Robb in Austin Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Is this the dreaded enemy? I fired off an email to the Wet Web Media folks to get their input. It looks like what they call Cyano and/or blue green algae. Though clearly it's not blue or green. Curiously enough, it only showed up after the GHA has decreased. I also noticed some Calupera popping back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 That is not what I am familiar described as cyano. That looks more like a complex algae. Cyano can generally be blown off with a powerhead. Can you pluck that out like your caulerpa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Yeah, that's not what I thought cyano typically was either. It pulls off fairly easy, easier than GHA or Calupera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I've always heard of an algae that was referred to as "cotton candy". If I had to try and guess what it was, yours would be it. Might check into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 I did a search for "pink fuzzy algae" and got a lot of hits as it being Cyano. I didn't believe it so I went to WWB and found this: "Perhaps to consider that this "stuff"(what the OP called cotton candy) is actually a Cyanobacteria... not likely to be consumed by the snails... more easily defeated over time through competition, conditions that favor Thallophytes. Bob Fenner" After searching through all their ID pages, what I have <looks> like what they always call cyano/BGA. Figured I'd ask here also to get a local response. I did find a thread on RC, with pics that look a lot like what I have, and reports on the thread indicate Mexican turbos will mow it down. Anyone got a microscope? May help with ID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obiji Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 (edited) Is this the dreaded enemy? I fired off an email to the Wet Web Media folks to get their input. It looks like what they call Cyano and/or blue green algae. Though clearly it's not blue or green. Curiously enough, it only showed up after the GHA has decreased. I also noticed some Calupera popping back up. w/e it is, it's pretty http://www.melevsreef.com/id/pink_cotton_algae.html Edited August 5, 2009 by Obiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Mike hit the nail on the head... Cotton Candy algae.. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.melevsreef.com/id/tbs/pink_cottoncandy_algae_tb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.melevsreef.com/id/algae.html&usg=__jHttgEiD0fM_HL2iZpChC985TWc=&h=150&w=200&sz=11&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=8lWid_nI1px-dM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcotton%2Bcandy%2Balgae%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 I agree, it is pretty. Guess I'll try to get some turbos, even if they don't like warm water. I'm curious what the WWM folks have to say. I'll post their reply if I get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesleyB Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 That is not Cyano. I have seen many growth formations of Cyano...even some that grows from the surface of the water and descends vertically, but for the most part it encoats solid surfaces as a thin film layer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I second the no cyano, and I have never seen turbos eat cyano. They don't eat bacteria, but love HA. From what I have seen cyano can be caused by poor water flow and old bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarathustra2 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Reefcleaners has a removal guide on this. Seems to be pretty easy. Just manually remove and make sure you have a CUC. http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=29 about 3/4 of the way down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princer7 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 The only thing known to eat this stuff is a Mexican Turbo snail.... quite different from a Turbo Astrea. Check out Aquatek - they always have some in stock. You don't want this stuff to spread in your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 Well, the reply I got back from WWM is that it is BGA/Cyano. I pointed out the reefcleaners site as well as Melev's ID page, curious to see what they say about that. I plucked that big chunk off, as well as some other pieces, and will get a few snails too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princer7 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 This stuff is similar in some ways to bryopsis in that you cannot starve it out or block it out with light. Once you have it, you have to be very careful in removing it.... it is easy to spread. It is also opportunistic in finding a food source. With its fuzzy appearance, it can easily trap nutrients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I used to have that growing in my sump before I redid my tank. It is Cotton Candy not Cyano. Fortunately for me if any got into the tank my Sailfin ate it like it's namesake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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