waterfaller1
New member
I have found if conditions favor, it returns, even after you think it is all gone.
Nightmare Red Cotton Algae: Took over my tank
- Thread starter mmgm
- Start date
porterdog
New member
I read this whole post. I think I have this stuff too. I have tried scrubbing it and man it takes a lot work to clear even a small area. I added some Turbo snails (not sure if they mexicans or mexicants though 
Was wondering why they eat it but don't get rid of it I have no big balls of it but they never seam to fully clear it. Please tell me if you think I have this stuff growing in my tank, if it is I too will be ordering some from liveaquaria. As always appreciate the help.
Was wondering why they eat it but don't get rid of it I have no big balls of it but they never seam to fully clear it. Please tell me if you think I have this stuff growing in my tank, if it is I too will be ordering some from liveaquaria. As always appreciate the help.
tim jenkins
New member
not sure from the pics if we are talking about the same stuff. I have one red algae that looks like cellophane, and one that looks like cotton. These are in the fuge, not the display. I should mention that I use a filter sock between the two to aid in keeping their algae populations separate.
tim jenkins
New member
did you move your good macro algae, or were they inseparable? Did you have to sacrifice the good algae? That is one of my hesitations, the major cost to resupply the fuge.
zachtos
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14521984#post14521984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porterdog
I read this whole post. I think I have this stuff too. I have tried scrubbing it and man it takes a lot work to clear even a small area. I added some Turbo snails (not sure if they mexicans or mexicants though
I've had this, this is 'red fuzz algae'. I forget the name of what it acually is, but it is short and fuzzy, you can't brush it off, only scrape it? if so, then a black spine urchin will clean it right up. That worked great for me, but beware, they will eat corraline too (grows back fast though), and they can knock over corals and be a pain in the butt if they are in smaller tanks. I bought mine and brought some back later. I think this algae likes nitrates, but wont go away once it stops growing w/o manual removal.
Red cotton algage looks like cotton candy and grows in puff balls. I got rid of mine w/ true mexican turbo's in about a month. I also got rid of it in my frag tank by adding a scopas tang (i used mexican turbos in the display fuge). Nitrates do not matter w/ this kind of algae.
miracles38
Active member
I recently found that the new astrea snails (at least new to me) in the trade with the points coming out from the bottom of the shell really love this stuff. Cleaned some spots right up. I got mine from saltwaterfish dot com
miracles38
Active member
Like this. The points appear to be very exagerated.
My experience
My experience
Hey folks, glad i found this thread. Been dealing with a red turf algae problem myself and kept thinking I just had to make it thru it. Well, that never happened and wanted to share a few other things here from my 6 month ordeal.
What I has was either Asparagopsis as shown here earlier or some form of polysiphonia. Regardless it fits the description, fast growing in clumps and cannot be removed by physical means without shredding and spreading it thru the tank. 2 things which were neat - on dying off the stalks wil turn white - secondly when exposed to air for 5 to 10 minutes the algae turns neon orange, pretty striking but doesn't make up for the PITA.
...from my experience:
1 - Water parameters, specifically alk/cal levels where way out of whack and still are. Next stop Magnesium which I found today to be deficient at around 1085 or so. Explains why corals have been regressing too.
2 - Growing competetive algae, in my case Chaeto, in sump helps.
3 - My skimmer was not producing well enought to deal with nutrient problems alone so I am still experimenting with overdriving skimmer, etc. Typical EV-120, when it works its a fantastic skimmer, when it doesn't ya lose sleep.
4 - LARGE, I repeat LARGE Mexican Turbo snails will take this stuff down. Added 4 today to my 75 and will let ya know how quickly these make an impact. I tried every fish at LFS's and nothing seems to touch it. Small turbos werent large enough to deal with the toughness, plus they are only good for hermit crab feeding anyways. Sea hare negative. Tuxedo Urchin negative. Only thing I hadn;t tried was a Diadema Urchin. Hopefully these Large turbos continue to do the trick.
In the end it started with water parameters. Starting to fix those has helped halt the growth. Competetive algae started the die off. Finally predators should clean it up.
Hope it helps.
My experience
Hey folks, glad i found this thread. Been dealing with a red turf algae problem myself and kept thinking I just had to make it thru it. Well, that never happened and wanted to share a few other things here from my 6 month ordeal.
What I has was either Asparagopsis as shown here earlier or some form of polysiphonia. Regardless it fits the description, fast growing in clumps and cannot be removed by physical means without shredding and spreading it thru the tank. 2 things which were neat - on dying off the stalks wil turn white - secondly when exposed to air for 5 to 10 minutes the algae turns neon orange, pretty striking but doesn't make up for the PITA.
...from my experience:
1 - Water parameters, specifically alk/cal levels where way out of whack and still are. Next stop Magnesium which I found today to be deficient at around 1085 or so. Explains why corals have been regressing too.
2 - Growing competetive algae, in my case Chaeto, in sump helps.
3 - My skimmer was not producing well enought to deal with nutrient problems alone so I am still experimenting with overdriving skimmer, etc. Typical EV-120, when it works its a fantastic skimmer, when it doesn't ya lose sleep.
4 - LARGE, I repeat LARGE Mexican Turbo snails will take this stuff down. Added 4 today to my 75 and will let ya know how quickly these make an impact. I tried every fish at LFS's and nothing seems to touch it. Small turbos werent large enough to deal with the toughness, plus they are only good for hermit crab feeding anyways. Sea hare negative. Tuxedo Urchin negative. Only thing I hadn;t tried was a Diadema Urchin. Hopefully these Large turbos continue to do the trick.
In the end it started with water parameters. Starting to fix those has helped halt the growth. Competetive algae started the die off. Finally predators should clean it up.
Hope it helps.
conorwynne
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14629392#post14629392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miracles38
Like this. The points appear to be very exagerated.
Cotton candy algae issue here, and like our Swedish/Finnish friend, I cannot seem to get those Mexican Turbos in Europe.
I am hesitant to use any algacides, but I am curious about those little pointy astreas, coz I can get them locally.
I believe I can get the Mexicans from an LFS in Paris :-->
http://www.marinelife.eu
Here's what I was thinking of ordering :
"Escargots" are snails, in case you didn't know.
Can someone confirm that these would be a good choice?
Escargot Turbo Fluctuosus (These are the Mexicans right?)
How many should I get for a 125G? 3, 5, or 10?
Since I'm doing an order, I thinking of some added CuC:
Escargot Cerithium
Escargot Oliva Sayana porcelaine
Pylopaguropsis fimbriata
"Bernard l\'Hermite àpattes oranges/rouges"
Orange and red legged Hermit crabs - I like it in French
regards
Conor.
stumpovrtyme
Reef Junkie
hair alge
hair alge
I have the stuff right now and am beating it thus far. I recommend a lawnmower blennie he loves this stuff. Not very attractive but very useful. My halloween urchin hates the stuff and turns the other way on incounter. I also think the macros in the fuge are helping stunt the growth and speed of it. Iv also heard certain crabs love it but never attempted this method for fear of fish loss,
I tried everything scrubbing, syphoning, snails, urchins, Tangs and would have to say try the lawnmower hes GGRRREEAAATT!
hair alge
I have the stuff right now and am beating it thus far. I recommend a lawnmower blennie he loves this stuff. Not very attractive but very useful. My halloween urchin hates the stuff and turns the other way on incounter. I also think the macros in the fuge are helping stunt the growth and speed of it. Iv also heard certain crabs love it but never attempted this method for fear of fish loss,
I tried everything scrubbing, syphoning, snails, urchins, Tangs and would have to say try the lawnmower hes GGRRREEAAATT!
conorwynne
New member
I eventually sourced 10 mexican turbos, and the last one died last month due to no more cotton candy to eat. I think they diet exclusively on the stuff - from my observations anyway.
I still have some in the fuge on a weir between two compartments, but like yerself, it is being contained as I have both chaeto and caulerpa (grape) which sem to be holding it back. It doesn't seem to have grown whatsover in several months. :clown:
I still have some in the fuge on a weir between two compartments, but like yerself, it is being contained as I have both chaeto and caulerpa (grape) which sem to be holding it back. It doesn't seem to have grown whatsover in several months. :clown:
tyreeftank
New member
I used to have alot of though pick cotton candy algae. Mexican Turbo Snail will help get rid of it.
