Red turf what gets rid of it.

burgerchow · #1 03-03-2011, 01:16 AM

Well, I've got a problem with red turf algae. Been noticeable the last 2 months since I replaced my Phoenix 250 14k halides with new ones. ( maybe got a bad batch) Anyhow, my 2 tuxedo urchins just can't keep up with it, so today, went down to J and L s and bought 5 long spine urchins. Hope this does the trick. If it works, I'll have a few extra urchins for sale.

ALang · #2 03-03-2011, 01:52 AM

I've had a bad case of red turf for months. Thought I'll never be rid of it. It absolutely covered all my LR. On top of that, I had green Hair algae.
The red turf is all just about gone, and the green HA, too. Things that I did for my 130g:
Water parameters: Cal, ALk, and Mag levels are monitored and topped up when needed.
I added about 7 Mexican turbo snails.
I added 3 tuxedo urchins.
I added one seahare, which I never did find after that day (been couple of months).
I was still using my crappy, ineffectual HOB Remora Pro (too small for my over-stocked system.)
I didn't really step up on my water changes, just doing my normal thing.
I must say, since I've implemented these steps, my LR's coraline algea is BACK! My HA is gone to the point where I need to post on Canreef very soon to ask if anyone will buy the urchins and some Mex snails from me because I am afraid that they will die of starvation soon. So do that, and give them time to do their job. Mine was about3 months, but all of a sudden, I've noticed bare Rocks. Good luck.

freddy · #3 03-03-2011, 02:09 AM

I had a problem with red turf,bought a longspine,couldn't be happier,he is keeping it in check.

es355lucille · #4 03-03-2011, 04:16 AM

I have a turf algae problem. It started last spring/summer while I was on the road and water changes were neglected due to my job. My nitrates and phospates were allowed to increase and once the turf gets started its like a plague. I like the fact that some are having great sucess getting rid of it.

Thanks for all the great info.

Brad

The Grizz · #5 03-03-2011, 04:23 AM

I would be into some urchin / Mex turbo action.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALang

I've had a bad case of red turf for months. Thought I'll never be rid of it. It absolutely covered all my LR. On top of that, I had green Hair algae.
The red turf is all just about gone, and the green HA, too. Things that I did for my 130g:
Water parameters: Cal, ALk, and Mag levels are monitored and topped up when needed.
I added about 7 Mexican turbo snails.
I added 3 tuxedo urchins.
I added one seahare, which I never did find after that day (been couple of months).
I was still using my crappy, ineffectual HOB Remora Pro (too small for my over-stocked system.)
I didn't really step up on my water changes, just doing my normal thing.
I must say, since I've implemented these steps, my LR's coraline algea is BACK! My HA is gone to the point where I need to post on Canreef very soon to ask if anyone will buy the urchins and some Mex snails from me because I am afraid that they will die of starvation soon. So do that, and give them time to do their job. Mine was about3 months, but all of a sudden, I've noticed bare Rocks. Good luck.

Canadoc · #6 03-03-2011, 05:09 AM

Hey I had this problem too, that stuff just doesn't go away, and good luck manually removing it. I went and got a couple of mexican turbo snails (only have a 29 gallon tank), and they cleared it within a week. Just make sure they are actually real mexican turbo snails, and not astrea snails or any other such nonsense, I had those for ages and they didn't do anything useful

Hope that helps, they're fairly cheap so it's a pretty reasonable solution methinks. Cheers!

Snappy · #7 03-03-2011, 07:34 AM

In my experience a foxface will eat it until it's all gone.

burgerchow · #8 03-03-2011, 04:09 PM

Yeah, I had a large foxface until a couple of months ago. My Sohal bullied it til it died. Maybe I always had the red turf problem but the foxface had been keeping it in check for the last few years, and with him gone, the algae took over again. ( funny, the foxface and sohal had been living together for the last 2 years without problems)
Since putting in the 5 long spine urchins last night, I definitely noticed some difference this morning. At this pace, looks like the tank should be cleared up in a couple of weeks. Will keep all posted.

MMAX · #9 03-03-2011, 10:47 PM

Don't urchins leave a path of destruction wherever they go knocking over corals and things?