there is this stuff gorwing in my tank that looks like red algae..What IS it and will it hurt my fish??

I have never seen red algae before in any of my tanks so I haven't really got a solution. However, you might find this link interesting, it might give you some answers

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/red-algae.html

I have never had red algae but i did once have hair algae. Hair algae is tough and really difficult to clean of off things. I got rid of it by reducing my lighting levels from 12 hours a day to 4. Algae need light to live so reducing it will reduce the amount of algae growth. It took me 3-4 months to get rid of the hair algae so dont expect quick results

sorry buddy i cant help with red algae as ive never had this but as the guys said algae needs light 2 grow so switch of the light for a few weeks and see what happens

ive got a small thin amount of red algae at the minute its just the same as the normal green most people get when cleaning comes into it. i rarely have my lights on but tank is in direct sunlight from the window. im asuming it a kind of algae that doesnt need much light. cleans off fairly easy and hasnt upset the balance in my tank im still getting good results from various water tests ive been doin recently when i noticed it

thanks guys i have been keeping my light off, my O isnt fond of the light anyway, i will wait a month and if it's still there ill look into it more. It hasnt been effecting my water condition at all, all the test are perfect so im not that concerned anymore it just isnt very attraqctive lol

much love!

mine get anoyed with the light being on takes them about half hour to settle down so i only use it now and again to check them out and feeding.
algae not realy somthing to worry about as everyone gets it and i dont think it upsets the fish its just not very nie looking stuff. plenty of elbow grease should do the trick haha

Check out:
www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/algae_types.php