Getting Choked

[ReeferRob]

As some know I just got the TX5 5x54. Everything has been wonderful, except. Going on day five or six without fiberglass screens my magrack of zoa and paly frag, which one is in "Muchos Sweat Spot" hanging off the overflow the second front wall high in heavy flow, are getting choked out by green hair algea. Noticed heavy bubbles two days ago, then hair yesterday with more bubbles, then today heavier bubbles lots more hair. Some zoa didn't even open today. Its growing like crazy but get this...........no where else in the tank just the magracks.

What do I do? All the zoa and palys I speak of are highly sought after le and such.
Fire away guys I need to do something quick.

Thanks CZ

 

[greystreet41]

I dunno...manual removal, cut back photoperiod, and hermit crabs?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Here is what I would and have done....

Get rid of those racks!!!

Anyway, frag the polyps right off the plugs and throw those OUT! if you loose a polyp or two so be it. Because you will loose them all if you dont get rid of it. Plucking is only temporary.

 

[ReeferRob]

It has started on the frags not on the racks. Its on the actual rock and plugs. Its spreading to the racks.

 

[fishes2889]

Why do you have them up so high?

I would just put them in the sandbed....

 

[chadfarmer]

what kind of plugs are they?

i would getthe zoos off the plugs lots of headaches

new light and new algea

 

[ReeferRob]

Why do you have them up so high?

I would just put them in the sandbed....

They are there from when I had the PC lights up and didn't see a reason to move them until now.

Does any one have any solutions or ideas of what to do with the hair algea?

 

[THE BEAUT]

It s usually one of 2 things, too much light or phosphates. Cut back your lights substantially. If you have a GE 6500k daylight bulb. Get rid of it. It is a growth bulb, very good for sps and all color growth. Not to mention hair algae growth to. Swtch it out for an Aquablue. You can also cover your tank in black garbage bags for 2 days and starve the algae from light. Dont do it longer than that as almost all corals need light to survive. I read about the garbage bag thing on RC, check it out for confermation. Best of luck.

 

[ReeferRob]

Should I scrub the hair algea off with a tooth brush?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I'm telling you that will not work. Frag of the polyps and put them on new plugs. Throw the other plugs out in the sun for a while.

 

[sf_ramsden]

I agree with rev on this one. Another thing that sometimes works for me and some others is by putting the frags in the sand for a day or so so that the hermit crabs can pick the algae off for you. Just another possible suggestion...
Scott

 

[ReeferRob]

I am worried about a loss of color or growth with the recent exposion. I think I am going to try revs idea and see what happens?

Thanks everyone!