Red turf algae. What eats it?

[Doubledown]

I have a bunch of red (dark maroon red) turf algae growing in my rockwork. Anything out there eat this stuff?

It seems to make it dificult for my SPS corals to encrust.

Thanks
Chris

 

[bubbletip2]

Blue and maxican red leggers took care of this red turf in no time in my tank.

 

[mbunaman]

I second Mexican red legger Hermit. They are the best IMO

 

[Doubledown]

Sounds fine to me, I neep to replenish the clean up crew anyway.

Where can I get these hermit crabs? I usually order for Reeftopia, but they do not have them.

Thanks
Chris

 

[joroscoe]

turbo fluctuosa

 

[Doubledown]

Oh, and how many for a 180 gallon tank?

 

[Doubledown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8167413#post8167413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joroscoe
turbo fluctuosa

Are these the big Maxican Turbo snails? I've had really bad luck with them in the past (tried to use 75 of them to combat a hair algae problem 4 months ago - all died w/in 3 weeks and HA was still there).

 

[Doubledown]

I should also mention that I have a Dusemeri (sp?), Regal and a Cheveron tang in the tank and they don't seem to want to eat the red stuff.

 

[joroscoe]

That is correct. These are the Mexican turbos. I learned about them on wetwebmedia. They were my last resort to eradicate the red turf in 24g nano. They ate every last strand. I put 3 in the 24g.

I don't know why they all died like that on you in the past. IMO, manual removal is next to impossible with that stuff. I would even try to take rocks out and brush them to no avail.

 

[joroscoe]

Also, they did not eat hair algae in my tank either.

 

[Sullyman]

Sally light foot crabs eat it, pretty well cleaned mine out. I don't think snails will eat it, never did for me. My Achilles tang loves it too.
Mine looked like this

I did set up a denitrifyer about 6 weeks ago, it has helped get rid of it, but those crabs feed on it 24/7. I had 6 in my 125, not sure how many are still here

 

[joroscoe]

Looks like ppl here are have had success with different methods. buy a couple and see what works

 

[joroscoe]

http://www.nano-reef.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=22460&cat=515

Kinda looked like that only even more fuzzier. Much more fuzzier looking than yours Sully.

 

[joroscoe]

Final post, then I gotta study. Best of luck!
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/nftt/index.php

 

[Sullyman]

When it was all over, it was like a felt covering. If I'd take something out of the tank that had it, it would dry to a fuzzy skin.
Not much left now.

 

[bubbletip2]

A ggod place to buy the little red leggers is here especially if you need a bunch of cleaners. They ship from Wisonsin, so short distance and decent shipping. At 1$ a piece, can't beat it:


http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=621

You can check local LFS's to see if they have them, but usually you pay $2-3 a piece and for a 180g that can get pretty expensive.

My personal recommendation for crabs is not to over due it. They will jusat kill each other off eventually. People say 1 per gallon. I think you would be ok with 50 crabs in a 180g(1/2 mexican red leggers and 1/2 blue leggers(tricolor). The reason I say this is wherever there is something to eat., a group of them will clean it up in a short amount of time. Then they wil move on to forage for another spot. I can't imagine having 180 crabs in a tank.

I like the blue leggers as they will sift the top of the sand for detritus and will even nip on green hair algae if it is trimmed down. The mexican red leggers may eat all the other clumps you can't identify.

I would do a bunch of snails as well. Nassarius are great for sand sifting . Stay away from sand sifting stars. they will eventually starve and you may get hundreds of them in your tank all of a sudden. Not cool. Hard to get rid of all of them. took me about a year. Astraeas are great for the glass. I like they keep the top of my tanks clean. I would recommend as many nassarius as you can afford(50-100) you can do 1 per gallon especially if you have 3-5 inches of sand bed. 30-50 astraeas should do it.

Good luck and Happy reefing!!!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Thanks for that link. I'm gonna try some turbos. I have about 25% coverage in that red hair algae right now. It's spreading fast!

 

[Doubledown]

Sullyman - that is the exact stuff I have right now. I have 1 sally in the tank now, looks like I'll add a couple more.

joroscoe - the big turbos are a cooler climate snail, particularly if purchased late season like we are in now. The warmer temps of our reef tanks (mine is 80 degrees) does not help with their survival. That is what I was told at least.

bubbletip2 - when I first re-set this tank (3/06) I added100 Astrea, 150 mini blue legs, 50 Nasarius Vibex, 25 Cerith, 2 emeralds and a sally light foot. I think I have about 25 Astrea 30 or so blue legs and none of the Nassarius nor Ceriths left. Time to re-stock I think. I'll check out liveaquaria for a new order (it may prove too difficult to not order from their collector's corner though )

Thanks all for the replies.
Chris