salt water red algae

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marscortes

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 4, 2006
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Fiji
ok so my dad is having a problem with red hair algae in his 30 gl reef tank. i dont know anything about salt water stuff so im going to sound really stupid. Hes got red hair algae growing on the bottom white sand and some on the rocks. Since hes got the lights up running at 65 watts each x2, one white one and one blue one, they started comming out. Also he added 2 new corals, and started putting this vital plankton green stuff in the water to help with the growth of the coral.

Could it be the current? thats what the LFS guy said .. i have 2 power heads running in both direction, not to mention the rena filter current, and the skimmers current. Water changes are 10% a week. current stock are 1 clown about 3" , 2 damsels at 1 1/2 " and a small brain coral at 3" by 2" some weird hair wavey thing on a piece of rock 4" by 4".

Thanks in advanced.
 
marscortes;2412935; said:
ok so my dad is having a problem with red hair algae in his 30 gl reef tank. i dont know anything about salt water stuff so im going to sound really stupid. Hes got red hair algae growing on the bottom white sand and some on the rocks. Since hes got the lights up running at 65 watts each x2, one white one and one blue one, they started comming out. Also he added 2 new corals, and started putting this vital plankton green stuff in the water to help with the growth of the coral.

Could it be the current? thats what the LFS guy said .. i have 2 power heads running in both direction, not to mention the rena filter current, and the skimmers current. Water changes are 10% a week. current stock are 1 clown about 3" , 2 damsels at 1 1/2 " and a small brain coral at 3" by 2" some weird hair wavey thing on a piece of rock 4" by 4".

Thanks in advanced.
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And on the coral rocks there some air bubbles that seem to be incased with some kind of algea ? i dont know its kinda weird. should i scub them off ?
 
you are probably talkking about red slime algae. in which case go to the LFS and buy some red slime algae killer. usually a powder you mix with tank water before dumping it back in. it will be gone in a day. dont let it grow on the corals tho!
 
joworth;2413041; said:
you are probably talkking about red slime algae. in which case go to the LFS and buy some red slime algae killer. usually a powder you mix with tank water before dumping it back in. it will be gone in a day. dont let it grow on the corals tho!
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um. .kinda too late its sorta on the corals. people siad use snails and water changes ?
 
What's the phosphate reading?

Extra phosphate causes all kinds of algae problems in saltwater. Check your salt brand, some have more phosphate than others.

Sounds like you have green bubble algae too. DON'T break those little green bubbles! It releases spores and only causes more algae.

If it were me I'd put some phosphate removing resin in the filter, add some more powerheads until you have at least 10X tank volume in water movement, and bump up the skimmer.
 
Red slime could also mean poor water conditions or not enough water movement, I had that problem too added a powerhead to the tank along with Red slime remover, worked you may have to do the treatment twice
 
well your corals may be on the way out then if you dont get this figured out. if you have green bubbles an emerald crab is known to eat them. def. up the flow and clean off those corals!!
 
thanks a million. went to the lfs and got some of that red slim crap remover. The worker told me is def red slim. as for the bubbles, he told me to scrub them off.
 
I have this same problem in my 12 gallon nano, I've tried everything to my knowledge, about to get a 46 gallon, probably just gonna start over in that.

I have crustaceans so algicide is out, and my water prams are PERFECT, but it seems all the snails die almost instantly, but i have a fighting counch that's living fine. very confusing.
 
Nutrient control and water movement are always the answer to nuisance algae blooms, you just have to figure out which it is. Most of the time it's excess nutrients. Perform larger water changes, make sure your tap water is nitrate and phosphate free (and if you're using it straight out of the tap I guarantee you it isn't), and maintain your skimmer!

A 10% water change isn't much...in such a tiny tank you should be doing 50%.

Algacides shouldn't and won't be the long term answer, nutrient control is.
 
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