Hey guys, Algea ID please.

Davy Jones · Nov 5, 2015

Doesnt really look like GHA, although it could be but id like a second opinion. My Kole tang, 2 barred rabbit fish, Astrea snails, turbo snails, and hermit crabs dont even look at it. They wont touch it, sniff it or anything.

Second, There is a White/clear filmy stuff that has started showing up on my live rock. If i had to guess it looks like a bacteria covering the rock but im not sure. It doesnt look like hydroids either as it doesnt react to touch and there is no tube for them to live in.

kschweer · Nov 5, 2015

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

Shep · Nov 5, 2015

Looks like bryopsis algae, I had it not too long a go. Remove as much as you can by hand, cut back lights and try to export more nutrients

cloak · Nov 5, 2015

The first one just looks like GHA to me. As far as that white stuff goes, I think you may be right with the bacteria ID, but Chrysophytes is another possibility too though. GL.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/ (Info Links > Hitchhikers > Algae)

Humblefish · Nov 5, 2015

Shep said:
Looks like bryopsis algae, I had it not too long a go. Remove as much as you can by hand, cut back lights and try to export more nutrients

+1 Sometimes raising your mag up to 1700-1800 using Tech M works to eradicate it. It's not the magnesium itself, but rather an impurity found in the Tech M which seems to do the trick. However, there is some debate as to whether or not this impurity is still found in newer bottles of Tech M.

Davy Jones · Nov 6, 2015

Thanks guys, I added a bag of purigen as well as started dosing nopox not too long ago to help reduce nutrients. As well as cut back on feeding. I'm not a fan of carbon or gfo as I think it removes the good as well as the bad. As for the bryopsis or whatever algea that is I read that if I manually remove most of it and continue with the lower nutrients and small feedings my rabbit SHOULD keep it in check (never was big on the idea of having a fish to keep things under control but it's worth a shot before I try tech m)

Reefing Madness · Nov 6, 2015

No reason to Tech M, its not Bryopsis. Just Hair Algae, and the white slime bacteria.

Tahoe61 · Nov 6, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
No reason to Tech M, its not Bryopsis. Just Hair Algae, and the white slime bacteria.

Agreed.

Bryopsis have a fern appearance if you look closely.

Davy Jones · Nov 6, 2015

Thats what i thought but for whatever reason no one touches this stuff, they avoid it like the plague. And i have had bryopsis in my last tank so ive seen the fern structure. Strange thing is this GHA grew over it and snuffed it out. But it appears to be some sort of hybrid between the 2 for lack of better explination. Its hard to pull off by hand like bryopsis. My herbivores wont touch it, like bryopsis. It grows and spreads at a decent rate, like bryopsis. and its Not actually green.. more of a brown with green tint. But the main thing is no crab or snail or fish touches it. my rabbit and kole tang pick at the rocks, sand and glass all day long but avoid anything near the rock this **** is growing on. its strange

Tahoe61 · Nov 6, 2015

Try an Urchin or Chiton. I believe Reefcleaners.org has Chitons, and Liveaquaria has ORA Urchins.

I am guessing you already checked phosphates and nitrates. Have you considered a black out or reducing the lighting period.

Phosban works well for me.

Davy Jones · Nov 6, 2015

nitrates show up as "0" per api test kit (i know.) Phos was at .08 per hanna checker before i started dosing nopox. Havent had time to test since i started. What little SPS i have is very colorful so i know the nutrients arent high enough to brown the coral.

In regards to an urchin, dont they topple rockwork and knock coral over and stuff? All my rock is stable but not epoxied or drilled.. and ive yet to learn the ability to actually attach coral anymore then just sticking the base in a hole or something. Super glue seems to fail me every time.

Tahoe61 · Nov 6, 2015

Urchins do in deed bulldoze everything not nailed down. I have actually had them walk away with a running power head, yeah not good.

But they are very efficient algae eaters. I use them during the first couple months after the cycle, then I pass them on.

Humblefish · Nov 6, 2015

There's a good pic here of a clump of bryopsis which you can enlarge for comparison purposes: http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/chloro/bryopsis_pennata.htm

Not saying what you have is definitely bryopsis; just offering a pic for you to compare with what you're seeing in your tank.

drstratton · Nov 6, 2015

Dirtrider225 said:
In regards to an urchin, dont they topple rockwork and knock coral over and stuff? All my rock is stable but not epoxied or drilled.. and ive yet to learn the ability to actually attach coral anymore then just sticking the base in a hole or something. Super glue seems to fail me every time.

Try this! I actually used it to glue some of my live rock while it's in the water!!!

http://www.marinedepot.com/Bob_Smit...y_-Bob_Smith_Industries-YJ1111-FIMTEP-vi.html

Reefing Madness · Nov 6, 2015

Humblefish said:
There's a good pic here of a clump of bryopsis which you can enlarge for comparison purposes: http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/chloro/bryopsis_pennata.htm

Not saying what you have is definitely bryopsis; just offering a pic for you to compare with what you're seeing in your tank.

Closer shot is needed to identify the pieces themselves:

Davy Jones · Nov 10, 2015

my algea looks nothing like the fern.. but if it where just GHA wouldnt my hermits, tang or rabbit atleast pick at it? or the mexican turbo snails? or the astrea snails?

cloak · Nov 10, 2015

The Turbo snails might eat it, but you'll want to prune it down as close to the rock as you can with your fingers first. As the snails move around the tank, just keep putting them back by the algae over and over again. GL.

Humblefish · Nov 11, 2015

@Dirtrider225 Upon closer inspection, that looks like GHA to me.

Davy Jones · Nov 11, 2015

nopox, purigen, reduced feedings and normal 7.5ish gallon waterchanges arent slowing it down any. What is the best way to manually remove it without removing the rock from the tank? (it is one of the major support structures.) Im not a fan of carbon and gfo.. skimming pretty wet, what else can i do? i wont do an urchin as i dont want my rock work tumbling