Red fuzzy algae

[Technorch]

I'm getting this red fuzzy algae on my LR and especially on my seaswirl. Jeremy at CRA told me it could be cotton candy algae, so I went home and looked it up and it's almost identical just mine is a darker red. I read that it was also called red turf algae and it's pretty bad. I found out that turbo snails will devour this algae but I wanted to ask here firstif anyone has had any experience with this and what's the best way to kill it before I add a bunch of turbo snails.

 

[biggyclops]

what are your parameters?

 

[littlereef]

Red turf and cotton candy are not the same from what I seen. The cotton candy is soft and the red turf is like a brillo pad. I had a bunch of both in my 90G so before I move into the 125G I bought 8 turbo snails and 3 weeks later there is only a little left here and there. Now the green hair is another thing with in 3 weeks I have it growing in my over flow. So I guess I need A few more turbo snails.

 

[Greg Hiller]

If it's the soft cotton candy like stuff, you got good advice, the Mexican turbos are what you want. That said, it may start to grow in places the snails cannot get to. If it's only on a few things you might just want to remove those things. This stuff can spread fast and be a real nusience.

 

[Gonereefing]

I have the same problem with the red turf algae. It is a nuisance and grows everywhere. My parameters are good and I use ro/di water with monthly water changes. still i have a problem with this. My lfs told me that emerald crabs will eat this stuff up so I bought 5 of them (I have a 125 gal tank). They do eat it but not enough to control the problem. Also bought a bunch more hermit crabs and they pick at it too. Might try the Mexican turbos next. Let me know if you have any luck with a solution.

 

[frank180reef]

I bought some to eat what I call red cotton candy, I assume that is what u guys are talking about?

 

[frank180reef]

Got some mex turbos at Jays, they really do work for the red cotton candy algae

 

[Technorch]

I picked up 6 mexican turbos at skiptons and a whole lot of scarlett crabs along with a bunch of misc snails and placed everything on the one rock where all this algae was spreading and someone seems to be eating this because it's slowly going away.

Also, I bought a bottle of coral snow and on the label it's said to reduce nitrates, phosphates and reduce red slime algae. Now, I've been battling with some small patches of red slime. I added this even before adding the new cleanup crew and the water in my tank seems a LOT more clear and I barely see some red slime. Who know if the coral snow is really doing what it sad on the label but it's working so far. I haven't done anything different besides dosing the coral snow

 

[JayM]

the best way to get rid of algae, either cyano (red slime) or cotton candy algae, is to have a lower nutrient level....

 

[frank180reef]

I wouldnt add any chemicals to remove the nitrates and phosphates...................................I guess this is what your coral snow is?

another way of thinking about it is: you add this stuff, the phos and nitrates have to go somewhere they just wont disapear......................

 

[Technorch]

I got the coral snow just as a zeovit supplement for my sps and lps. The thing about reducing nitrates and so was just a bonus that I didn't know of. I just bought it as a supplement and not as a chemical to reduce anything in my tank.