Purple hair algae?

[ssunthar]

Hi Experts, saw this single strain growing on the rock.. is this purple hair algae? I also faund a few small patches of similar looking growth.. guess they are the same right? Thanks.

 

[Chrille26]

Hi! It looks like it could be red turf algae, I am not certain on the id though!

 

[ssunthar]

Hi! It looks like it could be red turf algae, I am not certain on the id though!

Is red turf algae good or bad?

 

[N.Sreefer]

Is red turf algae good or bad?

Bad and i agree thats what it looks like. Im sure theres people on here who have dealt with it before and can suggest treatment. I would suggest testing your water parameters and posting them itll help alot with finding a solution. Normally though high phosphates is the cause.

 

[ssunthar]

Bad and i agree thats what it looks like. Im sure theres people on here who have dealt with it before and can suggest treatment. I would suggest testing your water parameters and posting them itll help alot with finding a solution. Normally though high phosphates is the cause.

Will post the water parameters shortly.. so what i see is indeed red turf algae is it?

 

[N.Sreefer]

Its a rhodophyte (red algae) but could be a macroalgae. Scientifically speaking red turf algae is not a species its an assembly of species that makes a mat that often has a higher biodiversity than the surrounding reef. Its considered a pest by some reefers but what you have there is an amazing source of biodiversity and nutrient export. If its not taking over the whole rock imo I would just see it as a natural part of the ecosystem we are trying to replicate. Honestly imo i would leave it but its your tank if it doesnt fit your look alot of people use chemicals products like vibrant but i dont have any experience with those products. Eventually as your system ages coralline algae will outcompete alot of those other species. How quickly is it spreading?

 

[Snuggs]

Following .For two years I had a small patch on one of my rocks. Then one day boom. It is everywhere. Tried vibrant awhile back and it fueled a huge cyano outbrea so looking for ideas

 

[ssunthar]

Its a rhodophyte (red algae) but could be a macroalgae. Scientifically speaking red turf algae is not a species its an assembly of species that makes a mat that often has a higher biodiversity than the surrounding reef. Its considered a pest by some reefers but what you have there is an amazing source of biodiversity and nutrient export. If its not taking over the whole rock imo I would just see it as a natural part of the ecosystem we are trying to replicate. Honestly imo i would leave it but its your tank if it doesnt fit your look alot of people use chemicals products like vibrant but i dont have any experience with those products. Eventually as your system ages coralline algae will outcompete alot of those other species. How quickly is it spreading?

Thanks.. learned a few things today. It is not spreading that fast and i kinda like the dark purple color... will keep a watch for now. I am having some challenges in getting a lot of coralline because of my 2 urchins... again an uneducated move by me.

 

[ssunthar]

Following .For two years I had a small patch on one of my rocks. Then one day boom. It is everywhere. Tried vibrant awhile back and it fueled a huge cyano outbrea so looking for ideas

Ok noted... will definitely keep a watch over it. Thanks.

 

[ssunthar]

Will post the water parameters shortly.. so what i see is indeed red turf algae is it?

Here are the numbers:
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Ca = 28
Kh = 13
Salt = 1.026
Temp = 26°C
Ph = 8.2
Phos = 0.5
Ammonia = 0.1
Thanks.

 

[Dan_P]

Hi Experts, saw this single strain growing on the rock.. is this purple hair algae? I also faund a few small patches of similar looking growth.. guess they are the same right? Thanks.

Looks like this system needs an algae eater.

 

[Snuggs]

What eats this

 

[Dan_P]

What eats this

Have you considered a Mexican turbo? They have tremendous appetites and need to be fed after the algae is gone. They are strong and can knock over things.

 

[ssunthar]

Looks like this system needs an algae eater.

I have a hippo tang, 2 gowrie (big & small) & 3 snails, 1 red star, 1 cucumber & 2 urchins as my cleaning crew.

 

[ssunthar]

Have you considered a Mexican turbo? They have tremendous appetites and need to be fed after the algae is gone. They are strong and can knock over things.

I tried different types of hermits in the past and they don't survive long in my tank.. i guess the clue is in your note above.... a question... how to know/identify if any of my cleaning crew are starving?

 

[Dan_P]

I tried different types of hermits in the past and they don't survive long in my tank.. i guess the clue is in your note above.... a question... how to know/identify if any of my cleaning crew are starving?

I have a belief based on no data and that is most creatures purchased as a clean up crew starve to death. I also believe if they were taken care of to the same degree as coral and fish, they would live longer and do what they were purchased for: eating stuff.

To your question, find out what these creatures eat and feed them. The internet will give you plenty of clues. Make sure they are eating. I think they are like dogs. They will eat and eat and eat. You don’t have to worry that if you feed them they will stop ”cleaning”. The hermits though will need one additional thing: a pile of spare shells of assorted size to move into as they grow.

i think that I will start a R2R campaign: “save the snail”.

 

[ssunthar]

I have a belief based on no data and that is most creatures purchased as a clean up crew starve to death. I also believe if they were taken care of to the same degree as coral and fish, they would live longer and do what they were purchased for: eating stuff.

To your question, find out what these creatures eat and feed them. The internet will give you plenty of clues. Make sure they are eating. I think they are like dogs. They will eat and eat and eat. You don’t have to worry that if you feed them they will stop ”cleaning”. The hermits though will need one additional thing: a pile of spare shells of assorted size to move into as they grow.

i think that I will start a R2R campaign: “save the snail”.

Thank you very much for the tips... the campaign sounds like a great idea.