fuzzy red algae rocks

nelson.jdautobody · Dec 14, 2013

hi reefers. i wanted to get opinions on what would be the best was yo get rid of some pesky red hair algae that seems to be getting a stronghold on my rocks. it doesnt seem to be impacting my coral reef as of yet but im sure it will if i let it get too out of control (kina already feel i have breached that point). im considering pulling my corals off the rocks and scrubbing them off in a separate wash bucket, then rinsing in another bucket, then putting back in the tank. however i do have several encrusted corals on the rocks so that seem like a pretty invasive way to go about it and i dont really want to damage the corals in the process. are there any reef same critters that i could add to clean it up without removing the rocks?? i notice that the bulk of it (if not all of it) is in the direct light spectrum of the kessills 350a's i have (i added some supplemental t5 and t5+ bulbs and the algae dont seem to be in the areas that the kessills dont reach. seems like more than just a coincidence) and the higher the rock the more the algae is thriving. i have the kessills turned down to around 50% or a smidge less but my light hood that i attached them and the t5's are only about 6-7" off the water and i have a 40gallon breeder tank filled with acros, lps, and others with about 4 fish (sand sifting orange spot goby, algae eating blenny, copper banded angle, and a wyoming white). any ideas that wont risk damaging my corals would be mucho appreciated, thanks
p.s. it doesnt look like any algae i seen on the internet google but it is darkish red and seem to resemble/grow like the green fuzzy algae

Reefing Madness · Dec 16, 2013

Can you give us your water params?
But, you could use the lights out for 3 dyas, that usually kills off any unwanted algae, and does not distrub the corals any.

nelson.jdautobody · Dec 18, 2013

water parameters are .024 on the salt, kh 8-9, calc 410, mag. 1350, ph 8.1. i have a phos reactor running rowaphos. there really isnt any green algae in the tank but the red studff has me concerned as i scrubbed the rocks when i moved recently and it seems like it cropped up faily quick (i moved about 3 months ago but kept 70% of the water in jugs when i transfered the tank and put it back in with some fresh mix). i was only worried about turning the lights off for a few days because i didnt want my sps to be effected by it. if you dont think that will bother them i can definately give that a try.