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jpiotrowski 
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 Topic: Red algae killing everything
Posted: December 09 2005 at 11:46am |
My hypothesis: The red algae in my tank is knocking off my corals. Are there any toxins released by some algaes? This is a 20 gallon frag tank with very little sand bed (sorry Mark). It was designed to only be used for a few months while I set up my large tank. I add Ca and Carbonate daily so as to keep those parameters relatively stable.
175w mh CPR hang on back pr skimmer Rio hyper flow 20 (alternate flow with scwd) Two small power heads Hang on the back filter (Penguin 170) for carbon and phosphate sponge.
parameters:
Yesterdays Ca= 395-405 Kh= 10.2 ph 8.17-8.33 salinity = 1.024
NH4=0 Phosphate = 0
I will edit and add ammonia (testing in progress) Nitrate and nitrite needs to be done at an lfs. Here are a few pics, sorry about the lack of clarity.
My plan is to pick up something to eat the algae? Along with taking all corals out of the tank and erradicate the algae. The reason for this hypothesis is that a monitpora that was doing real well, but a clump of this algae formed just upstream and the monitpora actually strated shedding it's tissue sort of like a necrosis looking event.
thanks,
John
Edited by jpiotrowski
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jeffras
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 11:52am |
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Is it slimy and easily wiped off? Cyano?
If it is Cyano then add some more water circulation and stop feeding
for a while. Get some tests for Nitrite, Nitrate and Phosphate. Cyano
removes the oxygen from a tank quickly so add a air stone or two.
Nothing will eat Cyano so don't bother buying anything.
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Jeff Rasmussen
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 11:57am |
It is not slimy, instead it is filamentous. I possibly have too much flow? I actually put a small clump in my ten gallon that is home to a yellow tang. He didn't go for it right away but, I haven't seen it again. Phospate =0
John
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jfinch
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 11:57am |
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That's not cyano, it's what we've been calling Asparagopsis taxiformis. It's very nasty (I've got tons of it in my sump) since nothing that I know of will eat it. Although I think Mark mentioned that the large turbo snails will eat it... Mark?
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 12:01pm |
mmmm asparagus, a little butter maybe cream sauce .
Thanks,
John
Does it actually kill coral?
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jfinch
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 12:11pm |
Oh, I shouldn't have said that nothing eats it, because more or less it is absent from my main tank. Since I can't believe that it hasn't spread from my sump to my tank, I've got to conclude that something in my main tank is eating it before it can really grow out. And it must be something unique to the main tank... fish. Maybe large snails (since I don't have any in my sump), but one of my tangs must eat it, although when offered a piece from my sump, none of my fish seem interested in it.
Does it actually kill coral?
I don't know... probably. The only spot in my tank where it is growing is right at the outlet of one of my returns. I've got a pretty large anacropora colony that has grown all around this particular outlet. Recently I've notice that a piece of this algae has actually stuck to a piece of the anacropora and is growing directly in front of the return flow. Which ever fish (or snail or ??) that is eating this stuff, must not be able to get to this part of the tank...
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Kevin
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 1:53pm |
Here is an artical about what may be the same algea.
Algea Article
If it is the same stuff in my tank I haven't got anything to control it other than pulling it out manually. The article suggests pacific turbo snails to eat it. I haven't had a chance to get any yet to try it out so I cant say whether that would work or not. I have tried zebra turbos and they don't seem to eat very much of it.
I had a sail fin tang at one time that would nibble on it and I have tried many other things with no success. If you find something that eats it I would love to hear about it.
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Kevin
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Posted: December 09 2005 at 1:54pm |
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Oh, and if it is the same algea I have never had any corals die from it being in the tank, although if the algea starts growing up around it then the corals usually start to receed.
Edited by Kevin
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 10 2005 at 9:56am |
The difference with this tank to most others is that it doesn't have substrate (that will change this weekend), it's only twenty gallons and doesn't have any fish (to eat algae). I keep the water clean with the skimmer and running carbon often, so with the size it's prime for sudden changes. This is the second time a bloom like this has accurred and both times I noticed sps polyps not extending, fungia have looked bad for a while, the porites went from good to bad to good and now it's bad again. I also lost the mystery acro and the dark purple acros from the frag fest.
Kevin, thanks for the article it was extremely helpful. Thank you Mark for going out of your way (once again) for a fellow hobbyist in need . I hope you made it back in time to get your smile in the group pick.
Since it is only a frag tank, I plan on removing the corals and taking out the asparagopsis mannually and let the turbos I got from mark maintain the tank.
John
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Suzy
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Posted: December 10 2005 at 10:13am |
Do you have other desirable algae? I've found many that will consume the
nutrients this algae needs....
Dang it!
Asparagopsis taxiformis? I am trying to baby a piece that looks like the
what my research says it is. A gorgeous, feathery type red?
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Kevin
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Posted: December 11 2005 at 7:30pm |
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If you would, please let me know if any of the turbo's will actually eat it. I am planning on getting some to try it but I don't have a lot of hope they will eat it so I haven't taken the drive to salt lake to get any.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: December 11 2005 at 11:36pm |
The pic that Suzy posted is not the same stuff. See the link below for more info:
http://www.marineland.com/seascope/ss2003_issue3.pdf
Besides Mexican Turbo Snails (not Astrea Snails), I know of a Tang or two that loved this algae.
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 12 2005 at 10:00am |
I haven't seen the turbos attacking the algae yet but I'm still hoping. I did discover something rather stupid though...I had my favia and my candy coral upstream of the corals having the most problems. I moved them to another part of the tank and it might be my imagination but the porites looks better (after two days). I wasn't so concerned about mixing lps and sps as long as they were far enough away. I made up some water for the water change and algal scrub , for tonight.
John
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smatney
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Posted: December 12 2005 at 5:31pm |
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I've got it BAD in my frag tank. I call it "cotton candy" algae because it looks just like it. It is the worst stuff. I'm ready to take all the frags out and leave the lights off for a few weeks. It's awful!
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Susan Matney
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jpiotrowski
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Posted: December 13 2005 at 12:08pm |
Good news guys, suprise suprise, Mark, Jon and Kevin were right on about the turbos! last night I changed out 2 gallons of water, added some live sand and scrubbed the 'cotton candy' algae off the coral, rock and frag rack. When I was doing so, I found one of the turbos nestled in a plume of the red algae! I waited for 1/2 hour to move him to see whether or not he would on his own but alas, he stayed.
John
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