, so that is not the problem. i am pretty sure it was a gradual build up nutrients in the water column that didnt test in the vials, due to my skimmer basically not working.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Be very careful about mass amounts of snails that could potentially crash your tank If they all die in mass!!! It happened to me with Mexican Turbos that are cold water snails and don't last long In warmer water. JMHO

 

[AquaPython]

i have not heard that they are cold water snails before.
i have had 2 for about 3 years now, maybe 4.
if they are eating the algae, i can see when it is gone, and start watching them. if one goes, i can put the remainder in other tanks, etc...

 

[AquaPython]

For the Record,
i added a small FoxFace, and he is systematically eradicating my system of this red nuisance!

 

[mr_cali]

I had a small blue tang that wouldn't touch the stuff in my display. I then added a small yellow tang a year later that picked at the menace algae and the blue tang started copying. I don't know if there is any other research on this imitative feeding behavior, but the tangs, in combination with shortening my light cycles and amping up my fuge (stronger light, more chaeto) have pretty much eradicated my tank of this stuff.

 

[Plantbrain]

Have you tried doing some larger water changes?
Clean out each stage of the filter step wise? Clean piping, etc?

Nothing like a good sized water change to cure many things.

Many reds are temperature seasonal, so if you raised the temp a little, 2-3 degrees, often they will sporulate and go dormant. If you mess with the temp and bring it back down, sometimes they will reappear, but a few cycles of this weakens the spores and adults and puts a world of hurt into many species.

When you do large water changes, you can expose the area and it makes it relative easy to pick and clean off, you can use a brine mix of marine salt to make a hypertonic solution which can be brushed on the more infected spots to kill it. I'm a huge fan of manual removal and water changes.

Sounds like that might be more the root of the problem(basic care, skimmer, water changes, poor testing/no calibration of the test kits etc).
Focus there, herbivores and cure all do not address that. I always consider them more "icing on the cake" and basic care and maintenance the real root focus.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Plantbrain]

I had a small blue tang that wouldn't touch the stuff in my display. I then added a small yellow tang a year later that picked at the menace algae and the blue tang started copying. I don't know if there is any other research on this imitative feeding behavior, but the tangs, in combination with shortening my light cycles and amping up my fuge (stronger light, more chaeto) have pretty much eradicated my tank of this stuff.

+1 for this approach also

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[barderer]

what water near mexico is cold?

 

[EpicWin]

I hate to bring back an ancient thread but ive just begun this war. I don't have lot of this stuff yet but its in small amounts all over my tank. I have tons of snails and emeralds and they don't seem to do much to help. I have a really nice mixed reef so am afraid to get a rabbit fish. Any updates form anyone who has beaten his stuff or anyone have any advice?