red wire algea

[chad508]

is there anything else to control this algea? i am using black spine urchins and they eat it but not as fast as it can grow. i am running a 30 gallon fuge with cheato, and still no luck. any help is appreciated

 

[kmk2307]

Is the red wire alga Gelidopsis or similar (if you aren't sure try searching google image search)? Although tedious, manual removal is useful for getting a lot of the algal biomass out of your tank. How much light do you have on your Chaetomorpha? Do you light the 'fuge 24/7? Having lots of light and running it 24/7 may help the Chaeto outcompete the red alga. Cutting back on the amount of nitrogen that enters the tank would also slow the growth of the red alga.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[chad508]

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this is what i have

 

[kmk2307]

It's not what I was imagining. I can't tell what it is in the pic. Some sort of Gelidalean red alga but I can't say which. Have you considered using a toothbrush to scrub some off?

Kevin

 

[chad508]

the only thing that will get it off is a wire brush. its almost like green turf algae in that it is rooted into the rock. i feel my only option is to pull the rock that i can and cook it.