algae bloom in tank identification

[Chris Romani]

Hey guys,

I have been running tank fallow for past month due to a brook outbreak, and have noticed some new nuisance algae beginning to build up and grow. See attached, I have circled in pictures 1-4 a long stringy looking algae that I am not sure what it is, and what I need to do to rid besides hand picking it. Also, if you see picture 5, there is stringy tube looking algae that is new as well. You can see also the large amounts of algae built up on the rock. Is this just green hair algae on the rocks? I need to add more snails to this tank and curious as to what the best species would be to rid and clean this tank up moving forward. Thank you!

One other thing, in picture 5, is this a sponge attached to zoa coral mat ?

 

[JustinSmi86]

Can you take a pic with whites.

 

[Chris Romani]

Sure.

 

[JustinSmi86]

Looks like green hair... any other opinions out there? What are your nutrient levels and CUC?

 

[Mal11224]

Definitely looks like GHA. Do not let it overtake your tank. I would try to siphon/pull/scrub out as much as you can. Your tank is new and this is one of the phases many go through while the tank matures.

 

[Chris Romani]

Definitely looks like GHA. Do not let it overtake your tank. I would try to siphon/pull/scrub out as much as you can. Your tank is new and this is one of the phases many go through while the tank matures.

I have never seen that long algae... is that GHA as well?

 

[Mal11224]

Yeah, looks like GHA but it also looks like it’s pale and may be dying, which is good. If you have something like a turkey baster, you can get the loose pieces out of there.

 

[Bret Brinkmann]

Definitely a species of GHA or two. Not sure about the tube thing. Too hard to tell from the picture. The vine looking thing looks a little like C. verticillata maybe. Check that one out and if it is then I recommend removing it because it is fast growing, hard to pull completely off the rocks, and the only thing I ever heard of that MIGHT eat it is a foxface.

For the GHA astreas, trochus, ceriths, gold ring cowries, turbos, and tangs eat it if it is short. Once it gets long you'll have to pluck it out before they'll move in to finish off the left over stubble.