Please help Identify,,,Red algea

[buddyboy]

This red, fuzzy algae has been growing over my purple corraline for the last few months and has now started growing on my zoo polyps.. could anybody please help identify this type of algae.. Its not really aesthetically displeasing but it has begun covering my zoo', growing in and around the base of the polyps. Three colony's of zoo's have now shut and haven't reopened..This is not cyno, which would have easily floated away after a dusting with the toothbrush.. this well not come off..i've tried everything..thanks

 

[buddyboy]

here is another one: you can see it growing on the polyps

 

[buddyboy]

red and fuzzy

 

[buddyboy]

here you can see its growing on more liverock

 

[007]

does it go away or lessen when the lights go off? Can you remove it with say a turkey baster or toothbrush?
I am thinking cyanobacteria, but not sure.

 

[crazyreefnut]

cyno it is. try using chemi-clean totally reef safe but will take care of the cyno

 

[trompet3]

99.99% sure it is not cyano.
I also would never put any chemicals in the tank to solve the algae problem. You have to fix the problem.

 

[smickied]

I was getting ready to post the same question. If any help could help it would be a god send! My red algae is covering the glass and the sand in my tank. It is cont. to expand rapidly.

 

[randy 12]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I have continued to help someone get rid of it (he owns a hotel, which is where the tank is). Theirs is in a FO tank. It grows worse on one side - the side that faces the indoor pool and jacuzzi, which is in a glass dome.
Here is what we have done and continue to do:
1. RO/DI only
2. Take rocks out and scrub in a bucket of tank water every other week or as needed (as soon as it reappears)
3. Chemi-Clean once a month or more frequently
4. Skimmer
5. Reduced lighting
6. Reduce fish (which reduces feeding and waste)
7. Sometimes use Magnum 350 with white micron filter
This stuff is a pain. It doesn't scrub off easily and is fuzzy.

 

[trigger78]

I had the same stuff but not near as much. It was only covering part of a rock. I put some phosgaurd, which isn't a chemical, in my media container and it almost got rid of it all in one day. I would watch out for ammonia spikes if you find a cure. There will be a lot of die back in your case. Helping the only way i know how. -Alex

 

[buddyboy]

Well, I appreciate everyone's response. I have to say that I feel somewhat better knowing that I am not the only person to have seen this grow in my tank. In clarifying, I do use a euro-reef skimmer along with refugium lit 24/7.. I have zero nitrates and feed my fish sparingly.. All other peremeters are within suitable levels, except for phosphate which i have been fighting for some time... i live in the city and the levels in the tap can be a extreme nuisance even though I DO USE A RO/DI unit with silicate remover... Sometimes i check the levels in the tap and they are neglegiable and other times there over 1.0 ppm... I have noticed that they are lower during the day... any cause effect relationship i can't tell.. I have reduced lighting and as for scrubbing them in a seperate container well i have done that but the problem still keeps coming back.. I will look into using chemi clean and a phosguard to see if this helps i will get back and let you know the results but if anyone else has a solution other than what ive read recently please post... thanks for all your help..

 

[komet]

CHemi-clean works great for me. Ive hade to use it twice in a yaer and a half. It has done no harm to anything. My water parameters are always fine, I always test for nitrates and phospahate and whatnot before I use it. Cyano just seems to occur from time to time. It does not necessarily mean your water condition are poor.

 

[gatorcsm]

Chemi-Clean has worked for me as well. I understand the qualms about using such a product, as adding chemicals that aren't natural isn't highly desireable. But if this is done in conjunction with evaluating your system for a flaw, which you may have found if you use tap water, then it isn't a big deal, with this particular product anyway. Many, many reefers have used it with little problems.
If you have to use it again.. Then there might be a bigger problem. Seems like many people go through cyano once in their tank.. So once you kick this one, hopefully, you'll be free of it.
Good Luck