Red Fuzz

[::pete::]

In my refugium/sump along with the spaghetti algae there are a couple spots of red fuzz looking stuff starting to grow. What is it and should I get rid of it? If I need to get rid of it what is the easiest way ... trash and replace the spaghetti algae? Also as the macro absorbs nitrates should it get replaced every now and again? There is also Red Tang Heaven growing in there too is it safe (after absorbing nitrates) to toss in the main tank? Thanks!

[Instar]

The red fuzz: Sounds like a red hair algae. It usually grows in balls or clumps and its a very good nutrient sponge. Let it grow, harvest it when there gets to be a lot of it and offer the excess to those who want some. Don't let large clumps grow in the main tank as it can break off in the currents and bother some corals. A little bit of it in the main tank is fine though.
Your question about the macro absorbing nitrates and then feeding some to your tangs is a good question. The macro actually uses the nitrogen and converts it to food. In the process those macros also absorb and detoxify some other things. Feeding it to your tank completes the bio and life cycles. You get the same thing with macro from somewhere else. It lives on nitrogens. You can feed it to you tangs, but, in the interest of removing some of the nutrients (other solids) that build up in the tank, you should also remove some and give it to others who have none. The processes at work in there change the nitrogens as well as other organic toxins to an insoluable, non-toxic forms or break it down farther to simple products such as free nitrogen that effervesces (sp) off and oxygen, however, there will always be an equilibrium and some small percentage of products (metals, etc) that becomes available orgainically again. It is interesting to note that the more robust your refugium macro growth is, the less that will collect in your skimmer. It all works together and those macros create some amino acids that are very beneficial to the reef outta that "food". It will help your fish stay healthy as well as your corals.
With all that in mind, the Tang Heaven is safe to toss in for your fish to eat. And if you have some excess, you could toss a little my way too. :) Thanks!

[GaryP]

That would be a long toss Larry. Pete is in N.C.

Gary

[GaryP]

Pete,

IMO its important to periodically harvest macros from your refugium to keep it actively growing. The faster a plant is growing, the more rapidly it is absorbing nutrients. In microbiology they call this logarythmic growth, the point where growth and nutrient uptake are at a maximum. I feel that the same sort of thing is happening with macros in a fuge.

Gary

[MikeP]

If you can snap a pic though. There are a few nasty red algaes like aspergillum sp? that can really make a mess of things - looks like red cotton candy. I have wiry red turf algae in several sections of my tank that is kept in check by my tangs.

If you can find last month or the month befores copy of 'Seascope' they had a long article about the fungus I mentioned earlier - can be a bear to rid yourself of so check up on it if that indeed is the species.