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gmatt
06/29/2008, 12:59 PM
I had a few small patches of red algae that did not seem to be growing much at all. I mean for months the patches seemed not to grow or spread at all. Then they seemed to be spreading everywhere but not growing thick like the original fuzzy patches (just red stains on the rock). Then I went away for a week (with a friend feeding for me) and all those areas where it was just red splotches on the rock are now thick carpeting! Some of my snails shells are covered in it.

Conditions:
all phates are zero or unreadable with saliferts tests.
cal 395
mag 1380
alk 7.1 dKH (yeah I know it's low, usually I keep it at 9 ~ 10)
temp 79 to 81.5 f

What do I need to get rid of this stuff? Mexican Turbos? I’ve done water changes, nd Carbon (which I do not normally use).

From research that I did I think this algae is Wrangelia argus. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Now there seems to be some kind of stringy mat algae growing on top or the soft red fuzzy stuff.

here's some pics of problem, these pics aren't that good, I’m still practicing.
<img src="http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42160front_reef.jpg" border="0" alt="">
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<img src="http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42160side_reef.jpg" border="0" alt="">
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<img src="http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/42160wrangelia_argus.jpg" border="0" alt="">
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dzeadow
06/29/2008, 01:29 PM
looks like red turf algae.. I've heard (i've never had the stuff but there's threads in the algae forums) that mexican turbo snails get after it like it's going out of style. If this is in your 29g, I'd get like 3-5 to get it under check.