what is it?

[buk]

my girl friends nano has seen better days and is full of cyano but is now starting to form this fluffy neon pink "cotton candy" looking algae. does anyone know a name for it or how to take care of it?

[rosebud161616]

I don't know the exact name of this algae but I have had it before and it turned out to be pretty invasive and start smothering things. I would personally be more concerned on ridding your tank of it rather than what it needs to grow! :)

[larryandlaura]

Kind of cool looking. Best of luck figuring this one out.

[buk]

lol. i'm not trying to grow the stuff erika. i'm just trying to find a name for it so i can do a lil more research to find how to rid the tank of it. i've had it in my tanks before as well with no readable phosphates, nitrates, or nitrites. i have no idea if it's a bacteria or algae or otherwise just that it will definitely smother anything in it's path and seems to prefer anything that costs a lot. lol

[fishboy13]

It looks it might be "red cotton ball algae" Asparagopsis taxiformis
Here is a picture, it sort of looks like what you have: http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/bioinformatics/dfmfiles/files/c/28723/28723.jpg

Here is another picture of the same algae, it looks closer to yours (this is because this algae can be dark red to light pink): http://www.waldonell.com/me/sites/default/files/image/reef/_J8T2129.jpg
You should get some Mexican Turbo Snails, they should help clean it up. Also check your phosphates, they are probably out of whack. Here's an article about this algae: Algae Articles (http://www.aquatouch.com/algae.htm) . Hope this helps.

[buk]

awesome thanks. i looked everywhere and couldn't find anything

[CalmSeasQuest]

http://www.reefcleaners.org/images/cottoncandyalgae.JPG

Callithamnion aka Cotton Candy Algae

I'd do everything possible to remove it ASAP. It spreads very quickly and is difficult to manage through low nutrient levels. I've had some Turbos that would eat it, but it's hit-and-miss. Once it spreads, it's very hard to get rid of.

[MizTanks]

It looks it might be "red cotton ball algae" Asparagopsis taxiformis
Here is a picture, it sort of looks like what you have: http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/bioinformatics/dfmfiles/files/c/28723/28723.jpg

Here is another picture of the same algae, it looks closer to yours (this is because this algae can be dark red to light pink): http://www.waldonell.com/me/sites/default/files/image/reef/_J8T2129.jpg
You should get some Mexican Turbo Snails, they should help clean it up. Also check your phosphates, they are probably out of whack. Here's an article about this algae: Algae Articles (http://www.aquatouch.com/algae.htm) . Hope this helps.

Nice job on the researching/help Fishboy!!!:)