Cobweb-like algae?

[hopperjl16]

So I had noticed a little of this grayish cobweb-like stuff here and there for awhile, mostly in areas on my rocks with lower flow. I didn't think a lot of it at the time. Well tonight I did a water change and scrubbed some algae off the walls and blasted off the rocks with a turkey baster. Now I'm seeing these cobwebs EVERYWHERE, it's like I spread them around the tank with my cleaning tonight. I'm assuming it's a type of algae? My parameters are all normal, specifically phos and nitrate just a couple days ago were zero. Whatever this is my cuc has never really touched it.

 

[brandon429]

The action taken had no cellular kill side effect so it may have fragmented agreed. In the wild, algae of all kinds grow in perfectly fine nutrient waters they just have the right grazer diversity

You are at the classic juncture of farm it on purpose or cheat it out, most will literally choose to farm it and leave it in the tank.

Not even knowing your nutrients I wouldn't have assumed this was a nutrient issue, algae doesn't need anything but a ride into your tank on a frag or within rock. Extra bright white LEDs will also bring out algae, non nutrient details.

The trick is that in reducing the actual biomass the battle lessens, not gains, given nutrient constants the entire time. Most are thinking if you don't nutrient starve the algae will just come back, but that's not the case. Our cure threads are massive using opposite methods.

Coral bleaching is a risk with zero free nutrients, and its very easy to be algae free along with feeding corals enough to add mass

my recommend is feed tank better and kill algae, will make corals grow and you'll be algae free

 

[brandon429]

Your thread holds a rare gem biological clue by the way

Allelopathic algae control via vital space occupation.

There is a certain detail in your pic which is telltale about this being new tank algae, only in need of guiding-

Notice how each spot of coralline has none or much less algae, but the holdfast points anchor in between coralline spots? The story that tells and the predictions that makes for your tank are remarkable. Every coralline spot being free of hold fasts, and every non coralline point being an anchor point for algae literally tells all about your algae issue. The non coralline areas need cheat guiding or lucky grazer matches

If you had nutrient problems the coralline couldn't exist in control of its limited vital space it would be overtaken.

Make your rock purple with coralline, beat and sustain algae by exclusion the puzzle pieces are right there imo. Coralline literally competes chemically against algae your picture also supports those formal studies on allelopathic space exclusion.

 

[hopperjl16]

Hi brandon! I had remembered our conversation regarding eradication of algae. I considered it, but decided for now to just make peace with my algae and allow my algae eaters to do their jobs. Plus I like some of my algae eaters . My coralline is TAKING OFF. It's crazy how quick it's spreading all of a sudden. I had a thought that maybe my coralline would crowd out the algae, so yeah I hope that works. If it gets worse though I might be reaching for the peroxide!

 

[brandon429]

All is acceptable within reefing variability. Reefs in Fiji will go through phases like that above as grazers and various environmental cues change, and if the reef is healthy then coral growth or other excluders will compete the greens back out

I believe cheats or non cheats simply alter time in our favor and with an accessible rock scape like you have it wouldn't take an hour to get 90% caught up only as an ace in the hole if needed one day. Your coralline is literally plating like armor its going to win in time sure enough. Whatever you've done ionically is enviable heh

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Just don't use the brown bottle peroxide, it's got toxins in it. Use food grade diluted.
Though I would probably just dip the rocks every other day and be done with it. Since coralline has so many species it's hard to tell without parameter readings what environment is in the pictures. If the algae is spreading, take care of it manually. Sucks, but you're the biggest grazer your tank will ever see.

 

[hopperjl16]

Just don't use the brown bottle peroxide, it's got toxins in it. Use food grade diluted.
.

I had no idea there was "food grade" peroxide. Is that something you find at the grocery store then?

 

[brandon429]

the regular peroxide is ok it comprises 99% of all documented uses in aquariums.



the number one use of peroxide in all of reefing is non food grade cheap peroxide from a grocery store with the stabilizers in tow, the medical use version.
any problems there will materialize in the threads. there is certainly nothing wrong with getting the finest fluid possible, but I thought it was worth mentioning if not avail there will be no difference outcome to targets or non targets based on our threads. only mentioned to help reduce confusion over peroxide use.

Before the concerns about the stabilizers were in play, peroxide itself was said to be poisonous to a reef tank.