Red wiry algae

[Marcom12]

Have this ... Redfish brown algae covering a few on my rocks... From Google I am assuming it's red wiry algae. So what I'm wondering is .. how do I eliminate it?

Manual removal combined with? Some critter?

 

[Ludders]

You're spot on! It feeds off nitrates and phosphates and whilst you can remove large amounts by hand, it will just come back. Emerald crabs, mexican turbo snails and rock boring urchins will get what you can't.

 

[JGT]

Have this ... Redfish brown algae covering a few on my rocks... From Google I am assuming it's red wiry algae. So what I'm wondering is .. how do I eliminate it?

Manual removal combined with? Some critter?

Manually remove/siphon out, check NO3 and PO4 are in range, lessen feeding, shorten light intervals, add CUC if you don’t have and a tang or 2 depending on tank size and lawnmower blenny. Be patient. Will take time to eradicate.

 

[Marcom12]

Thanks guys I'm in the midst of getting my main parameters stabilized... Ca, Alk, and salinity.... Next will be pH and No3 and Po4. I don't feed that much so maybe more water changes... I'm terrible with those.... But just got a python, so hopefully that will happen more often lol

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have this and have fought it before. It is tough stuff and smells funny.
I recently discovered that ninja star snails will comb right through this. My LFS just ordered me some.

 

[Marcom12]

I have this and have fought it before. It is tough stuff and smells funny.
I recently discovered that ninja star snails will comb right through this. My LFS just ordered me some.

Never heard of them?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ninja Star snails is our descriptive name for this species of star snails. They were formally named Astrea phobia, but the new scientific name for them is Lithopoma phobium. They are closely related to the regular astrea star snails, but have very pronounced spikes around the edge of their shell throughout most of their life. They get quite a bit bigger than the standard astrea snails, and when full grown they can be 2" across.

These snails inhabit pretty much the same habitats as the other astrea snails, but they are very difficult to find and available in very limited quantities. They will eat just about any thin film algae, but will also eat hair algae and other nuisance algae. They don’t seem to eat coralline algae, and usually don’t bother caulerpas, most calcareous algae, and most fleshy macro algae.

 

[RIC13]

@vetteguy53081 how did these work out for you?

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 how did these work out for you?

Ninja stars did well

 

[Udest]

I some how got the red cotton candy variety of algae and when i had a turbo he did great on it .
Funny thing is I wish i had more varieties of algae growing.