Dark purple algae?

MikeP471612 · 10/27/2006, 07:43 PM

My 30g tank has been running for about 6 months now and over the last couple weeks this dark purple kind of fuzzy looking algae has been getting worse and worse. It's growing on the substrate and on some of the live rocks. How so I get rid of it? Is there something that will eat it?

Thanks for any help.

PS I would post a pic but I have not been able to get that to work on this site.

Blackheart-MD · 10/27/2006, 08:40 PM

Without pics, my first guess would be Cyanobacteria. Had it for awhile in my tank when I first started it.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

siren · 10/27/2006, 08:44 PM

I've never seen purple cyano, but it does sound like it if it's growing on the substrate. If it is cyano, I'd act quick. I just had an outbreak in my 72gal, and I've been hitting it pretty hard. You should directly hit it with alot of flow. I've been using chemi-clean but I don't know if I trust it yet.

It's usually caused by high phosphate levels, so I'd check that and bring it down.

J. Montgomery · 10/27/2006, 09:52 PM

Try to cut back on the feeding and do more frequent water changes (until it cleans up), and then let your cleaning crew take care of it. For 30gallon, I wouldn't recommend anything that lives in the sand (like a sand sifting star). My crabs and snails all pick through the sand.

MikeP471612 · 10/27/2006, 10:54 PM

There are a lot of bubbles within the algae and on the surrounding rocks? Does that tell you anything more? I have redirected a powerhead so we'll see what that does. My substrate is crushed coral (my next tank won't be though). My clean up crew is turbo snails, a CBS, and a small hermit.

Thank for the replies so far.

PatMayo · 10/27/2006, 11:53 PM

Here is a thread that my help you with this problem. Sounds like cyno to me.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=147010

and this one

http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

Regards,

Pat

MikeP471612 · 10/28/2006, 12:12 PM

Excellent, thanks!

SuperNerd · 10/28/2006, 01:11 PM

Have you checked your phosphate and silicate levels? I believe those also play a role in the prevalence of this particular type of bacterium.

10/27/2006, 07:43 PM	#1
MikeP471612 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 379	Dark purple algae? My 30g tank has been running for about 6 months now and over the last couple weeks this dark purple kind of fuzzy looking algae has been getting worse and worse. It's growing on the substrate and on some of the live rocks. How so I get rid of it? Is there something that will eat it? Thanks for any help. PS I would post a pic but I have not been able to get that to work on this site.

10/27/2006, 08:44 PM	#3
siren Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jenks Ok Posts: 494	I've never seen purple cyano, but it does sound like it if it's growing on the substrate. If it is cyano, I'd act quick. I just had an outbreak in my 72gal, and I've been hitting it pretty hard. You should directly hit it with alot of flow. I've been using chemi-clean but I don't know if I trust it yet. It's usually caused by high phosphate levels, so I'd check that and bring it down. __________________ Richard Current Tank Info: Which one?

10/27/2006, 09:52 PM	#4
J. Montgomery Mouth Pipetting Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 6,278	Try to cut back on the feeding and do more frequent water changes (until it cleans up), and then let your cleaning crew take care of it. For 30gallon, I wouldn't recommend anything that lives in the sand (like a sand sifting star). My crabs and snails all pick through the sand. __________________ Josh

10/27/2006, 11:53 PM	#6
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Here is a thread that my help you with this problem. Sounds like cyno to me. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=147010 and this one http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

10/28/2006, 01:11 PM	#8
SuperNerd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal/Left Side- USA Posts: 4,572	Have you checked your phosphate and silicate levels? I believe those also play a role in the prevalence of this particular type of bacterium. __________________ I said fraggit! Current Tank Info: M-728 Combat Engineer (based on M60 hull). M-3 Lee Medium (British version with squatter).

10/27/2006, 08:40 PM	#2
Blackheart-MD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2	Without pics, my first guess would be Cyanobacteria. Had it for awhile in my tank when I first started it. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

10/27/2006, 10:54 PM	#5
MikeP471612 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 379	There are a lot of bubbles within the algae and on the surrounding rocks? Does that tell you anything more? I have redirected a powerhead so we'll see what that does. My substrate is crushed coral (my next tank won't be though). My clean up crew is turbo snails, a CBS, and a small hermit. Thank for the replies so far.

10/28/2006, 12:12 PM	#7
MikeP471612 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 379	Excellent, thanks!