I have been battling hair algae for a while. After a few months of small feedings, water changes and ferric oxide I think/hope I'm starting to win the battle. I have also shut off the metal halides for 8-10 days three times during the last 5 months or so. However, it appears that red bugs are eating the decaying algae and breeding like mad. Has anyone see this before?
"Red Bugs"
- Thread starter Tarazed
- Start date
- Location
- Union Square, NY
You shut off your lights for 8-10 days? What sort of corals are you currently keeping?
Also, the red bugs that we refer to in the hobby are acropora parasites. They only live on acroporas and they do not eat anything else. If you see bugs eating algae they are not "red bugs".
Also, the red bugs that we refer to in the hobby are acropora parasites. They only live on acroporas and they do not eat anything else. If you see bugs eating algae they are not "red bugs".
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
When we say " red bugs" in the hobby we mean a very specific thing -- Acropora infesting "mites" ( Tegastes sp.) that can, over the course of time, damage or kill affected corals. They do not eat algae and are not found on other types of corals.
There are lots of other tiny amphipods and copepods that do eat algae , and in general these are a good thing.
There are lots of other tiny amphipods and copepods that do eat algae , and in general these are a good thing.
I only have a few softies left after the crash/algae infestation. I left the VHOs on the normal schedule and that seem to keep the few corals alive but wasn't enough for the algae. They appear to be some type of flat worm. I guess red bugs was a poor description.
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- Location
- suffolk
Those are flatworms. Acoel flatworms or a possible other. Siphon those things out while doing water changes and find a fish to possibly tank care of them. I had them in my 90 gallon.
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
Red planaria flatworms. A pest that you deal with before you restock your tank. Get some Flatworm Exit read the directions carefully and search the forum for advice. Not a big deal, but you need to do it right
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- Location
- suffolk
I had a mandarin goby that ate them. Not the blue colored one but the one with more greenish color. I forget the name. Also I hear yellow coris wrasse.
Looks like a good ole flatworm, melanarus wrasse keeps them in check, couple other wrasses also.
As for your hair algae. Move any rocks off the back wall and eliminate any dead spots, add some powerheads. I am a firm believer in lack of flow causing rise in detritus and phsophates causing hair algae. If you keep the lights off, it will just come back. Something is causing a rise in phosphates. Did you add dead/base rock or anything like that, it could leach phosphates. Gotta figure out what the cause is- need new bulbs??
As for your hair algae. Move any rocks off the back wall and eliminate any dead spots, add some powerheads. I am a firm believer in lack of flow causing rise in detritus and phsophates causing hair algae. If you keep the lights off, it will just come back. Something is causing a rise in phosphates. Did you add dead/base rock or anything like that, it could leach phosphates. Gotta figure out what the cause is- need new bulbs??
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