Nightmare Red Cotton Algae: Took over my tank
- Thread starter mmgm
- Start date
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7358964#post7358964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RokleM
When you pull the bunches out of the water and put it in a container, I've seen it starts to separate (assume attempts to spread). Maybe this is the "turning the water red" you're speaking about.
Again guys, use extreme caution when adding these to a tank. My situation was really bad. I have 150ish gallons (58 tank, 100 sump), and two of the real Mexican turbo's cleaned it up in a week. I would recommend adding one or two per 100 gallons. If you get more, make sure there are people locally that might want to utilize them as well so you can pass them of. This ends my 'save the enviroment' speech
I am starting over with my 29 gallon tank that was overrun with hair algea. I want to take all nesessary precautions to keep it hair algea free. I was going to order 10 mexican turbos from etropicals. Is this too many to keep longterm in that size tank?
armygreen11
Member
In a 29, you should be fine with just one. Two tops. They're pretty big snails and they're freakin garbage disposals. The only reason I got five for my stock tank was in case I lost one or two in transit, and my friend had said that he wanted a couple (but never got them).
RokleM
Premium Member
Yeah, most of these Mexican turbo's will be 1-2". They are NOT (I repeat NOT) the small cone Astrea snails that people sometimes try to sell. The average size I've seen for those are about 1/2-3/4". The Mexican turbo's mouth is about the size of an Astrea's foot.
So yeah.... 10 in a 29 would be reallllllly bad
So yeah.... 10 in a 29 would be reallllllly bad
lilprincess
New member
Does anyone think this looks like Red Cotton Algae?
waterfaller1
New member
Is that sort of tough and bristly? I have that on a rock in my nano, it's not the cotton algae. But you could still try a mexican turbo..it could'nt hurt.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8140782#post8140782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lilprincess
Does anyone think this looks like Red Cotton Algae?
lilprincess
New member
Yes that's exactly what it feels like. Should I assume that I don't want it in my tank then? Do you know if SITC carries mexican turbos?
waterfaller1
New member
Yes, when available. Call to see if they are in.
The Cardinal
Swede living in Finland
Hello again guys, I have been using a product called AlgenEx, not sure if you have it in the states but it did have an impact on this algae and it is more or less gone now. I hope it stays that way. Anyway I see this as a good option if you cannot get hold of mexican turbos (I couldn´t).
Here is a comparison on page 7 with Algenex and this nightmare algae that I have battling for almost a year now:
http://www.saltvattensguiden.se/forumet/showthread.php?t=6001&page=7&highlight=clownens+balja
Unforunately it is in swedish and the tank is in a real mess as it recently has been moved due to a leak but I hope you see the clear difference.
/Peter
Here is a comparison on page 7 with Algenex and this nightmare algae that I have battling for almost a year now:
http://www.saltvattensguiden.se/forumet/showthread.php?t=6001&page=7&highlight=clownens+balja
Unforunately it is in swedish and the tank is in a real mess as it recently has been moved due to a leak but I hope you see the clear difference.
/Peter
try vacuuming them out
try vacuuming them out
I hooked up an 18 guage needle to a syringe , then shoved a length of tube up the syringe and connected the end to a turkey baster. then connected the baster to a wet/dry vacuum hose.
It's a bit unwieldy (and a little dangerous with an open needle) but I decimated much of the glass anemones I have -- I figure it might work on your algae problem.
Just a thought.
try vacuuming them out
I hooked up an 18 guage needle to a syringe , then shoved a length of tube up the syringe and connected the end to a turkey baster. then connected the baster to a wet/dry vacuum hose.
It's a bit unwieldy (and a little dangerous with an open needle) but I decimated much of the glass anemones I have -- I figure it might work on your algae problem.
Just a thought.
Re: syringes
Re: syringes
I work in a hospital, so I can "borrow" whatever I need. By the way, the turkey baster is also from the hospital, but is used for other purposes. It just looks like a turkey baster.
If you like, I could take a picture of it tomorrow and show you the setup. It kinda works, but a few days later my problem with the aiptasia was back, so I'm not sure if this will help you all that much.
Also, the 18 guage needle is a little too small. I'm trying to get a 15 guage, but it's hard to find. All I can find is biopsy needles, and they won't fit on the syringe.
Re: syringes
I work in a hospital, so I can "borrow" whatever I need. By the way, the turkey baster is also from the hospital, but is used for other purposes. It just looks like a turkey baster.
If you like, I could take a picture of it tomorrow and show you the setup. It kinda works, but a few days later my problem with the aiptasia was back, so I'm not sure if this will help you all that much.
Also, the 18 guage needle is a little too small. I'm trying to get a 15 guage, but it's hard to find. All I can find is biopsy needles, and they won't fit on the syringe.
flipteg
New member
i came across this thread from the Reefkeeping article about macro algae that is currently on the home page of Reef Central... i too have been having problems with this algae... although it's not a really big problem yet, i take out about a cup's worth of the stuff every month from my 30 gallon aquarium... today, i bought one Mexican turbo snail from the fish store for $3.50... it is about an inch in diameter... after putting it in, even before i had a chance to close the glass top of the aquarium, the snail was already munching on the stuff... i can actually see the snail suck up the cotton looking algae...! now, in the next 2 weeks or so, i'll see if this one snail can clean up my 30 gallons or if i have to get a second one... i just hope that the hermit crabs don't kill it...
