Dark brown fuzzy slimy algae ID

[JohnIsNewToReefKeeping]

Hello need some help with the ID of this algae. It isn’t Dino and I think is calothrix but I could be wrong.
alk 8
Cal 450
Mag 1400
No3 2ppm
Po4 near zero

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello need some help with the ID of this algae. It isn’t Dino and I think is calothrix but I could be wrong.
alk 8
Cal 450
Mag 1400
No3 2ppm
Po4 near zero

Does it blow loose with a turkey baster ?
If not, using something like a toothbrush, does it dislodge itself when brush applied?

 

[JohnIsNewToReefKeeping]

Does it blow loose with a turkey baster ?
If not, using something like a toothbrush, does it dislodge itself when brush applied?

No it’s really holding onto the rock hard a little bit of the fuzz comes off but the rock looks the same

 

[vetteguy53081]

No it’s really holding onto the rock hard a little bit of the fuzz comes off but the rock looks the same

Im thinking either lyngbya or similar bacterial. You may have to resort to pulling rock and placing in a container of tank water and scrubbing it off with a firm toothbrush or automotive detail brush

 

[JohnIsNewToReefKeeping]

Im thinking either lyngbya or similar bacterial. You may have to resort to pulling rock and placing in a container of tank water and scrubbing it off with a firm toothbrush or automotive detail brush

That’s is not something realistically I can/will do, I’m getting a microscope in a few days to properly ID it but are there ways to manage it with inverts or fish or chemicals like chemi clean? Or is the only option to scrub the rock? System has been up for 4 years and there are some parts of the rock that already have coral on it like the zoanthids.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That’s is not something realistically I can/will do, I’m getting a microscope in a few days to properly ID it but are there ways to manage it with inverts or fish or chemicals like chemi clean? Or is the only option to scrub the rock? System has been up for 4 years and there are some parts of the rock that already have coral on it like the zoanthids.

Chemi clean and other solutions will not address it or reverse it as damage is already done. You may try blackout and add ninja star snails which may feed on it. Which substance like lyngbya, chrysophytes and alike- scrubbing is best or only option.

 

[JohnIsNewToReefKeeping]

Chemi clean and other solutions will not address it or reverse it as damage is already done. You may try blackout and add ninja star snails which may feed on it. Which substance like lyngbya, chrysophytes and alike- scrubbing is best or only option.

If I were not to scrub what is the worst that can happen? Will it start to grow on the coral or something like that? If I were to put an encrusting sps could it just encrust over it? The reason I don’t want to scrub it since it will most likely come back and I’ll have to rescrub all the rocks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If I were not to scrub what is the worst that can happen? Will it start to grow on the coral or something like that? If I were to put an encrusting sps could it just encrust over it? The reason I don’t want to scrub it since it will most likely come back and I’ll have to rescrub all the rocks.

It will spread and thats the reason I mentioned to place rock in a container of tank water and scrub. You dont want to scrub within tank and release it everywhere.

 

[JohnIsNewToReefKeeping]

It will spread and thats the reason I mentioned to place rock in a container of tank water and scrub. You dont want to scrub within tank and release it everywhere.

Okay if it spreads it will only spread on the rock right? Or will it eventually get on the coral? After I take the rock out of the tank and scrub it, wont it come back?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay if it spreads it will only spread on the rock right? Or will it eventually get on the coral? After I take the rock out of the tank and scrub it, wont it come back?

Eventually coral and even back glass. If you clean well, monitor your nitrates and phosphates and maintain moderate lighting- should not return

 

[JohnIsNewToReefKeeping]

Eventually coral and even back glass. If you clean well, monitor your nitrates and phosphates and maintain moderate lighting- should not return

Thank you for your help I really appreciate it, when you say monderate light 50-150 do you mean pretty much I can no longer have sps in the system especially the thing that require 200-300+ par? Right now the rocks are getting 200ish par. Also with nutirents, keep them around no3 5ppm and po4 .03?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for your help I really appreciate it, when you say monderate light 50-150 do you mean pretty much I can no longer have sps in the system especially the thing that require 200-300+ par? Right now the rocks are getting 200ish par. Also with nutirents, keep them around no3 5ppm and po4 .03?

No - just not too bright