Red Turf Algea - Which grazer?

[World Citizen]

Hi,

I am dealing with some Red Turf Algae I think.

- It sticks pretty hard and can't be brushed off
- You need to peel it of which is not going in large chunks.
- It grows where light hits. (not everywhere)
- It is not growing in size. After over 6 months I have the same amount at the same spots.
- No new spots start to grow this algae.

I have a stable tank for a year now (3 years in), and this is what is left. The only problem I have is 4 spots of this algae. The rest is as clean as it can be.

Pics about my Tank

A pic from my problem. (pic in white light, no colour adjustments)

I can not use any sort of chemical. I don't want to, and my Anemone will not like it.
So I am looking for an animal which eats this. I have been reading about

- Foxface
- Turbosnail
- Coletank
- SeaHair

Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to just buy something and test.

The only option is a animal. UV or Peroxide is NOT an option.


Thanks.

 

[World Citizen]

I have

- Turbo's
- Astrea
- Stombulus
- Globulus Urchin
- Tuxedo Urchin
- Funky Pink Urchin
- Toxopneustes Urchin

I tried
- Pincushion Urchin

All failed....

 

[MattyH]

I would try emerald crabs they’re really effective for any kind of algae, a great fish for that aswell is foxface.

 

[World Citizen]

I would try emerald crabs they’re really effective for any kind of algae, a great fish for that aswell is foxface.

Yeah, I have read about those. But the thing is my algae is only in bright open and visible spots.
It seems like it is in spots which Crabs don't want to venture in. They would have to crawl all the way up in the tank and sit on open rock which is in full light.

Maybe Emeralds do go out like that, but does anyone have own experience with this?

I read a lot of tips, but can't find people who write succes story's with ANY animal....

 

[OrionN]

I have great luck with just combination of grazers. Urchin, my Tangs Gang (Blonde Naso, Powder Blue, Dejardini, Purple, Yellow, Convict) and Angels Gang (Pair Regal, Pair Majestic, 5 Flames harem).
They look beautiful, just leave them be.

 

[World Citizen]

I have great luck with just combination of grazers. Urchin, my Tangs Gang (Blonde Naso, Powder Blue, Dejardini, Purple, Yellow, Convict) and Angels Gang (Pair Regal, Pair Majestic, 5 Flames harem).
They look beautiful, just leave them be.

Maybe you remember me from the Nems topic... which is the reason I don't really want to have new or more fish. I don't want them to end up in the Nems....

In any other tank this would not be a problem. I maintain a few systems which don't have this problem.

I think you are correct that one of the fish you propose is eating the red hair algea.


I was hoping to get a clear experience on this. Adding 1 fish is 1 to many, so I need to be 100% sure the first fish is the right one.

Which one would you think is the best option?

 

[OrionN]

Convict tang is one of the best algae eater.
Of my tang gang, only the Blonde Naso does not graze as industrious as the other five.

Healthy fish has very healthy respect for carpet anemone. I rarely if ever lost fish to my carpet unless I Chase trying to catch them.
When I work in the tank, I either take the carpet out to the sump or use a basket to put over the carpet so fish don’t get spook I to them.

 

[World Citizen]

Dollabela Sea Hair!


------

It seems this is working. By coincidence I picked one up today. I was in for some snail which could do it, but forget that.

I placed the Dollabela right on top of some of the algea an DANG! It started eating it. It does leave a little dust on the rocks, but it eats all the long hairs. Nice!

(webcam pics, sry)
First photo is him sitting on a piece of algea

Second photo is afterwards.. There is some little residue left which I can clean far more easily.

 

[OrionN]

If you can locate his herbivore Isopod. They do make short work of a lot of the turf algae include your red algae. I had the same thing and it really eradicated this algae. This is the Isopod and they reproduce fast in our aquarium and really eliminate algae. Pt problem is fish eat them like candy and they really need a refugium and protected area.

View attachment 4265157

 

[World Citizen]

If you can locate his herbivore Isopod. They do make short work of a lot of the turf algae include your red algae. I had the same thing and it really eradicated this algae. This is the Isopod and they reproduce fast in our aquarium and really eliminate algae. Pt problem is fish eat them like candy and they really need a refugium and protected area. View attachment 4265157

Those pics look amazingly the same as my problem. It does not take over the tank. It seems to be very wild at certain spots.

I do not have a lot of fish, so I could add those Isodpods, but finding them is going to be a thing.

Thanks @OrionN . I appreciate your time and offert.