Help 911. Red hair algae taking over

[uneverno]

My hope exactly. Prolly won't happen - one will likely end up dominating due to "favorable" conditions. So far, the dark red is losing 'cuz a coupla critters I have like to eat it. Then again, that may help it spread

Meantime, the Cyano is defintely getting better w/ my water change regimen.

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by uneverno
http:///forum/post/3009626
My hope exactly. Prolly won't happen - one will likely end up dominating due to "favorable" conditions. So far, the dark red is losing 'cuz a coupla critters I have like to eat it. Then again, that may help it spread

Red is the most abundant type in the ocean. It grows deeper where the main spectrum reaching it is the red spectrum. I've never seen it thrive in aquariums. I still have some of that too, it's slowly dying as my purple dominates.

 

[uneverno]

Originally Posted by PEZenfuego
http:///forum/post/3009629
where the main spectrum reaching it is the red spectrum.
I have to disagree with you there. The opposite end of the spectrum (Blue/purple) is the color that reaches deepest. Many deepwater species (Flame angels, Squirelfish, various sponges and shrimp) are red because it's camouflage, not because they're trying to show off.
I also fly -- aircraft as a hobby. Red turns black far sooner than blue does at a distance.

 

[uneverno]

What the heck is wrong with the abbreviation R C as in Radio Control?????

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by uneverno
http:///forum/post/3009645
I have to disagree with you there. The opposite end of the spectrum (Blue/purple) is the color that reaches deepest. Many deepwater species (Flame angels, Squirelfish, various sponges and shrimp) are red because it's camouflage, not because they're trying to show off.
I also fly -- aircraft as a hobby. Red turns black far sooner than blue does at a distance.
Is that right? I thought it was red because deep in the ocean the coraline is red. In any case it says in my bio book that red coraline algae is most abundant at deeper levels where light isn't as abundant.

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by uneverno
http:///forum/post/3009648
What the heck is wrong with the abbreviation R C as in Radio Control?????
Oh haha. You honestly don't know? It's the abbreviations for another forum. I'm not a part of that forum though. SWF.com is better imo.

 

[uneverno]

Ah, gotcha - I am not familiar with that forum, but I bet I can guess its name

And yes, longer wavelengths (reds) disappear faster both in the atmosphere and bodies of water. That's the answer to the question: Why is the sky blue?
Well, our atmosphere anyway. I can't speak to other planets...

 

[younngballa88]

Thanks Guy Lots Of Good Help Here

 

[bionicarm]

As others have said, check your phosphate levels, and increase your flow. They have chemical products specifically designed to get rid of cyano (Red Slime). Get that and follow the instructions. I just killed off a large colony of cyano in my 55 a couple weeks ago with great success using the prtoduct.
For hair algae, get you a Sea Hare. Looks like a large slug with a face like Shrek. I had a hugh outbreak of hair algae and put one of these in my tank. Hair algae was gone completely in a month.

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by bionicarm
http:///forum/post/3010089
As others have said, check your phosphate levels, and increase your flow. They have chemical products specifically designed to get rid of cyano (Red Slime). Get that and follow the instructions. I just killed off a large colony of cyano in my 55 a couple weeks ago with great success using the prtoduct.
For hair algae, get you a Sea Hare. Looks like a large slug with a face like Shrek. I had a hugh outbreak of hair algae and put one of these in my tank. Hair algae was gone completely in a month.
Some people would say to avoid getting an animal to eat it. They would say that you should fix the problem, not the symptoms. I agree with that to an extent. Getting something to eat it would get it to go away a lot faster and with really no downsides. Obviously you would need to fix the problem causing the algae as well.
A little opinionated advice...if you are going to get something to eat the algae, get something that you like and you can sustain after it eats all your algae. Don't get something just to eat the algae and then have it die from starvation later on or realize that you don't want it in your tank later on.

 

[bionicarm]

Originally Posted by PEZenfuego
http:///forum/post/3010475
Some people would say to avoid getting an animal to eat it. They would say that you should fix the problem, not the symptoms. I agree with that to an extent. Getting something to eat it would get it to go away a lot faster and with really no downsides. Obviously you would need to fix the problem causing the algae as well.
A little opinionated advice...if you are going to get something to eat the algae, get something that you like and you can sustain after it eats all your algae. Don't get something just to eat the algae and then have it die from starvation later on or realize that you don't want it in your tank later on.
My Sea Hare eats more than just hair algae. I hang algae strips in various places in the tank, and I see him eating on them when the lights went out. He's been hanging around for over a year now. Must be eating something. It sure isn't hair algae.
I do agree with you on fixing the problem. Most likely reason for hair algae is overfeeding, inadequate filtering, infrequent water changes, using water other than RO/DI, and possibly too many fish in the tank.