impur Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 I was wondering how you guys deal with this stuff. Its terrible! Its growing on the plastice overflow in my tank, on rocks, on eggcrate, on pvc, on anything plastic and even on frag plugs. Nyles suggested an urchin. I only have a small amt of rock and plan to try cooking it first. But i've got to avoid it getting on some new rock i'll have to put in for the filtration. How would I do that? This is the stuff, the red stuff on the frag disc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20cooled Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Never found anything that will get rid of it, I got a Convict tang because I heard they will eat it. Nope. I've had my nitrates/phosphates and the lowest levels ever and it still keeps on growing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DChemist Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 I've got it too, but it's not very bad- I wonder if something is controlling it in my tank. This isn't a great photo of it, but I think it starts out green and turns red as it ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 1, 2007 Author Share Posted March 1, 2007 I always get the pest stuff. AEFW, redbugs, turf algae, bubble algae, cyano, flatworms. Sheesh i'm gonna be a pest exterminating machine when i finally get my tank how i want it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I have it too after reading this thread. Apparently its pretty contagious. Looking for a fix. No other algae growing except in the fuge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVES Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Ive got it as well, I have 2 large urchins in my tank and the stuff is only on one rock. I think the urchins keep it down but they dont like going on this rock because it is in a ton of flow. Not sure though. Ive never looked into getting rid of it, (time..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 what kind of urchins? I am fairly hesitant about putting urchins in as they tend to be a bit of a frag and small rock bully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Ive got it as well' date=' I have 2 large urchins in my tank and the stuff is only on one rock. I think the urchins keep it down but they dont like going on this rock because it is in a ton of flow. Not sure though. Ive never looked into getting rid of it, (time..)[/quote'] I would agree, urchins would probably be best...But honestly, the way I look at some of this stuff is that, we are not doing anything wrong when we have algae...anyone who has dove on a reef will see it is covered in algae...Think about if there was none on the reef, how many fish would be gone. There is a thread on RC that discusses this...This kind of sounds like an excuse for having it, but oh well. My girlfriend likes my bubble algae, she thinks it is really pretty. And people that come over never say anything about it, so it us hobbyist that are so worried about it. I have learned to deal with my algae... You might try an urchin however and hope that would work...they do a great job, I would get one, but it would knock some rocks over and I do not want to take that risk...(laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 I am going to try an urchin. Nyles suggested it a few times to me. I want a small one though. Ontop of that i'm going to cook a few rocks that are completely engulfed in the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I am going to try an urchin. Nyles suggested it a few times to me. I want a small one though. Ontop of that i'm going to cook a few rocks that are completely engulfed in the stuff. What kind...I know blue tuxedos, are great urchins, but I am not sure if they would touch it...you might see what kind Joel is talking about...but keep us posted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 yah blue tuxedo is what i'm looking for. Nyles has seem them eat it in his tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 miles, you can have my long spine urchin. He's like maybe 5-6" tip to tip, and body is around 2". Not sure if he eats that stuff though. I only have the red turf on a frag plug that can't be reached by the urchin, no where else in the tank has that algae. If only he wasn't that big and keeps knocking stuff over, I would still keep him. He's too big for my little 29. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 Thanks, but i don't want the long spine kind. Too scared of getting poked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I found mine really easy to remove by hand also. Today I removed about half of what was growing in my tank and it is down to a reasonable level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVES Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Long spine is what I have, but Ive never seen them working on it. I checked Sprungs book "algae" it recommended diadema (long spine) urchin. be careful with any urchin in an acrylic tank, their "beak" will etch the acrylic, be sure and keep them off the tank walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 Tank is glass so no probs there. Dan, so you remove the rock its growing on and scrub it or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 no i just used some tweezers and pulled it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 Ugh, that would literally take me an entire day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 What you need is a waterproof nose hair trimmer Miles! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 lol no doubt!! You got one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 nope , but I need one. How about a long dremel extension with a "cutting tool." I know you like tools. You could clean infected rocks in a separate tub and let the red turf fall to the bottom and then discard that water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 That'd be nice. Would probably have to be a medical tool, medical grade stainless steel to avoid rusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.