Pest invading my corals!

Clueless Reefer · Apr 9, 2019

Hi everyone - can anyone identify what pest is invading my corals? I believe this originally hitchhiked in on my Sour Apple Favia (as the first time i saw it was on this coral). Now its rapidly integrated into many other corals in my tank.
Direct your attention to the red, pompom-like protuberances below. I've included a close-up photo of it on one brain coral...and one photo you can see multiple pompoms coming out of the Favia...lastly is my other brain which its having a real field day with

P-Dub · Apr 9, 2019

Do some research but a radiant wrasse, leopard wrasse. or yellowtail coris might be your best bet.

rock_lobster · Apr 9, 2019

Looks like cyano to me.

Clueless Reefer · Apr 9, 2019

Here are some more shots I got with an underwater camera and macro lens.

Clueless Reefer · Apr 9, 2019

P-Dub said:
Do some research but a radiant wrasse, leopard wrasse. or yellowtail coris might be your best bet.

I already have a six-line wrasse/Japanese wrasse

cperry7467 · Apr 9, 2019

I see what you mean. I've never seen that before but maybe hydroids?

samnaz · Apr 9, 2019

does it retract at all when disturbed? if so my best guess is hydroids, however, I've never seen hydroids such a vibrant red, nor have I seen ones so fluffy...

vetteguy53081 · Apr 10, 2019

Looks like baby aptasia

homer1475 · Apr 10, 2019

Looks like cotton candy algae to me. Have plenty of the stuff in my tank. Hard as heck to get rid of, no where near as easy as some other turf algae.

Odd it's growing on living flesh though.

I would also like to know if it retracts, or just stays put when touched or disturbed?

Clueless Reefer · Apr 10, 2019

Thanks guys - I'll come home during lunch today when the lights are on to see if they respond to touch.

Clueless Reefer · Apr 10, 2019

homer1475 said:
Looks like cotton candy algae to me. Have plenty of the stuff in my tank.

I think you may be onto something here - they sure do look identical to what I find online. The following article suggests the Mexican Turbos...which I luckily have a handful of large four year old ones already in the tank. The question is weather or not they are up to working today, I'll find them sleeping for days at a time, lol. I'm also wondering if they'll stay on the corals or not since the coral is probably going to get ticked off.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1921028

Clueless Reefer · Apr 10, 2019

Hi everyone! So to answer the previous questions - the algae does not respond to being touched...if you poke them they stay still. I spoke with the BRS guys today and they were in agreement that its cotton candy algae, they suggested targeted treatment of hydrogen peroxide or doing a 50/50 water bath with the peroxide.

I just did both and kept them in the bath for roughly 3 minutes... corals are obviously not happy, bubbling and sliming everywhere so we'll see what happens. There was no visual effect other than some limited bubbling when i was using a precise syringe to target the algae spots.

homer1475 · Apr 10, 2019

Ha! I was right for once!

The peroxide bath/treatment is how I rid myself of it also.

Hemmdog · Apr 10, 2019

Clueless Reefer said:
Hi everyone! So to answer the previous questions - the algae does not respond to being touched...if you poke them they stay still. I spoke with the BRS guys today and they were in agreement that its cotton candy algae, they suggested targeted treatment of hydrogen peroxide or doing a 50/50 water bath with the peroxide.

I just did both and kept them in the bath for roughly 3 minutes... corals are obviously not happy, bubbling and sliming everywhere so we'll see what happens. There was no visual effect other than some limited bubbling when i was using a precise syringe to target the algae spots.

That’s intense, let us know how it goes.

Oldreefer44 · Apr 10, 2019

The other thing to consider is that the coral is dying first and then algae is growing in place of it. Seen it several times.

red02 · Apr 10, 2019

Mexican turbo snails will eat that up very fast my tank had it years ago they are the only ones that will eat it that is what my lfs told me and it worked the cotton candy algae grows very fast i had no luck with peroxide hope this helps good luck