algae ID

turbo2oh · Dec 2, 2017

Is this hair algae? I've been assuming it was but people keep mentioning scrubbing hair algae off with a toothbrush. This is not slimy, and it laughs at my toothbrush. I can rip some off but its like tearing at grass, I'm really just ripping some off and essentially trimming it. (Yes, there is also some grape caulerpa in there as well)

Ocelaris · Dec 2, 2017

Could be? But regardless the fix is the same. Addressing the nutrient issue is the most important step, make sure you have a good skimmer etc... Do you have a clean up crew? Tangs, snails, hermit crabs? If you are at your wit's end, try algaefix, it works wonders, but it's not a long term solution as it will just get rid of the east stuff. But it can get you out of a tough spot.

Legal Reefer · Dec 2, 2017

How long has your tank been running?

Legal Reefer · Dec 2, 2017

My tank has only been running two months. The pictures posted were taken over the course of the last four weeks. I scrubbed with a tooth brush, kept cleaning the filter material and changing 20 to 30% of the water weekly. I blew the rockwork off with a baster every day, sometimes several times a day. I also added a emerald crab, several snails and reef hermits. I eventually added a diamond goby to clean the sand and rock too. I ordered fluconzole but decided not to use it. I'm thinking my problem was just from my system being so new. I was advised to hold off on treating and just keep doing as I was for a while to see if I could get the algae under control. It seemed to work for me.

turbo2oh · Dec 3, 2017

Mine is several years old. Like I was saying a toothbrush doesn’t affect it. It’s really rooted in there.

XNavyDiver · Dec 3, 2017

Have you tried large grazing snails, like Mexican turbo snails? They work great for me. Also, there are quite a few people who've had success with a product called Vibrant. There is a large thread here somewhere about it, just use the search function to find. Like most additives, some hate them, some have no problem with them.