What kind of algae is this?

[Sr5_Reef]

Hey everyone i noticed some of this algae starting to grow over one of my rocks. It hasn't disturbed anything or grown quickly (yet). I first saw it months ago and i picked most of it off but now it has grown bigger. Should i try and get it all out. Is it bad? good? what is the name and how do i get rid of it besides manually? It is red, turfy and strong. It isnt slimy, nor similar to hair algae, it is always short.
Thanks

 

[Murfman]

Looks like this?

http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/Red/redhair/Gpusillum.htm

or

http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/Red/redhair/Ataxiformis.htm

 

[Tswifty]

I've got some of that in my tank. It seems to stay specific to a few rocks though. Extremely annoying to look at, but doesn't seem to bother anything. My ORA Red Planet is actually growing over it. I'm looking to add a small bristletooth tang in the near future, as well as some Mexican Turbo Snails to see if either of them will take an interest in it. As none of my current livestock seems to even notice it at this poing.

 

[Sr5_Reef]

Gelidium Pusillum is gotta be it.
Does anyone have info on this kind of algae? Ill look it up later but i might get some pro's con's to eraticating it?

 

[gparr]

Looks very similar to stuff I've fought for years. I let it get out of control in a 20L about three years ago, to the point it was covering most of the shell of my clam. I eventually threw some rocks away because I simply couldn't get it removed from them. The little bit I have left seems to finally be weakening. The only way I've found to somewhat effectively remove it is to use a stainless steel wire brush to scrub the rock. I get small, toothbrush-like brushes at Ace Hardware to do this job. I remove the rocks and scrub them in a bucket of tank water when I'm doing water changes. I dig it out of crevices with tweezers. I've not found anything that will show any interest in eating it. If you have it in small areas, get rid of it while you can. Scrub it, cut out the infected areas, break off pieces that have it growing, and/or throw out the rock.
Gary

 

[Yellowtang]

A little would be fine but algae never seems to work that way. Its probably best to keep it reduced as much as possible if not completely.

Jr,

 

[Acezwild]

Emerald crab eats it but not quick enough to keep it under control

 

[Sr5_Reef]

Ill try an emerald crab. I have had this kind of algae for 6 months or so but it has never really taken off. Its always been on 1-2 rocks. Now that i look at pictures it is spreading a little more since then ( not bad at all compared to most nuisance algaes ) Ill report my experience.

 

[Sr5_Reef]

I got an Emerald crab and have had him for 2 days. I havent noticed any draw back in the algae of course i know it may take some time. I do notice that when lights just turn on the crab is on the sps, and has been both times. It looks like he was picking at the polyp extension. If the SPS start to show signs and he continues to be on them ill just have to take him out and deal with the algae. I have heard positive/negative feedbacks for the emerald but soon ill have my own.
just updating.

 

[seascape]

i have 2 emerald crabs in mine and they arent doing much the stuff is a pain ive notice to keep an eye on my nitrate levels and cut back some on feeding and also lighting with a little more often WC helps reduce it thats what is helping me.RJ

 

[Sr5_Reef]

Well the algae is moving everywhere and 3 emeralds are not doing the trick.

Breaking down the tank soon anyways, new ones on its way and im starting with ALL FRESH rock.

I have noticed that it suffocates my zoas when growing next to it. I have some nightmares that were getting covered with it so i took the frag out scraped it with a blade and they have already grown significantly and look a lot better.

 

[Supreme Reefs]

that algae wont let my SPS grow and my zoas have to stretch out to grow around it i HATE it!

 

[Reef Pets]

That is nasty spreading algae. I got it from live rock before thinking, it dont look to bad and should die off. That was far from what happened. In the end I got a Yellow Eye Kole Tang and the fish loved eating on it. Within a couple of weeks it was gone and never seen again.

 

[Sr5_Reef]

Yeah not bad in that picture, but it has taken to every rock and frag disc/plug in the tank now, and i have to constantly clean them. Emerals aren't doing there job neither are snails. I can't get a fish because its only a 28g :(. Option- Take all rock out bake it, scrub it exchange it.
I just wanted to get more imput on this for the future. Im setting up a new tank atm and getting a fresh start, and Qting things before entry.

 

[pisces4u]

I had it for a couple months on a large 10lb piece of rock. It's gone now and I think my mexican turbo snails did most the work.

 

[RadReef]

I had it for a couple months on a large 10lb piece of rock. It's gone now and I think my mexican turbo snails did most the work.

Turbo snails will eat it if they're from mexico, turbos from elsewhere do not. Unfortunately, with turbos it's hit or miss because vendors don't really know where they come from (even when claimed to be mexican). I have found what works for me though. I just cured a crocea clam's shell and now it's clean. I remove the rock that needs help and with a pipette I squirt DTs magnesium on the stuff. Within a few hours it goes grey to white and then the blue legs begin eating it, and then 1-2 days later it's gone! If you can remove the rock it's more effective but you don't have to, it just requires repeated dosing.

 

[bangoo]

The ones on the frag plug looks like cyanobacteria. (you can scrub them off easily right??) the filament looking ones on the right side, I don't know what they are but if it is he same ones as what I had, they are almost impossible to scrub off. Actually scrubbing few filaments off caused them to land in other locations and made the growth worse. What I did was bought some turbo snails and put them rght on top of it. They chewed right through it and now I don't have it anymore. Goodluck.

 

[SaraB]

I have that algae too in my 29G nano. It's actually growing on the back black plastic wall. I can't really peel it off very well so I might have to start scraping it with a credit card to get it off and out ... just worried about spreading it all over the tank!

 

[gparr]

Success!! I have battled this algae for several years by scrubbing and scraping and even throwing a few rocks out. I reduced its population to a couple of spots on a couple of rocks and my derasa clam shell. I had cleaned a branching piece of rock a few weeks ago and was getting new growth on one of the tips. Today, I took that rock out and poured a little of the BRS Mg solution on the tip that was covered with the algae. This evening, that algae, all healthy and dark green this morning, was a very faded color and not looking like it was very long for this world. I am very excited. My clam will be getting a full treatment. Maybe, for the first time in years, the clam won't have that junk growing on its shell.
Gary

 

[SaraB]

That's great news Gary! Now how to pour it on my back wall with the tank full ;)