Red Algae Outbreak

[tomato clown]

Hey all,
I managed to obtain a massive red algae outbreak in my 35gal.
Now I know it's due to my water conditions and such, but what are my options for removal? I know I have to remove the LR and do a soft scrub, but we all know it'll still be in the LS.
Can I starve it? or is there an invert that will run arround happilly munching away on the leftovers?

 

[tomato clown]

I just finished scrubbing the LR, but of course there are small bits that got away from me. Any ideas?

 

[beth]

Don't even think about scubing your LR. Didn't you pay good money for that rock??
Do a search here for Cyanobacteria. There a numerous discussion on this. Bottom line, I would cut the lights for about 4-5 days to only what you need to feed the fish.

 

[tomato clown]

I got a huge 80lb chunk of LR free, so no..lol
I'm not talking about scrubbing with harsh brushes and stuff, I'm talking about spending 6 hours like I've just done picking off algea growth with a soft toothbrush and tweezers.

 

[beth]

No. That is a waste of time. If you do what I tell you, lights off to cure the immediate problem and then address the actual problem you won't have to waste time picking it off. If it is really Cyanobacteria, you should be able to blow it off with a turkey baster anyway.
You just scrabbed away millions of microbacteria which are the foundations of your biofilter.

 

[tomato clown]

True, but it was starting to spread, and it allready killed 2 bubble corals and a mint green polyp colony. That was where my money went. worse comes to worse LR is always cheaper then corals, and more accessable to obtain.
As for the Cyanobacteria search, I did this and found some good bits of information. I'd just like to point out that I've reduced lighting 85% to maybe 2-3hours a day with no avail. It does indeed grow just as much in dark as in light. I also have gone strictly RO water for topping off, but once it's in there starving it is a pain in the butt. It's not fun watching corals getting smothered, and your fish loseing thier homes due to what I like to call "Sludge".
On the brighter side however, I did manage barely to save my last bubble corals small grouping(it'll most likely die though being the surviving cluster is extremely small). The 80lb chunk was broken up about 2 years ago as to do proper arranging. Only 5 of the 12 chunks got my attention, so i still have alot of microbacteria to work with. Yes maybe not the best way to work it, but whats done is done.

 

[tomato clown]

Doing research I found a Canadian article that may spread some light onto why I did what I've done, and to show that this isn't just a nominal problem. If this problem effects our tanks, then it doesn't stop there.
Cyanobacteria