Type of algae

[Hingis]

Hi all, Ok at a loss here. Could someone please identify this red stuff think it's an algae of sorts growing on my rocks. I thought it was cynaobacteria, and bought some boyd's chemi-clean, however my substrate is clean.. Well the chemi-clean did nothing. So it can't be cynaobacteria growing. It feels like a slimy velvet when touched with my gloves. If I try brush it off with a toothbrush it comes off fairly easy in some places and very difficult to impossible in either places.. How do I remove this, I find it unsightly... Picture attached.

 

[459b]

That looks like cyano

 

[Hingis]

If it was that chemi-clean would have obliterated it in 48hrs...i have seen the results on other tanks.. There was no change at all on my tank. That's why I think it has to be something else

 

[Nemos Janitor]

If it was that chemi-clean would have obliterated it in 48hrs...i have seen the results on other tanks.. There was no change at all on my tank. That's why I think it has to be something else

Who told you that?

 

[Hingis]

Told me that chemi-clean would kill off the cyano? I have seen the results on another tank first hand the results and then did some investigating online and saw similar results, so of course I had to try it for my "cyano"

 

[459b]

Chemi clean won't always cure cyano. It's also been known to cause tank crashes (if used incorrectly).

 

[Hingis]

Crumbs a tank crash!!! Damn now I am going to watch my tank like a hawk.. Hope like heck I didn't do anything stupid.

 

[Nemos Janitor]

Bud I agree it does work. But just because it didn't remove what looks and most probably is cyano in 48 hours does not rule out that it is cyano.

If it comes off easily with siphoning and is about 0.5mm thick then it is cyanobacteria.

I would siphon the cyano out onto a filter mat in your sump. Make sure that you do not cause it to break up and spread throughout your tank. Discard the filter mat. Then go through the recommended instructions. It is important to add the air-stone.

 

[Hingis]

Sjoe if it is just supposed to come off thru siphoning then again there is no ways it's cyano.. I have scrubbed it with brushes and toothbrush and won't come off... In some places it does you can see bare rock in my pics but then there is other adjacent places it's stuck vas on the rock.

 

[Nemos Janitor]

Sjoe if it is just supposed to come off thru siphoning then again there is no ways it's cyano.. I have scrubbed it with brushes and toothbrush and won't come off... In some places it does you can see bare rock in my pics but then there is other adjacent places it's stuck vas on the rock.

Yup that is cyano. Give it a few days and it will loosen.

There are many strains of cyano

 

[Hingis]

Ok cool thanks. Have had it a few weeks now but will monitor till it loosens up. Ta

 

[Nemos Janitor]

Read this article on Cyano. It is old but not much has changed.

Cyano, Cyanos, Cyanobacteria, Blue-Green Algae, Algae, Red slime Algae, Slime Algae, Slime, Undesirable algae

Mtrhs and facts about Cyanobacteria - Reef Central Online Community

 

[Hingis]

Lekker, some good bedtime reading hehe. Appreciate it thanks again.

 

[Hingis]

Thanks @Nemos Janitor, interesting articles and learning lots.. Anyone know where I can buy this Redox+ from? Do they even still make it.. Haha

 

[Hingis]

Well, it seems I was right I guess.. It is definitely not cyano. Have finally tracked it down to being red turf algae and a bastard to get rid of apparently from all the researching I have been doing. One of the suggestions I have seen was add turbo snails.. I had 2 in my small tank so I poached them into the problem tank. Well surprise surprise that they have started munching away at it, albeit very slowly.. Need to find some more of these good soldiers. Pic of the cleanup they done already