algea ID and advice please (1 Viewer)

[Copingsaw]

I have two types of algea growing in my tank that I would like to somehow get rid of. Both grow somewhat slowly but the short, bristly red algea is slowly covering all my rocks.

Can anybody ID these for me and provide advice on how to get rid of them. Keep in mind that this is a 20-gallon tank.

Thanks!

 

[Melodyepta]

I'm not much help on the ID.

Something is fueling the growth of these and you need to figure out what it is. What are your water parameters? Especially Nitrates. What type of water do you use? Tap? RO/DI? RO only?

Have you changed lighting lately? What type, wattage and K rating are you running?

What and how often do you feed the tank inhabitants? Different foods can be high not only in nitrates but phosphates as well.

Finally, what kind of critters do you have in the tank? Anything that might eat this stuff?

 

[Copingsaw]

Thanks for the reply.

I use RO/DI water. Nitrates are near zero. Lighting is 110 total watt 50/50 PC lighting with bulbs about 4 months old.

I have two false percs I feed a mix of flake and mysis only as much as they can eat in 30-secs once daily.

I have NONE of the nuisance algea you typically get when you have water quality issues.

I was hoping somebody might be able to recommend a critter that might eat this stuff and could thrive in a 20-gallon tank. Can somebody at least tell me what it is? I've done some research on Reef Central and can't seem to find anything that matches this stuff.

 

[Melodyepta]

I finally got some time to sit down and do some researching for you.

The closest I get to the first pic is this: http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/Green/hairalgae/Boodleasp.htm

So far I haven't found anything remotely resembling the stuff in the second pic.

Have you tried these sites?

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/algaepage.htm

http://www.algaebase.org/default.lasso?

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://w3page.com/fishline/micro.html

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/algae/

The first one I listed is where I found the boodlea sp.

Sorry to not be of more help.

 

[Copingsaw]

No, I haven't tried any of those sites. Thanks for the links. I will research it some more.

The boodleasp stuff in the pic you posted is too green for the stuff in my first pic. Its brownish red and actually has a bit of an irridescent blue glow to some of the strands. Almost pretty ... but not quite.

The stuff in the second pic is what really worries me. It is tough and bristly and is almost impossible to scrub off the rock.