Red Stuff

[Nemo Keeper]

Ok, I have a 75 gal with about 120lbs of live rock and some soft coral. I have alot of coraline on my rock but on the spots that are bare, I am noticing this semi-bright to dark red algea looking outbreak. I have tried looking it up on line but everything I find seems to look nothing like what I have. It's not velvet like not is it growing on my sand. Only on the live rock that have no coraline on it. Can anyone help me on this?

[denhay14]

It is probably Cyanobacteria.

This will be useful.

[Nemo Keeper]

Ok, ishould I do anything to try to erraticate this or not? If so, how do I go about it?

Thanks

[leebca]

It's really hard to provide guidance when we don't know for sure what it is. I'm afraid a photo is necessary, unless you can continue to search the Internet until you find a photo that looks like what it is you have, so you can then report to us the name of the growth.

Did the link to the photo that denhay14 gave you look like what you have?

In the meantime, tell us about your tank -- equipment especially. What is the current circulation in the tank -- list pumps inside and outside and their flow rates (don't forget to subtract head pressure reductions to flow rates).

Is there actual water flow on the 'spots' of this growth? or are the spots more like in the areas where the circulation is low or there is no pump pushing water at it?

[Nemo Keeper]

Ok I'm trying to attach a photo. How do I do it?

[denhay14]

Click go advanced right below the quick reply box.
Next click attatchments(little paperclip on first row)
Then attatch your photo and that's it.

[Nemo Keeper]

Ok, Lee, I looked at hose pics and it looks nothing like any of that. I figured out how to put pics. It's the dark red areas on the clam and ol brain rock. Let me know what you think.

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...newpics055.jpg[/IMG]

[Nemo Keeper]

Here's on more

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...newpics053.jpg
[/IMG]

[Nemo Keeper]

Hey Denhay, thanks for the help, I actually had to go to photobucket and set up an account cause I didn't have that paperclip symbol and it seemed to work ok. If you get a chance to see the pics let me know what you think

[leebca]

It looks like cyanobacteria or red slime, trying to get a foothold. They don't like water movement = circulation. They like to grow in areas that are low flowing or even dead spots.

One way to fight it is to increase circulation and leave no area without active water movement. Some snails will eat it and provide for some assistance. So this two-prong approach should work.

[Nemo Keeper]

AWESOME!!! Thanks Lee, I just placed a new powerhead by the low lying areas that I noticed had poor circulation and that's exactly where they are growing. Any suggestions as to which snails eat that stuff?

[leebca]

Cerith snails have been reported to eat this. But they eat so little and most are very small, that you'll need MANY of them.

[Nemo Keeper]

Thanks alot Lee, I appreciate the feedback.