Brown moss? What is it?

[ChickReef]

Hello,

So back story,

I purchased a small clove coral from my LFS and it came on a big rock. I paid no attention to the rock and just tried to let the clove grow.

I’ve noticed as the coral grow so does this brown moss. I did a water change today and noticed the brown moss is in the sand. Like IN IN the sand. It turned the bed almost like jelly. Anyone tell me what’s going on and what is it?

I’ve attached some pictures.

Thank you

 

[Cell]

Looks like some sort of anthelia or similar. I'd frag off the clove polyps and ditch the rock.

 

[Lavey29]

Can you take some under white light please.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello,

So back story,

I purchased a small clove coral from my LFS and it came on a big rock. I paid no attention to the rock and just tried to let the clove grow.

I’ve noticed as the coral grow so does this brown moss. I did a water change today and noticed the brown moss is in the sand. Like IN IN the sand. It turned the bed almost like jelly. Anyone tell me what’s going on and what is it?

I’ve attached some pictures.

Thank you

May agree here on both- Need pics under white intensity as it may be cloves that grow anywhere or my suspect - Anthellia xenia

 

[ChickReef]

Okay, so it’s currently night time for the tank but I took some pictures just now under white light! Lol I’ll take some in the day time tomorrow when it’s awake too but I hope this helps you guys!

Also I apologize for the algae hair. It’s new too

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay, so it’s currently night time for the tank but I took some pictures just now under white light! Lol I’ll take some in the day time tomorrow when it’s awake too but I hope this helps you guys!

Also I apologize for the algae hair. It’s new too

Xenia does not have bulbs like this however cloves do as well as Sarcophyton species.
There is also an excess of algae known as bryopsis which is one of the more challenging of algae due to need of its complete removal. Removal is best accomplished by taking the rock out of tank and placing in a container of tank water. Then you will want to pull as much as you can by hand and discard. With a dental pick or small crochet needle, pull the roots off the rock. YOU MUST GET EVERY ROOT OR IT WILL SIMPLY RETURN !!
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys will consume bryopsis but not as fast as bryopsis can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

This procedure is not as bad or time consuming as it seems. Assure phosphate levels do not become elevated which helps feed this algae

harbor Freight:

 

[Cell]

 

[ChickReef]

So what I’m talking about is all those black specs. When they open up, it looks like moss. It’s all in my sand. I’m considering throwing out the rock. It’s a nano tank and the last thing I need is an invasion of something I can’t get out.

 

[ChickReef]

Xenia does not have bulbs like this however cloves do as well as Sarcophyton species.
There is also an excess of algae known as bryopsis which is one of the more challenging of algae due to need of its complete removal. Removal is best accomplished by taking the rock out of tank and placing in a container of tank water. Then you will want to pull as much as you can by hand and discard. With a dental pick or small crochet needle, pull the roots off the rock. YOU MUST GET EVERY ROOT OR IT WILL SIMPLY RETURN !!
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys will consume bryopsis but not as fast as bryopsis can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

This procedure is not as bad or time consuming as it seems. Assure phosphate levels do not become elevated which helps feed this algae

harbor Freight:

I’ll definitely be picking these up tomorrow! Thank you!

 

[ChickReef]

I took some pictures today during the day. All the brown is what I have no clue about.