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Cotton Candy Algae
Last updated on November 17th, 2023
About Cotton Candy Algae
Cotton candy algae is rare in the reef aquarium, but should be handled before it gets out of control. This algae is fuzzy and can look pink or redish.
What Causes Cotton Candy Algae
Like most algae, cotton candy algae grows by consuming nitrates and phosphates. It grows quickly and generally starts from a small piece that gets out of control. Though cotton candy algae is rare in the reef tank, you do not want to keep it around. This algae can grow out of control and become difficult to remove.
How to Get Rid of Cotton Candy Algae
You can remove cotton candy algae by hand because it doesn't have a strong hold to rock work. If needed, you can use a tweezers to pull out small pieces.
One way to slow algae growth is to reduce nitrates and phosphates entirely by keeping a good refugium with cheato macroalgae and a strong refugium light. This algae will grow, and consume both nitrates and phosphates from the reef tank. Starving cotton candy algae of phosphates and nitrate, preventing it from growing.
What Eats Cotton Candy Algae
Like most algae, simple algae eating fish and invertebrates will eat cotton candy algae. In particular, tangs, rabbitfish, emerald crabs, hermit crabs, urchins, sea hares, and Mexican turbo snails have all been said to eat this algae.
Recommended Products:
- No products to recommend for cotton candy algae.
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