Strang Red Algae/diatom? Transported From Old Tank Help!

[anvil63]

Okay, I recently tore down my dad's 150 gal. and will soon be setting it up at my place. His tank had been infested by a growth that I don't recognize. It is a red growth that is about a millimeter thick and very hard to remove. It takes a lot of force and a couple passes with a putty knife to remove it. it seems to preferentially grow on the rocks and the gravel, but when it grows on the glass it grows in a circular pattern with patches ranging from less then a 1/8 an inch in diameter to more than 3 inches.

We tried plecos, ancistris, and otocinclus to remove it, but none would eat it. The heavily planted tank had regular 20% water changes (weekly) and received 12 hours of light with 8 T-12 24" plant bulbs.

I would not be to worried as I thoroughly cleaned the tank with bleach, but the growth followed the few fish and amazon sword that I now have living in a 29 gallon until I get the new tank set up.


I could really use any help regarding identification, eradication or prevention from spreadinng the growth back to the 150 gallon once I set it back up.

Thanks,
Carl

 

[The-Wolf]

it could well be the dreaded red algae.
very ard to kill and the only algae eater know to eat it are SAEs
this topic will tell you more
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=95077