Maroon Algae

Tidy Waves · 01/21/2012, 10:57 AM

I have a maroon colored algae spreading on my live rock. It is similar in color to cyano, but it is probably 1/4" thick and more white colored underneath. It is velvety to the touch and very difficult to remove. It won't come off with a turkey baster and I can not siphon it out. I can get some of it out with a toothbrush, but I can't reach in the nooks and crevices and it grows back rather quickly.

The tank is a 65 gallon reef with a 1" sand bed and 75lbs. of live rock.
It has a finger leather, a frogspawn, some button polyps, and 6 fish. Nitrates are less than 5 and phosphates are .02.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Reef264 · 01/21/2012, 01:54 PM

What you may have here is Gracilaria algae, Cotton Candy Algae, or Cyano.From what you described, I am leaning towards Gracilaria, because when I had Cyano, It came off with ease, and Gracilaria has the tendencies of what your describing.

Can you get a Picture of it?

brandon429 · 01/21/2012, 02:03 PM

your algae is very easy to beat with this method
http://web4.reefcentral.com/forums/s...2082359&page=4

post before and after pics I am certain it will kill all of it.

Tidy Waves · 01/21/2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef264

What you may have here is Gracilaria algae, Cotton Candy Algae, or Cyano.From what you described, I am leaning towards Gracilaria, because when I had Cyano, It came off with ease, and Gracilaria has the tendencies of what your describing.

Can you get a Picture of it?

Reef264,

Sorry, I don't have access to a camera. I looked up Gracilaria algae and Cotton Candy Algae, and it is not either one of those. I have had cyano outbreaks before, and it's not that either unless there is a form I am not familiar with. It has the same color as cyano, but it is at least a 1/4" thick and feels like a piece of velvet.

brandon429 · 01/21/2012, 02:15 PM

I bet this is close?
look at the red algae surrounding the corals

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/4/aquarium

a spot treatment with peroxide will wipe it clean off the rocks, making look like it was never in the tank in just a few days.

Reef264 · 01/21/2012, 02:19 PM

Alright that's fine, I can work without photos.You say it feels like velvet, It may be a Fungus.

Reef264 · 01/21/2012, 02:20 PM

Try Algaebase.org they can identify just about any kind of algae.

brandon429 · 01/25/2012, 09:13 PM

I would like to know how the identification went and how the outcome is going. It is impotant to know that if you used the peroxide method as a spot treatment the area of algae growth would be totally gone at this time.

01/21/2012, 10:57 AM	#1
Tidy Waves Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 9	Maroon Algae I have a maroon colored algae spreading on my live rock. It is similar in color to cyano, but it is probably 1/4" thick and more white colored underneath. It is velvety to the touch and very difficult to remove. It won't come off with a turkey baster and I can not siphon it out. I can get some of it out with a toothbrush, but I can't reach in the nooks and crevices and it grows back rather quickly. The tank is a 65 gallon reef with a 1" sand bed and 75lbs. of live rock. It has a finger leather, a frogspawn, some button polyps, and 6 fish. Nitrates are less than 5 and phosphates are .02. Thanks in advance for the help!

01/21/2012, 01:54 PM	#2
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	What you may have here is Gracilaria algae, Cotton Candy Algae, or Cyano.From what you described, I am leaning towards Gracilaria, because when I had Cyano, It came off with ease, and Gracilaria has the tendencies of what your describing. Can you get a Picture of it? __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

01/21/2012, 02:19 PM	#6
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	Alright that's fine, I can work without photos.You say it feels like velvet, It may be a Fungus. __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

01/21/2012, 02:20 PM	#7
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	Try Algaebase.org they can identify just about any kind of algae. __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

01/21/2012, 02:03 PM	#3
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	your algae is very easy to beat with this method http://web4.reefcentral.com/forums/s...2082359&page=4 post before and after pics I am certain it will kill all of it.

01/21/2012, 02:15 PM	#5
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	I bet this is close? look at the red algae surrounding the corals http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/4/aquarium a spot treatment with peroxide will wipe it clean off the rocks, making look like it was never in the tank in just a few days.

01/25/2012, 09:13 PM	#8
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	I would like to know how the identification went and how the outcome is going. It is impotant to know that if you used the peroxide method as a spot treatment the area of algae growth would be totally gone at this time.