How to remove a redish-brown algae

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 06:42 PM

This started about 2 weeks after upgrading my lighting. I went from 20 to 28 watts. The new lighting is great but this algae is not.

What can I do to get rid of it? Is there something that will eat it? I have a turbo snail that wont touch it and the crabs wont either.

It is a dark redish-brown is color and there is stringey pieces trailing from the rocks that is attached too. Its not on the glass, just the rocks closest to the light. Im guessing the added light caused this to flare up.

Thanks for any help.

Kevin1000 · 11-27-2005, 06:48 PM

Sounds like cyano ... take a look at this thread .. should help.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=61827

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 06:52 PM

That sounds like it. If you raise the pH, will that help kill it off?

Kevin1000 · 11-27-2005, 07:02 PM

If you have a cyano problem then your prime focus s/b on reducing phosphates which tend to be the limiting factor. Raising PH will not resolve this issue.

rangerfan · 11-27-2005, 07:03 PM

are you positive it is cyano, cyano looks more like a film over the rocks or substrate or whatever, cyano wouldnt be affected by light as that is not its main source of food, i have seen cyano it tanks with no light. could it be dino im not sure about what to look for on that as i have never had to deal with it but i ahve heard it is the hardest thing to get rid of

rangerfan · 11-27-2005, 07:06 PM

blow it with a powerhead if it flys off then it is probably cyano then scoop it out with a net, and start doing water changes, and add more flow to your tank cyano likes low flow areas

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 07:12 PM

Here is a pic of it.
http://www.thereeftank.com/photopost...61100_2725.jpg

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 07:20 PM

speaking of flow, this is in front of a powerhead.

rangerfan · 11-27-2005, 07:28 PM

if this rock is in front of a powerhead then it is not cyano. cyano does not keep a strong hold on the rock, it is something else im not sure what as i have never seen anything like that, when i had algae out breaks it was usually green lol. anyone have any more algae knnowledge

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 07:33 PM

The powerhead is just to the left of that rock. Its a wavemaker and it sweeps from side to side with this in the path.

Its in other spots too, but this is the bigest patch.

rangerfan · 11-27-2005, 07:41 PM

well that would lead me to believe that maybe it is a type of algae that enjoys areas of high flow

reef_noob · 11-27-2005, 08:01 PM

Ugh, red hair algae...almost always because of excess phosphate. The added light was probably the trigger for a bloom that was about to happen. Unfortunately, almost nothing eats it. Use ro/di, underfeed, agressively skim and you may be able to get it under control.

I ultimately had to "purge" my live rock in order to ge rid of mine. My live rock was largely from another tank, and was loaded with phosphate.

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 08:08 PM

I even have some of this on the HOB filter intake and a little on the sand. This tank has been running like this for a year now with what you see in it from my sig and the pic I posted today.

This stuff sounds like a pain to get rid of.

reef_noob · 11-27-2005, 08:12 PM

>This stuff sounds like a pain to get rid of.

It is, If you can, pull out the rocks that have the algae and scrub them in a bucket of ASW, then rinse them in another bucket of ASW, this will help to export some of it. Combined with the things I recommended above, you may be able to get it under control.

Steve-O · 11-27-2005, 08:26 PM

Talking about water. I use distilled water from the grocery store to add with and mix with. Is using that ok? Or, RO/DI from the water-well better.