What is it... and what eats it? (algae ID)

J

JosefDevaty

New member
I know its a type of algae. Its red, but its not the red hair or cotton algae that I have found when searching online. It has a wire like texture to it and looks like bunches of roots. It doesnt get long but seems to grow close to the rockwork and gets bushy. This stuff came in on a frag plug and I thought I got it all off...... and well you know. Now I have it popping up in various spots in my tank. Anyway if someone can ID this and then tell me what eats it and possibly where to buy it that would be great.
algae2.jpg

algae1.jpg
 
Do you have any tangs? I would think that a sailfin or other tang would munch that stuff good...maybe blonde naso? That depends on wether your system is big enough to handle em though...
 
I bought a Tomini tang to try and take care of it. He doesnt seem interested in the stuff. I have had him for about a week. Is there a break in/ settling period untill they start to graze? He eats the flake and pellet food just fine. I also have a few snails (astrea I think... whatever aquaria studio sells) they dont mess with it either. Yeah if noone here knows what it is then ill just pull out a piece of rock with it attached and start taking it on a grand tour of the LFS's till someone lets me know what it is.
 
after re-looking at the pics and re-reading what you wrote I would say that is what is commonly known as turf algae. I also agree that checking with Marcye (menonemo) on what she thinks. I worked with here for about a year and she is top of her game when it comes to id these types of things. If it i the turf algae that im thinking it is, I would get it out while you can, it will and can overgrow corals and eventualy the tank. Also watch out on the Astreas they have a bad tendancy of know being able to right them selves if the flip over.....
 
I had a bout of this stuff, but I don't think it came from me, as all I remember you getting from me was the Orange Cap frag.....Based upon Sprung's Algae book it looks like Asparagopsis.....Sprung says either a Didema Urchin or a Sea Hare (either Aplysia or Hermaea)....I recommend trying either a foxface or a Sea Hare....the dwarf Sea Hares don't gettoo big and are known to eat this stuff....not real expensive either.....

Bottom line is get it out....if it's only associated with one rock, get it out of the tank even if it is attached to something....IT WILL SPREAD BAD.......
 
Nahh Mitch it wasn't from you. I don't want to name the LFS but really its my fault for not being more cautious. I figured the snails or stomatella would eat it but nope.
I dig foxfaces but all the ones I see are already pretty big. As far as stocking goes I'm not sure if he will fit. Right now I have - a pair of clarkii clowns, one sandsifting goby, 6 line wrasse, chalk basslet, a tomini tang, 2 cleaner shrimp, and 2 peppermint shrimp. This is in a 75 with a little over 100 pounds of LR.
Will adding another fish be pushing it?
Does anyone know if any LFS stocks seahares? I'm not really down with anything that is going to knock over frags which is why I'm inclined to go with the foxface. Decisions, decisions.
 
You might try injecting the algae clump with some alk part A or even some kalk I know the difference in chemistry can sometimes get rid of it.

Sometimes the turbos from california can do it too if you're looking for less-large natural predators. Don't forget to check out the algae site here on RC it has a good match up if you get a true positive ID
 
I know that SITC usually has one coming in most weeks or there is one at the farm.They will sometimes do them like a trade, you take him for a while then when the algae is gone they will take him in and loan it to another person so that way he doesnt starve when the algae is gone. I would check with them. Another point is that i think its the Hawiaan variety ?? that has the best chance of living and eating just about everything.
 
It is always hit or miss when you go buying an animal to specifically consume one thing in particular. Many things have a reputation for eating things that most times they will, but many times they do not seem to have read the book that describes themselves and they fail to live up to the expectations we place upon them. I too had some brown turf algae that came on the rocks of a couple very nice leathers I got from a friend. He has a powder blue tang a small naso tang and a flame angel that one might think would help in this area.....but nothing. I bring the rocks home and place them in my tank and within 2 days, my yellow tang, my powder blue tang and my emperor angel totally cleaned it out. No even a trace of the stuff. So short of it is....each fish is different and depending on what else is fed to the tank and how hungry they are, will go a long way towards whether or not they will eat a particular algae.

Turbo snails are reported to eat the stuff....but I personally feel they may not do it at a rate that keeps the stuff in check.
 
I'd go specifically with the Pacific turbo snail on this one. My guess is that it's a species of algae specific to that area as most folks can't seem to get anything to eat it. But, I've had great luck with the Pacifics eating just about anything the normal stock inverts won't touch...so it could be an enviro thing. There are several types of Turbos...these aren't the Mexican Turbos or the Zebras, but specifically called Pacific Turbos. They aren't easy to find, but I think I have an extra one I can give you to see if it will work on your type. Let me know:) Marcye
 
my powder blue goes crazy over that if I ever bring a frag in with it on it. If the rock is removeable if you take some soda ash and let it sit on it, it almost seem like it calcifies it and dies. I accidently stumbled onto that method with hair algae. Long story to explain.
 
Great idea davy....I wish I had put something up here when I was battling the stuff....LOTS od nutrient export and water changes.....

The Pacific turbos are good, but they are Bulldozers....I like the idea of the dwarf Aplysia if they can be found....they stay pretty small...
 
I went by SITC today and picked up the turbos. I set them on two big patches of the stuff and one of them seems to be going to town on it. Well see how it goes.
 
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