Red algae?

[adamlodge14]

Could anyone help to identify what this is? It’s covering my zoas and I’m scared it’s killing them!
-15 gallon
-cleaner shrimp, Randall’s pistol shrimp
-pink streaked wrasse, Yasha goby
-strawberry conch, nassarius, trochus
-3 zoas, 1 leather, 1 mushroom, 1 Xenia and 1 Duncan
-tank is 3 months old
-ammonia 0
-nitrate 6
-Phosphate 0.03
-Kh 9

(if you need any tank info just ask)

 

[DDenny]

"Cyano" as it is commonly referred to is one or more species of cyanobatceria. It occurs commonly in almost every reef tank at some point, and is caused or encouraged by a number of reasons including:

• Available nutrients - Especially phosphates and iron in this case.
• Low flow/Dead Zone - Cyano prefers growing in low flow areas.
• Warmer Water - Cyano tends to grow faster in warmer water than in cooler water.
• Low Alkalinity- While not a cause, higher alkalinity tends to discourage cyano growth.
• Possible "contaminated" water source like tap water, that has nutrients fueling the outbreak.

Manual Removal: Wipe glass with mag float, light toothbrush hardier corals and the rocks. Cyano on the sand can sometimes be pulled off as a mat and discarded. You should use a net or a siphon to remove the cyano dislodged by the toothbrush. Don't be discouraged if it comes right back, cyano grows fast and is extremely efficient at consuming nutrients.On the bright side, it should die off once nutrients are managed.

Increase water changes to 30% a week with a high quality water source, such as distilled or RO/DI water.Be aggressive about removing any rotting organics in your tank that may be contributing to its growth.

Starving it out: Use a phosban reactor, or granulated ferric oxide to remove excess phosphates in the system. Check to make sure you are not feeding any foods that are particularly phosphate rich. Almost all foods when converted by animals will add to the tank's phosphates levels, but prepared foods like seasoned nori, liquified foods, gels and low quality fish meals tend to be higher in phosphates than other foods. Such feedings should be suspended or stopped if possible until the outbreak is under control.

Chaeto and other macroalgae will help maintain parameters to keep cyano from forming, but because cyano is an epiphyte, (can grow on other life forms), it may starve your desirable algae from light. During an outbreak make sure to keep you macro clean so it can receive light and survive the ordeal.Chemical products exist to remove it, make sure to take into account for possible hypoxia issues.