Red Algae

[bizzleb01]

I've got some red algae growing on my rocks. It's not hair algae and doesn't come off very easily. It's more like a mat or something. I can't get a pic right now but does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of it. Maybe a yellow tang or something. I have a pac blue and he doesn't touch it.
My parameters are all normal and I do weekly 15 gallon water changes on my tank, which is a 90 gallon.

 

[jcsoccert]

Is it hard? maybe corraline algae?

 

[ilovemytank]

If it is soft and starting to "matt" over the rocks quickly and sand, then it may be red slime. If you can take a tooth brush and brush it off the rock then thats what it is. In that case use red slime remover. If its hard and doesn't brush off then I can't answer this question correctly. Good luck.

 

[mr_x]

if it is cyanobacteria, which i doubt, since you can't easily remove it, do not use red slime remover. don't add antibiotics like erythromycin to a system that depends on bacteria to sustain it.
you will only remove the visible red slime, not the excessive nutrients that brought it on in the first place.

 

[bizzleb01]

It's not red slime and it's not corraline. It doesn't come off very easily though. I checked my water and everything is at an acceptable level. I did recently get new lights and I keep them on a little longer than I should, so do you think this could be causing. What about mexican turbo snails to get rid of it? Maybe a yellow tang or something?

 

[bizzleb01]

It's actually a dark maroon color and looks almost fuzzy. When I try to scrap it off or brush it off it doesn't move.

 

[b0b82]

Could it be flatworms?

 

[cveverly]

Hard to guess but maybe red turf algae.

 

[novahobbies]

I have this very same stuff over some of the dead barnacles in my 110..... snails don't seem to touch it. The only thing that really gets into it is one of my mexican turbo snails, and he only ever samples a little before slogging off to greener pastures. It's a slow grower, but hard to remove, right?

 

[bizzleb01]

Yeah, it doesn't grow very fast. So your mexican will eat it occasionally then. I might have to try and get a couple to see if they'll do it. Thank you

 

[bizzleb01]

How can you get rid of red turf algae and what causes it?

 

[cveverly]

Originally Posted by Bizzleb01
http:///forum/post/2754695
How can you get rid of red turf algae and what causes it?
What caused it? Good question. I assume it was introduced on some coral or rock you added to your tank. It grows like any other algae with light and food. I also understand if you try to brush it off it will just spread. So if you do brush it remove the rock first.
The only consistent thing to remove it are Mexican turbo snails. Some have had luck with Yellow Tangs and Rabbit Fish.