Strange red algae

lmsmith · 05/28/2009, 07:06 PM

My RCD tripped last night, I can't see any reason why it might have done it other than some sort of power fluctuation.

Anyway, the pump didn't restart, so my tank drained about 20cm into the sump. All's good there, my measurements worked perfect, so no overflowing. It can't have happened long before I got up, because the back wall was still wet.

However, on the back wall of the tank (I let the algae run wild on the back wall) there was large spots of blood red algae. I wasn't sure what it was, so didn't think anything of it. I switched the pump back on, and as the tank was filling, some of the colour of the algae leached into the water. It looks just like normal green algae, only it's bright red, and was only in the part exposed to the air.

Any ideas what it is? It's it good or bad?

Sisterlimonpot · 05/28/2009, 07:13 PM

can you post a picture? sounds like cyano bacteria. but post a pic to confirm.

lmsmith · 05/28/2009, 07:22 PM

I'm not at home right now and didn't have time to get one this morning. It doesn't look like cyno; it's not slimy at all, and looks almost powdery. At first I thought something had fallen in the tank, but there's nothing around to fall in there.

05/28/2009, 07:06 PM	#1
lmsmith Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 323	Strange red algae My RCD tripped last night, I can't see any reason why it might have done it other than some sort of power fluctuation. Anyway, the pump didn't restart, so my tank drained about 20cm into the sump. All's good there, my measurements worked perfect, so no overflowing. It can't have happened long before I got up, because the back wall was still wet. However, on the back wall of the tank (I let the algae run wild on the back wall) there was large spots of blood red algae. I wasn't sure what it was, so didn't think anything of it. I switched the pump back on, and as the tank was filling, some of the colour of the algae leached into the water. It looks just like normal green algae, only it's bright red, and was only in the part exposed to the air. Any ideas what it is? It's it good or bad?

05/28/2009, 07:13 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	can you post a picture? sounds like cyano bacteria. but post a pic to confirm. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

05/28/2009, 07:22 PM	#3
lmsmith Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 323	I'm not at home right now and didn't have time to get one this morning. It doesn't look like cyno; it's not slimy at all, and looks almost powdery. At first I thought something had fallen in the tank, but there's nothing around to fall in there.