8gal BC, need algae ID!

Hey people! I just bought a new 8 gallon BC and have cycled it and it's about 1 month old. I have a black and white clownfish and a scooter blenny (Petco said it was a LAwnmower Blenny) and need help with an algae problem . I have attached a picture... please help!!

 

Does it look like this? If so it's probably green hair algae. I bought a lawnmower blenny hoping it would eat the hair algae but it did not, I guess they only eat it some of the time.

 

sort of... it's just not on the live rock. there's a few sprouts on the substrate but there's like 15-20 on the glass itself. I head red tip dwarf hermit crabs mow it down, but they could get up on the glass, could they??

 

It can grow on the glass and substrate. If I were you I'd carefully remove it from the glass (don't let any float away, like use a sponge or rag or something to remove it) and remove the substrate that it's on. It's very hard to fight once it takes over...

 

so... that's my only option before it takes over?? and red slime algae, is it like dark purple and, well, slimy??

 

As far as the hair algae, your best bet is to physically remove it while you can. If you let it go it can and probably will turn into a nightmare. Search on this forum to see how horrible it has been for some of us to fight!

Red slime algae is actually bacteria, google it for more information because I can't help much there. It should however clear up once your tank ages a little more. For now, you can physically remove it.

 

wow... i guess i'll consider my self lucky ForTM. I'll get a razy and some rubber gloves ! You've been really helpful! Thanks a ton!

 

You also need to figure out the food source for the algae or it will just come back.

What are your water parameters? Specifically Nitrate and Phosphate.
What kind of water are you using?

 

I don't have a phosphate tester yet... but my nitrates are around .2-.3, they're low because the algae uses them before I can test for them... and do you know how to delete a thread once you make them? i was going to delete that one to reduce clutter on the forums... and I use bottled water and Instant Ocean marine salt... i also add Magnesium, Iodide and Calcium supplements.

 

Okay well you don't want to use bottled water, it can and usually does contain all kinds of contaminants. The best thing to use if you don't have an RO/DI at home to make your own water is RO water from the water machine at the grocery store. Here are a couple links on bottled water.
NRDC: Bottled Water - Appendix A
Bottled Water Quality Investigation: 10 Major Brands, 38 Pollutants | Environmental Working Group
NRDC: Bottled Water - Figure 4
Unsafe Bottled Water/ Studies Show One Third Contained Contaminants- Health Risks

You said you just set your tank up and it is cycled, how long ago did you set it up?

You also should not be adding things like Magnesium, Iodide and Calcium if you are not testing for them. I imagine you probably aren't if you aren't testing for phosphate, which is important to test for when you're having an algae issue like this.

You have to have a moderator delete a post you made on accident. Just make a response on it asking for someone to delete it.