Does Anyone Know How To Kill Hildenbrandia (Red-Spot Algae)?

[ScatMan]

my tank is covered it this stuff and the only way to get it off is to scrape it with a razor, but that only works on the glass. i'm wondering if anyone else has had a problem with it and figured out how to kill it.

my tank isn't planted but i thought some of you people might know more about this sort of thing.

here's a link to my old thread where i was trying to i.d. it: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/id-this-algae.559338/

 

[Oddball]

Phosphates promote the growth of this cyanobacteria (red algae). There are numerous products on the market which will reduce your tank's phosphate level and, in turn, reduce the red algae issue.

 

[ScatMan]

thanks ob. i searched "cyanobacteria" too and came across chemiclean, it's supposed to remove the cyanobacteria stains.

my thinking is that i could remove it with chemiclean and use phos-zorb to keep it from coming back.

edit: chemiclean is ok for fresh and salt water... derp

 

[bbortko]

I had cyano in the summer and tried treating is by vacuuming it off the sand (the only place it was) and using phosguard but I didn't see any improvement. I then used chemiclean, focused my returns for better surface agitation and added wave makers for lower level current and the cyano hasn't returned.

 

[ScatMan]

I had cyano in the summer and tried treating is by vacuuming it off the sand (the only place it was) and using phosguard but I didn't see any improvement. I then used chemiclean, focused my returns for better surface agitation and added wave makers for lower level current and the cyano hasn't returned.

thanks! was that in salt or fresh?

 

[pops]

ultimately the best fix is to reduce the nutrients in the water, IMHO , this best done with water changes with a hardy vacuuming and feed no more than is needed. chems will treat the problem, but if the cause is not addressed looking to have it come back again,

 

[bbortko]

thanks! was that in salt or fresh?

Fresh

 

[ScatMan]

ultimately the best fix is to reduce the nutrients in the water, IMHO , this best done with water changes with a hardy vacuuming and feed no more than is needed. chems will treat the problem, but if the cause is not addressed looking to have it come back again,

in my case, the water is clean. 75% weekly water changes and it's a lightly stocked bare bottom tank. it spreads EXTREMELY slow but the problem is that the algae is tough as nails and impossible to remove completely... so it eventually comes back. i don't have a spot of any other type of algae in that tank and i don't have this stuff in any of my other tanks either.

while i generally agree with what you're saying, i've done everything you can do short of chemical treatments.

 

[pops]

Glad no Offence was taken nuking may indeed be your only option, if that not work, I pull the fish, and bleach/clean the pee out of it.

 

[fishbum]

Personally I would get a phosphate test before I got a phosphate remover. If your levels are high, then get some Rowaphos. That stuff is awesome. That is where I'd start.

If you have more than one tank, what is different about this one? Is it overstocked, the fish over fed,or get sunlight, or have the lights on longer. Getting to the root of the problem will fix it permanently. But then again, there is nothing wrong or will hurt anything if phosphate is the problem and you need to use a phosphate remover.