Algae Problems and Identification

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roodee

New Member
So I've been fighting algae for a while now and I thought I'd finally ask for help. First, I need to figure out what I'm dealing with and then I'd like some suggestions. There should be 5 pictures of the various types..the vinelike one concerns me the most as it is taking over one of my frags..

I am doing weekly water changes of 25%, clean my two sponges, using carbon, phosban and have reduced my feeding and lighting cycle. I have left-handed and red-legged hermits and a mix of astreas, margaritas, cerith and nasarius for for a cleanup crew..was thinking of an emerald crab to help eat some of this..

Thanks for any advice..

The vine-like stuff..


The tube-like stuff..


The red tube/hair like stuff..


Red flakey stuff..doesn't look like cyano too me as I've had that on small patches of sand, but who knows..


hair algae (this is new) and the buble thingy in the back ground of some of the pics..
 
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Anonymous

Guest
sorry but i can't tell you the exact scientific names - there are sights out there or course and maybe other all ready know - but i can tell you the in the first pic there are two the "stringy" stuff is caulerpa starting and the "tube" like i don't know the name but it will form long curly cues and nothing i have eats it - manual removal is your best bet for both - it can be tough to get rid of cause it will pop up here and there.
the red stuff in the third pic turbos may help but i tend to scrape it off manually if it get to be a prob. the forth i think is cyano - vacuum/manual removal required, it will stop when your tank is stable - increasing flow in trouble areas sometimes helps.
the bubbles ie bubble algae they say mithrix crabs will eat but i've had no luck - manual removal is your best bet. common green filimentous algae in the last pic - i have found margaritas/astreas to be not very effective on a healthy growth (they are to slow and only eat it when it is short) again turbos are better. The trouble with turbos though is they are quite the bulldozers, so make sure everything is nailed down or they will knock it over. countinue what your doing, remove what you can by hand and add a turbo or two and in a month or so everthing should be better
 
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drty811

New Member
the first pic is a type of calipera, but it doesnt grow very fast. i have it in my tank and havent had any over growth problems.HTH
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
1st pic looks like like they say a kind of calipera & bubble algie try to take them out of your tank manually but not letting it to pomp in the tank or will create more bubbles...more info of bubble algie:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002- ... /index.php

2nd & 3rd pic looks like normal CHAETOMORPHA Also known as spaghetti algae, chaeto is a wiry algae that grows like a big clump of Brillo pad. It is one of the most highly desirable macro alga for use in refugiums.(helping you with the nitrates) and the red thing looks like another king of refugium algae...

but anyways they all are good for your tank but if dont like them just take them out manually ....cause so far i know only some blennies & tangs eat does algae (not good for you though) the only bad ones that u have to take a close look is at the bubble algea and the hairy algea...(that one will eventually die off when your tank is more stable ....but not the bubble algea keep a close eye on it.....
 
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