Algae ID

scotmc · 09/25/2007, 08:47 PM

I have a red algae growing on a rock near a power head. It came off the rock easy. It has the consistency of nori. My tang did not eat it. My nitrate and nitrite is zero. I am going through a diatom outbreak. The tank is only 4 months old, so I am not worried about that. I am just wonder what type of alge it is.

rlee81indy · 09/25/2007, 08:52 PM

sounds like cyano-bacteria. Get a turkey baster and blowit off and let your skimmer do its job. also do a 15% water change after you blow off the red slime

Percula9 · 09/25/2007, 08:53 PM

It's really not an algae, but cyanobacteria. Check your phosphate levels. Turn the powerhead directly on that area. It doesn't like high flow.

T Man · 09/25/2007, 08:57 PM

Sounds like cyanobacteria, it looks just like snot - I would test your level of phosphates. If you used tap water from the start, that would be your culprit - ro/di water, removal by hand, back off on feedings and patience is the way to recovery. T

scotmc · 09/25/2007, 09:03 PM

I really did not think it was cyano, since it was only growning on the top of a rock near the surface. The power head is right near it. I don't use tap water. what should phosphates levels be? I have not been testing them.

Percula9 · 09/25/2007, 09:23 PM

Phosphates should be less than .02ppm. I've seen cyano grow directly in water flow. So I think it's a myth that cyano can't grow in high flow.

Kayak_Guy · 09/25/2007, 10:03 PM

i thought cyano was blue /green, not red?

IslandCrow · 09/25/2007, 10:42 PM

Cyanobacteria is a dark red color. It can also grow anywhere, though it's not common to see it first appear in a high flow area.

When you say it has the consistency of nori, do you mean dry nori? That definitely wouldn't be cyano. Whoever said cyano has a snot-like consistency is pretty much dead on. I don't suppose you can get a picture? Of course, the treatment for most algaes as well as cyano is pretty similar. Reduce nutrients. Limit feeding, rinse all frozen food before feeding, ensure good flow so detritus doesn't settle, and reduce your lighting cycle if it starts to get bad.

scotmc · 09/26/2007, 06:03 AM

I tested my phosphates and they were zero. The consistency is not like slime. I looks like wet nori. It's soft, thin, but not really slimie.

Zann · 09/26/2007, 07:00 AM

testing your phosphates will not help they will read 0 either way
because the cyano and other algae will eat it up and keep the levels down.

T Man · 09/26/2007, 05:35 PM

scotmc, this is cyanobacteria...........and yes, when it is free floating, I guess you could compare it to saturated nori. Is this what you have? if so, "ro/di water, removal by hand, back off on feedings and patience is the way to recovery". There are "chemical treatment" methods (which I do not endorse) to "cure" it, however it will re-appear down the road. For any success in radication you must track it down to the source and eliminate it. TinMan

09/25/2007, 08:47 PM	#1
scotmc Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 765	Algae ID I have a red algae growing on a rock near a power head. It came off the rock easy. It has the consistency of nori. My tang did not eat it. My nitrate and nitrite is zero. I am going through a diatom outbreak. The tank is only 4 months old, so I am not worried about that. I am just wonder what type of alge it is.

09/25/2007, 08:57 PM	#4
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	Sounds like cyanobacteria, it looks just like snot - I would test your level of phosphates. If you used tap water from the start, that would be your culprit - ro/di water, removal by hand, back off on feedings and patience is the way to recovery. T __________________ He that can have patience can have what he will. ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: click the "TzFuture" folder in my profile

09/25/2007, 10:42 PM	#8
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Cyanobacteria is a dark red color. It can also grow anywhere, though it's not common to see it first appear in a high flow area. When you say it has the consistency of nori, do you mean dry nori? That definitely wouldn't be cyano. Whoever said cyano has a snot-like consistency is pretty much dead on. I don't suppose you can get a picture? Of course, the treatment for most algaes as well as cyano is pretty similar. Reduce nutrients. Limit feeding, rinse all frozen food before feeding, ensure good flow so detritus doesn't settle, and reduce your lighting cycle if it starts to get bad. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

09/25/2007, 08:52 PM	#2
rlee81indy Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Carson, Co. Posts: 305	sounds like cyano-bacteria. Get a turkey baster and blowit off and let your skimmer do its job. also do a 15% water change after you blow off the red slime

09/25/2007, 08:53 PM	#3
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	It's really not an algae, but cyanobacteria. Check your phosphate levels. Turn the powerhead directly on that area. It doesn't like high flow.

09/25/2007, 09:03 PM	#5
scotmc Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 765	I really did not think it was cyano, since it was only growning on the top of a rock near the surface. The power head is right near it. I don't use tap water. what should phosphates levels be? I have not been testing them.

09/25/2007, 09:23 PM	#6
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Phosphates should be less than .02ppm. I've seen cyano grow directly in water flow. So I think it's a myth that cyano can't grow in high flow.

09/25/2007, 10:03 PM	#7
Kayak_Guy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 177	i thought cyano was blue /green, not red?

09/26/2007, 06:03 AM	#9
scotmc Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 765	I tested my phosphates and they were zero. The consistency is not like slime. I looks like wet nori. It's soft, thin, but not really slimie.

09/26/2007, 07:00 AM	#10
Zann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southaven Ms Posts: 569	testing your phosphates will not help they will read 0 either way because the cyano and other algae will eat it up and keep the levels down.

09/26/2007, 05:35 PM	#11
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	scotmc, this is cyanobacteria...........and yes, when it is free floating, I guess you could compare it to saturated nori. Is this what you have? if so, "ro/di water, removal by hand, back off on feedings and patience is the way to recovery". There are "chemical treatment" methods (which I do not endorse) to "cure" it, however it will re-appear down the road. For any success in radication you must track it down to the source and eliminate it. TinMan