Red spongy algae?

pumfe · Feb 27, 2018

Anyone know what this red alage is and how to get rid of it? It is growing all over my rocks in my reef tank. I scrape it away during water changes, but it always comes right back.

Thanks in advance!

Reefing Madness · Feb 27, 2018

Looks like thick Cyano. Keep wisping it away with your hand when you see it starting, and try and get more flow in that area.

themcnertney · Feb 27, 2018

Yup Cyano. Use clean RO/DI water. Do small, frequent water changes. Siphon cyano when doing water changes. Increase flow. Decrease feedings. Decrease light intensity. At least that is what I would do.

MDeVito · Feb 27, 2018

+1 for cyano. Remove aggressively. Up the flow and try to avoid any low flow areas.

NS Mike D · Feb 27, 2018

be patient, the stuff can take a long time to rid. for that matter, you never get rid of it as it exists in the water column. no one know for sure what causes it to leave the water column and mat up, but lowering nutrients and increasing flow are generally eventually effective with one note - the stuff can thrive in low to no NO3 when PO4 is present - even in very low numbers. it has the ability to get N from other forms where most corals can't. This is why I often make posts about staying focused on keeping your corals healthy when chasing low nutrient numbers so that the cyano can't out compete.

pumfe · Feb 27, 2018

Thanks, Everyone!! Flow seems to be a common suggestion. I was actually thinking flow was the cause of my coral growth being slow, because all I have is this dual powerhead located at the top, and it doesn't seem to move much water. I've been thinking about upgrading to a maxspect gyre... maybe that would help with the cyno and coral growth...