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MeuserReef
11/28/2008, 09:27 AM
I will have a pic up as soon as my lights come on today, but wanted to catch the a.m. crowd to ask my question.

Has anyone ever experienced a Purple "carpet" algae in their tanks. I have had this stuff for a while and always thought that it was just part of the "life" that often appears as a tank matures, but I have noticed that this stuff is starting to take over and is spreading a bit too fast for my liking.

The algae is pretty coarse, and even reminds me of a fine thread cheatomorpha, only purple, and encrusting.

Again, I know a pic is a must for a post like this and will post one in a few hours.

Jerm77
11/28/2008, 11:11 AM
i'm not sure if I can imagine what an encrusting cheatomorpha would look like, but does it look coralline to you at all?

deejeff442
11/28/2008, 12:53 PM
can you vacuum it off the rocks?
everyone has had this at one time or another.
i would turn the lights off for a couple daty or cut way back also add a phosphate reactor about $50 set up this will kill off the algea in about a week.

bunzaroo
11/28/2008, 04:20 PM
If it is a deep purple /red , and spreading along the substarte, sounds like cyano.

MeuserReef
11/28/2008, 05:32 PM
Thanks guys for the responses. The algae in question is certainly not cyano and it cannot be vacuumed off of the rocks.

Here are a few pics that will hopefully help ID this stuff.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/Original_Tarheel/PurpleCarpetAlgae4.jpg

As you can see, there is corraline growing on the rocks, but this purple "turf" algae grows right over it. The areas circled in red are what Im concerned with.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/Original_Tarheel/PurpleCarpetAlgae4highlighted.jpg

Another (without flash)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/Original_Tarheel/PurpleCarpetAlgae3.jpg

Any ideas?

myzislow
11/28/2008, 05:39 PM
turf algae, turbo snails eat it. I have it too, it sucks, but the turbos like it. Good luck.

MeuserReef
11/28/2008, 05:47 PM
Turf algae you say? Interesting...

I have about 15 or so turbos in the tank but they dont seem to have much of a taste for it!

I will be upgrading to a bigger tank soon and will be reusing some of the rocks from my 30. My new tank will have more fish than my little 30, which will hopefully help keep it in check too.