Please help to identify this pest....and remove

jschottenfeld · 08/21/2009, 10:18 PM

A few months back I started to see a pink/peach colored fuzzy ball growing on the glass of my fuge. It looked cool so I let it get about the size of a golf ball. When it started to shade out some of my corals I decided that it was time for it to go. I shaved it off of the glass but bits of it floated around my 30 gal fuge. It almost appeared like a ball of cotton.

Shortly after, where ever a small bit of the fuzz went it doubled in size rapidly...about every few days. Now it became a real pest...growing everywhere in my fuge and chaeto.

Time to act like a commando...I took a pair of tweezers and removed every single bit that I saw on my sand bed and brushed off every bit growing on rocks into my sink. It was all over my egg crate holder so I took those out and let them dry for a week.

It's been about 3 weeks and I see it all coming back. What is this stuff and how do I get rid of it? Is it a type of sponge? What eats it?? Any help would be appreciated.

Fish_wiz2 · 08/21/2009, 10:23 PM

It looks like a type of hair algae to me. Your actually lucky as i'm dying for that stuff. Your best method are an inhabitant(s) to eat it, my tangs will lawn-mow that stuff....but if you can't do tangs or they don't eat try CUC's and blenny's, all have worked for me and all my algae troubles. Hope that helps, Wiz

troylee · 08/21/2009, 10:31 PM

Looks like cotton candy algae very probelmatic try a search about it...

jschottenfeld · 08/21/2009, 10:32 PM

Thanks Fish...I too originally thought that it was a type of HA but it almost looks too fine. I'd rather not put a fish in my fuge but if I have to I most certainly will becuase this stuff is a reall PIA.

jschottenfeld · 08/21/2009, 10:43 PM

Troylee...You indeed appear correct. I searched Cotton Candy Algae and the pictures are exactly what I have. Time to move some of my big snails into my fuge to see if they can mow it down.

Thanks!!!

Fish_wiz2 · 08/21/2009, 10:58 PM

Mexican Turbo's always did the trick for me, good luck. Wiz

08/21/2009, 10:18 PM	#1
jschottenfeld Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Woodbury, NY Posts: 235	Please help to identify this pest....and remove A few months back I started to see a pink/peach colored fuzzy ball growing on the glass of my fuge. It looked cool so I let it get about the size of a golf ball. When it started to shade out some of my corals I decided that it was time for it to go. I shaved it off of the glass but bits of it floated around my 30 gal fuge. It almost appeared like a ball of cotton. Shortly after, where ever a small bit of the fuzz went it doubled in size rapidly...about every few days. Now it became a real pest...growing everywhere in my fuge and chaeto. Time to act like a commando...I took a pair of tweezers and removed every single bit that I saw on my sand bed and brushed off every bit growing on rocks into my sink. It was all over my egg crate holder so I took those out and let them dry for a week. It's been about 3 weeks and I see it all coming back. What is this stuff and how do I get rid of it? Is it a type of sponge? What eats it?? Any help would be appreciated.

08/21/2009, 10:23 PM	#2
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	It looks like a type of hair algae to me. Your actually lucky as i'm dying for that stuff. Your best method are an inhabitant(s) to eat it, my tangs will lawn-mow that stuff....but if you can't do tangs or they don't eat try CUC's and blenny's, all have worked for me and all my algae troubles. Hope that helps, Wiz __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

08/21/2009, 10:58 PM	#6
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	Mexican Turbo's always did the trick for me, good luck. Wiz __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

08/21/2009, 10:31 PM	#3
troylee Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: here. Posts: 2,509	Looks like cotton candy algae very probelmatic try a search about it...

08/21/2009, 10:32 PM	#4
jschottenfeld Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Woodbury, NY Posts: 235	Thanks Fish...I too originally thought that it was a type of HA but it almost looks too fine. I'd rather not put a fish in my fuge but if I have to I most certainly will becuase this stuff is a reall PIA.

08/21/2009, 10:43 PM	#5
jschottenfeld Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Woodbury, NY Posts: 235	Troylee...You indeed appear correct. I searched Cotton Candy Algae and the pictures are exactly what I have. Time to move some of my big snails into my fuge to see if they can mow it down. Thanks!!!