It looks like I've got some weird grass or algae. What is this stuff???

[Dlewis0714]

I only have this grass stuff on this one rock. It's growing pretty fast. Water parameters are good but nitrates are around 20-25ppm with api test kit. I have 2 orange face clowns, bangai cardinal, neon dottyback, and a bta in my 36 gallon bowfront. I'm running 2 coralife 30g hob filters with protein skimmers built in and one powerhead.

 

[Dlewis0714]

I hope this is better picture.

 

[Webslinger]

hair algae. common

 

[Joe BBC]

GHA (green hair algae) - pull it out.

 

[AdamB]

green hair algae..nitrates is culprit but would check phospates

 

[stanleo]

That is green hair algae. I would remove it as best you can. I little of it in a tank is kind of nice but it spreads like fire and is a pain to control. Do you have any critters that will actively eat it? That will help. I agree the higher nitrates are fueling the growth.

 

[Webslinger]

Getting Rid of Green Hair Algae | Melev's Reef

Green Hair Algae (abbreviated as GHA for this article) - Derbesia - is a form of algae that looks like its name. It is usually dark green, grows quite long if left unattended and spreads across your tank rapidly. Once this problem has begun, it can get out of hand in a matter of weeks. And soon...

www.melevsreef.com

 

[Joe BBC]

What do you have for a CUC? (clean up crew)

 

[jeffchapok]

With just a couple of small, localized spots like this, turn off all circulation, bring some RODI water to a boil and squirt it on the algae with a turkey baster. It'll turn bright green at first, then slowly grey and disappear completely over a couple of days.

If you have any CUC, they will go crazy over it. Apparently cooked GHA is delicious! If it gets more widespread, turbo snails and pincushion urchins are good at keeping it under control.

 

[Dlewis0714]

So I went to lfs and got a sea urchin and 3 emerald crabs. The urchin has eaten about 2/3 of the hair now. I've lowered nitrates by doing a couple 20% water changes. Thanks for all the info!