Macro algea taking over my tank

[uhupong]

I'm facing nutrients issue which I'm trying slowly getting back control.

Nutrients issue aside. How do I get rid of macro algea that taking over my tank? Any cleaning crew that will eat these things?

My 2 tangs don't seem to care at all.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Looks like Ulva. Which two tangs do you have? I thought that most of them (exceptions of zooplanktivores like hippo tangs) would go crazy for that?

Herbivores in general tend to target newer growth. It's more tender than older growth, so during water changes to control nutrients, consider plucking out the macroalgae and siphoning it out.

 

[Bnichols124]

Uvla (sea lettuce) tangs will find it and destroy it. One of the best micro algeas but spreads like wild fire

 

[uhupong]

I have 1 yellow Tang and blue yellow belly hippo Tang.

 

[Fishbird]

My blue tuxedo urchin loves Ulva. Both as food and as decoration. This is the only blue tuxedo I’ve ever had so I don’t know if they all love Ulva but it might be worth looking into if you think your tank could support one long term.

(He’s the round dark blob under the floating cloud of Ulva here)

 

[ichthyogeek]

So the yellow tang should be going to town on the ulva, how heavily are you feeding? The hippo tang won’t go after Ulva unfortunately, they prefer meatier foods. A Ctenochaetus tang or similar grazing fish would also help with managing the Ulva as well.

But hey, at least it’s better than GHA

 

[uhupong]

So the yellow tang should be going to town on the ulva, how heavily are you feeding? The hippo tang won’t go after Ulva unfortunately, they prefer meatier foods. A Ctenochaetus tang or similar grazing fish would also help with managing the Ulva as well.

But hey, at least it’s better than GHA

I'm feeding 4 cubes frozen food daily for my625xxl redsea tank which is about 130 gallons.

I had one good sized wrasse disappeared/died last couple weeks in which I believe is a culprit of a problem.

 

[ichthyogeek]

What else is in the tank? Four cubes of frozen a day seems like a lot; what’s your usual medley of food that you give?

 

[uhupong]

I have 5 anthias, 2 clown, 2 tangs, 1 file fish, 1 fairly wrasse.

This isn't a large nutrients input as I've been controlling it for the past 2.5 years. One redhead wrasse died spiked thing up.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Ah I see....hmmm, do you feed nori sheets? If so, consider cutting back on them so the yellow tang will start going after Ulva instead.

 

[blstravler]

I'm facing nutrients issue which I'm trying slowly getting back control.

Nutrients issue aside. How do I get rid of macro algea that taking over my tank? Any cleaning crew that will eat these things?

My 2 tangs don't seem to care at all.

I’m having the same issue right now - stuff grows fast. My Chevron Tang won’t touch the stuff. Picked up a small urchin today.

Anyonw know if any snails, hermits or crabs will eat it?

 

[uhupong]

I’m having the same issue right now - stuff grows fast. My Chevron Tang won’t touch the stuff. Picked up a small urchin today.

Anyonw know if any snails, hermits or crabs will eat it?

They LL eat but at very slow speed in which won't out compete the algea.

 

[Afaylenerich88]

Try to remove as much as you can via airline tube and pinching it off. Then sick out remainder floating in tank, when replacing water lost from cleaning. Add some LIVE ROCK ENHANCE!!!!!!. This will kill and out compete it for the rock. It qill also make your bio team much stronger at keeping things off your rock. I add it to my tank once a week. It will make your water cloudy for about 24 hrs or so. But in promise you will love love love the results. I have sofitie's, lps, sps in my tank and all does well they close up of corse but right back out the next day like nothing happend.
This is just the way I would try to handle this issue.

 

[Udest]

Alternatively you could fire up a lot of water and grab the miso and make some soup , actually conciderd it if my tank decided to grow edible seaweed.

 

[uhupong]

Try to remove as much as you can via airline tube and pinching it off. Then sick out remainder floating in tank, when replacing water lost from cleaning. Add some LIVE ROCK ENHANCE!!!!!!. This will kill and out compete it for the rock. It qill also make your bio team much stronger at keeping things off your rock. I add it to my tank once a week. It will make your water cloudy for about 24 hrs or so. But in promise you will love love love the results. I have sofitie's, lps, sps in my tank and all does well they close up of corse but right back out the next day like nothing happend.
This is just the way I would try to handle this issue.

Since it make water cloudy I'm gonna guess it is bacteria based product. I can't risk losing SPS playing with biochemistry. Thanks for the suggestion though may be it is more suitable for non SPS tank.

 

[Cory]

Honestly i wouldnt do anyting besides pull it out when its too big or get ansea urchin. You got an healthy ecosystem growing and removing it will just allow an advantage to other photosynthetic creatures like hair algae, or dinos!