Calling all algae experts!!

KingTriton · Feb 3, 2016

So I've been dealing with this algae for a while now and have no idea what it is. I've never seen this kind of algae before. Anyone ever seen this or know of the name? Its very dominant and invasive.. Pretty much covering my entire rock work now. Unlike GHA this algae has a very strong footing making it pointless trying to remove it manually. Its has extremely long hair strains with a bright green texture at the end. ID and Advice needed would be amazing!

PO4 - .02
NO3 - 0
TDS - 000

I feed lightly, gfo reactor, and 10% weekly wc. The tank is 8 months old now. HELP!! lol

-Logzor · Feb 3, 2016

Never seen anything quite like that! Are you able to remove the rock and scrub it off?

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 3, 2016

I have something very similar in my tank that came in on the live rock. It seems that nitrate and phosphate control have caused it to recede considerably. Are your NO3/PO4 tests unexpired?

KingTriton · Feb 3, 2016

All test kits are fresh. Im using Salifert for NO3 and Hanna Phosphorus URL checker. Ive taken the rock out and tried scrubbing with a tooth bush, but nothing and I been nothing would remove it. Strange as it looks like it would just fall right off... NOPE!

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 3, 2016

The stuff in my tank is brownish, wiry, and pretty darn tough.

KingTriton · Feb 3, 2016

AllSignsPointToFIsh said:
The stuff in my tank is brownish, wiry, and pretty darn tough.

Yea I think it may be brown with the ends being green. Its hard to tell with my lights. By the way I use to live in Gulf Breeze on Sanibel Lane

. Boy do I miss it over there!

Greatreefer · Feb 3, 2016

It really hard to see the picture, but I'm thinking it looks like bryopsis. If it is bryopsis, It kinda looks like its dying due to its brown color.
How long has this been going on?
How much and what are you feeding your tank?

KingTriton · Feb 3, 2016

I have 2 clowns, blenny, and a tang. I feed about 1/4 cube in the morning and night.. So about 1/2 cube a day. I don't feed anything else in the tank. I just wonder how much PO4 this algae actually needs to remain active.

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 3, 2016

KingTriton said:
Yea I think it may be brown with the ends being green. Its hard to tell with my lights. By the way I use to live in Gulf Breeze on Sanibel Lane . Boy do I miss it over there!

Oh yeah? that's pretty amazing! I live near the GB zoo

Greatreefer · Feb 3, 2016

Do you pre wash your frozen food before you feed?

Greatreefer · Feb 3, 2016

Do you pre wash your frozen food before you feed?

Greatreefer · Feb 3, 2016

Wow.. my phone is being weird. Sorry for the triple post.

KingTriton · Feb 3, 2016

Greatreefer said:
Wow.. my phone is being weird. Sorry for the triple post.

Lol been there. I don't but I believe Randy stated one time or another that there isn't much use for pre washing fish food. I believe the phosphates released from not pre washing are so minimal that there isn't reason to. That said I always pre wash PE Mysis if I'm feeding it because of the oils, but thats rarely what I feed. I do know that the higher the protein content in the food equals higher phosphates, which is why I try and feed a minimal amount to prevent that.

Greatreefer · Feb 4, 2016

Huh. Didn't think of that..
Are you running any carbon or gfo?
What about flow and or dead spots in the tank?
When you had scrubbed off your rocks previously was there any noticeable amount of detrirus buildup on the surface of the rocks?

KingTriton · Feb 4, 2016

Im running both gfo and carbon. No dead spots as I have about a 60x turnover rate. Not much detritus build up either as I run a bare bottom tank.

Greatreefer · Feb 4, 2016

How big is the tank?
Stupid question but ill ask anyways.. Are you using RODI water for water changes?
Have you ever tried switching frozen foods to see if there maybe something in the food that could causing the algae to grow?