Red Hair Algae (1 Viewer)

[dbrock12]

What can I do about red hair algae? Just started noticing some last week. Water analasis is: 8.2 PH, Salinity 1.023, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, 0 phosphate, calcium 400

 

[Guest]

Is it red or brown dead looking stuff that just falls off when you brush the rocks?

 

[dbrock12]

Red, actually almost maroon in color and seems to form a kind of mat on the rocks.

 

[yellowbelley]

most likely cyano or slime algae due to lack of flow

 

[dbrock12]

Don't really think lack of flow is the problem. I have a total of 5 powerheads and the return from the sump. I believe that I have a lot of flow.

 

[cparka23]

touch it.. is it slimy or is it hard and rock-like?

 

[Guest]

well i had the same thing during my tank normal cycle. How long have you had your tank setup? well if anything i bought a orange/red footed snail (not sure if this is there real name, but that is what the shop worker said) it has a very smooth shell with a very bright red body. it has a very short life span, and mine last for about 9 months but it took care of my problem in less than month and it took care of any other algae problem i had as well. but i can not find them any more, i got mine at neptunes garden off of gulf fwy and fuqua. also i hear that red legged hermit crabs (clibanarius digueti) are good cyanobacteria eaters you could try those, i have no experience with these critters but other people have and they say it works well. well good luck.

 

[djreef]

Red footed snails actually come from the northern coast of California. They are cold water snails - the reason they don't last very long in our tanks.

DJ
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[Rick]

What is the temp in your tank? I've noticed that I get more algae in mine when the temp goes up a bit.

Rick

 

[dbrock12]

Temp is running 78 deg. I have decreased the time on the lights from 11hrs to 7hrs. and this morning I removed the majority of the algae with a turkey baster. I have a fairly good cleanup crew in the tank that includes several red legged hermit crabs, but they do not seem interested in this red hair algae.

 

[dbrock12]

This particular tank has been setup for about 6 months, with no problems.