Attack plan for 3-4 types of algae?

[cdw79]

I have a small ish tuxedo urchin that I traded for a big pincushion urchin that was such a nuisance. It would constantly rip corals off the scape (as in, fully superglued plugs) and carry them all over the place, and it became a constant battle. The worst part is it didn't even touch the GHA, which ticked me off because I wasn't even getting the utility out of it then. Was thinking about giving a pencil urchin a go?

I've also since run out of Flux RX (added the last 1/4 portion remaining at the week mark due to the lack of improvement, after reading that it was unlikely to cause any issues). Is it worth doubling down to buy more despite little improvement? I'm also admittedly a bit anxious about having not done a WC for what will be two weeks on Wednesday, how would you recommend keeping the medication in there at high levels while also not sacrificing water quality @tnw50cal ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can you post pics of the algae under white lighting to conform type. Im not a fan of fluconasal and regard it as an alternative rather than solution in many cases

 

[cdw79]

Can you post pics of the algae under white lighting to conform type. Im not a fan of fluconasal and regard it as an alternative rather than solution in many cases

Definitely can, thought I had pics on my phone but will take new ones once the lights come on. I try not to throw off my leopard wrasse as she sleeps in the sand, she's very spoiled lol.

But taking a quick look around, I actually am not sure I'm seeing bryopsis anymore (though not positive). Granted this is under 10 am ambient sunlight so not the best. But in the go to places I remember confirming the fern shapes, I don't actually see it. But definitely some sort of GHA or turf, I get confused there, so will post pics still.

Weirdly I only get the GHA (now developing some cyano on top of itself, love it....) in a few major spots, all of which are in the bottom third or so of the tank, not really sure why

 

[jmichaelh7]

Why not deploy a crew of tuxedo urchins, hares, etc

 

[cdw79]

My current tuxedo urchin only really seems interested in the film algae, and my Coraline of course lol. But I'm open to anything. Am I right in remembering though that sea hares are a potential Sanger to a powerhead / can really mess up a tank if they get hurt (from said powerhead) or otherwise stressed out? I had looked at lettuce nudis but saw accounts of them for whatever reason liking the overflows and finding themselves in powerheads, so that seemed like a bad idea. But open to whatever! The CUC could definitely use some reinforcements I'd say

 

[cdw79]

@vetteguy53081 got a few pics, not ideal but decent enough hopefully. I don't see that bryopsis fern shape anywhere (granted a decent chunk of the algae in the tank is getting cyano on it, for whatever reason) but I guess I'll take that as a small win. Thoughts otherwise, though?

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 got a few pics, not ideal but decent enough hopefully. I don't see that bryopsis fern shape anywhere (granted a decent chunk of the algae in the tank is getting cyano on it, for whatever reason) but I guess I'll take that as a small win. Thoughts otherwise, though?

Green hair algae. Peroxide squirted into it after pulling as mich by hand and light reduction will diminish this and follweed by cleaner crew

 

[cdw79]

Green hair algae. Peroxide squirted into it after pulling as mich by hand and light reduction will diminish this and follweed by cleaner crew

Ok, great to get some confirmation. When you say squirt peroxide into it, how much peroxide are we talking? Any do you mean right onto it (presumably with flow off) or broadcast into the tank? How often / are there any negative effects I should look out for?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok, great to get some confirmation. When you say squirt peroxide into it, how much peroxide are we talking? Any do you mean right onto it (presumably with flow off) or broadcast into the tank? How often / are there any negative effects I should look out for?

3% peroxide with a syringe, tube or turkey baster and the base of it.

 

[cdw79]

3% peroxide with a syringe, tube or turkey baster and the base of it.

Having never worked with peroxide in a reef tank before, is it safe with corals? The main cluster of GHA is around several zoas, and I don't want to tick them or the palys off.

Also, how often should I come back in for rounds 2, 3, etc? And any thoughts on ideal CUC? Open to anything but emerald crabs, saw a pic of one eating a really nice Euphyllia head and said to myself I'd never take the risk...

 

[EricR]

Zoas handle hydrogen peroxide easily -- I've dipped frags of zoas in close to 50/50 H2O2/saltwater for 2 minutes and it always completely destroyed the GHA with no ill effects to the zoas.

...never done it "in tank" before but pretty sure some here have actually dosed H2O2 directly but I'm not that brave

 

[vetteguy53081]

Having never worked with peroxide in a reef tank before, is it safe with corals? The main cluster of GHA is around several zoas, and I don't want to tick them or the palys off.

Also, how often should I come back in for rounds 2, 3, etc? And any thoughts on ideal CUC? Open to anything but emerald crabs, saw a pic of one eating a really nice Euphyllia head and said to myself I'd never take the risk...

Yes- it’s mainly water

 

[old salt reefer]

I'm not a fan of fluconazole and regard it as an alternative rather than solution in many cases

Agreed

 

[old salt reefer]

Yes- it’s mainly water

With a extra oxygen atom that becomes a free radical.

 

[EricR]

With a extra oxygen atom that becomes a free radical.

Speaking of "radical" -- nice avatar
...just kidding

 

[cdw79]

Just yanked out an absolute ton of GHA and took the peroxide approach per @vetteguy53081 and man was it cathartic to watch that crap get fried in real time! An added bonus. The problem areas look more more presentable now, hopefully between this treatment and the lingering flucanozole I'll see positive changes.

At what point, though, would it be recommended to take a second pass? I take it that frying the algae like that inevitable releases some nutrients into the tank (just added a dash of MB7 and NOPOX to the tank to hopefully help balance things out), but I figured doing that too often could have some less than ideal impacts on nutrient levels at least?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just yanked out an absolute ton of GHA and took the peroxide approach per @vetteguy53081 and man was it cathartic to watch that crap get fried in real time! An added bonus. The problem areas look more more presentable now, hopefully between this treatment and the lingering flucanozole I'll see positive changes.

At what point, though, would it be recommended to take a second pass? I take it that frying the algae like that inevitable releases some nutrients into the tank (just added a dash of MB7 and NOPOX to the tank to hopefully help balance things out), but I figured doing that too often could have some less than ideal impacts on nutrient levels at least?

NoPox May feed the algae. Reduce light intensity or length of time light is on, add a pouch of chemipure blue to keep phosphate in check and utilize cleaner snails such s astrea, turbo, nassarius and nerite plus a pencil urchin and a few carribean blue leg hermits and you’ll win this battle

 

[P-Dub]

Do you know if vibrant/flucanazole will affect macro algae like dragon's breath/ulva/red ogo?

Can't say specifically about those but it had zero effect on my Calurpa and Chaeto.