Need ID on this stuff! / Tips

[Chrisss]

Any Idea what this is? Turf algae? Hair Algae? Or something ive never seen lol

Any tips also?!

Phosphate - 0(Probably because its growing like crazy)
Nitrate - 0

Running GFO(Might not be enough?)
Running Carbon
Running Biopellets(Might also not be enough/ causing the problem?)

T5ho Lighting Replaced 9 months Ago. Been having this algae for at least 3 months now
Switched to these lights from LEDS, might have caused the issue but cant understand why i cant control it.

No refugium, took it out for a bigger protein skimmer

 

[Chrisss]

Sorry pictures are so big!

 

[brandon429]

If you ever want it gone see the thread down below called pest algae challenge thread it has the details. For an initial prediction, if you take out one test rock per that thread and treat it that algae will die within 3 days. Gfo is already being used and is sufficient, there are many algae that function off import alone and do not mind if you lower the phosphate. Only grazers fix this condition in the wild, so that thread shows you how to cheat graze.

 

[Chrisss]

You're probably right in saying phosphate might be control already, because I have been running GFO since 3 months into my tank and now its almost 2 and a half years old. Never had any other forms of algae (Knock on wood) Just this one that sprung out of no where, I did happen to get a grazer 2 weeks ago(Algae Blenny) and he is putting in work on it. However there might too much to eat I think for one blenny.

I'm not trying to dose my tank or the rocks with Peroxide like your post suggested, its probably very effective and works wonders! Just cant risk the corals. Have many SPS and LPS Glued on rocks and zoas/xenia growing on rocks that I would not like to lose.

I did replace the rocks that did not have corals on and tons of algae with fresh dry rock which hopefully solves one side of my tank. Just need to deal with the other side now (Which im hoping my corals start growing faster to out compete the algae). I stopped dosing Kalk and Alk for a while because my tank was doing fine with water changes, which was around the time I started getting this algae, so i started that back up again. Hopefully helps also.

 

[brandon429]

its an option if you ever get tired of looking at it, and stripping your tank further of po4 to affect a nutrient independent invader is another real risk, strip nutrients slowly! you can try an ats system if you dont mind leaving this in place more mos to see if they work. they do at times

 

[Chrisss]

I see what you are saying, I did a little more looking into Peroxide and it doesn't seem too bad, just don't want to risk it just yet. This could be going through a phase which most algae does, and I rather not dose anything yet. Even if it was target dosing. Maybe I will when I get tired of looking at it. Just need to read a lot about it before I add something like that into my tank.

I have looked over threads all of the place to find a cure for this, and most threads die before they say what the outcome was. Ill give it 2 more months to see how adding more GFO or less GFO does and if taking out that rock helps or if it comes back. Then I might start the Peroxide route. I'm about 2 months into dosing Biopellets which is helping I guess? Skimmer pulling out a lot more gunk then before. So maybe it still is a nutrient probably or maybe not. Thanks for your advice though

 

[Tahoe61]

Have you considered Urchin, Chiton or Abalone? ORA Purple Variegated will probably mow that down.

 

[brandon429]

there is no rush required for any trtment, it tooks weeks to get here and its not going to kill your tank if weeks on ramp down occurs.

 

[Chrisss]

I always thought about adding a urchin into my tank but never went through with it. Saw a lot of forums of urchins knocking over corals or outa growing the tank very quickly. Plus i have a non-reef safe wrasse who destroyed my snail population >.>

I know there no rush for treatment lol! Worse case scenario I have to deal with this algae for a month or two. Hopefully my blenny works out now. Since half the rock is now gone and clean, he should be working only on the rocks with the algae/corals(Meaning less to eat). Or in theory thats how it is suppose to work.

But definitely will try peroxide as last resort! Thanks for the tip Brandon

 

[KJ]

Longspine Urchin, Black (Diadema setosum) you don't have to worry about this one

​

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have had tuxedo urchins (red ones even devoured and destroyed my red turf algae), ORA varigated that eat anything except briopsis, and the halloween that managed to destroy a bit too much being they get quite large.

I personally hate long spine, but that is because one aimed a spine at me and it went right through my thumb. It was a very large one in commercial system.

I love urchins, but if you have lots of frags, they are a pain. However, it was cool to see a piece of my green sinularia grow to about 3 inches on the back of one over the course of 3 months as it carried a piece it found in the sand. I have had zoas grow on them too. When they drop them, I never seem to find them again though.

I love them in my main system, but do not use them in a frag system.

 

[KJ]

I have a couple of acupuntures from my Longspine Urchin , it is not that painful, like a bee sting, but he will keep your rocks nice and clean and made a nice addition to the tank, he didn`t knock the frags off your rocks. You just have to be careful when cleaning your tank and not have an accident brushing up against his spines and he is really cool to watch.

 

[Chrisss]

I did look into a blue tuxedo urchin a while back when this first came up. But never got one because I thought my wrasse was going to eat it since its not covered fully in spines. Could be wrong but yes! They do look cool and ive seen threads where they destroy algae.

Long spine urchins seems to get really big really fast which is why I didn't get one of them either. Plus I saw a Long spine nail a Yellow Tang in a picture it had a needle right through his head. The yellow tang was fine, just had a long needle in his head haha. How big do they actually get since you guys have one? I have a 75g and not much room for a urchin to be, unless very small

 

[brandon429]

compared to other forums R2R feedback and opinions/options retorts are lighting fast eh.

 

[Chrisss]

Yeah I love it! Probably one on the best forums i've seen. I've been following posts on facebook for a few months now and decided to join up

 

[DeniseAndy]

What type of wrasse? Varigated may be the way to go. Larger than tuxedos and more spiny. Still take anything not nailed down though.

 

[Chrisss]

I cant remember the name of it. I think its either Halichoeres marginatus

[Dusky wrasse]

or a Halichoeres argus

[Argus wrasse]

I think its the Argus Wrasse Most likely. But could be either! Both look very alike


Never seen a Varigated urchin! If they stay the size of your hand maybe that will be the way to go! Do they eat corals though ?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Halichoeres sp. will not hurt urchins, usually. I have had 2 over the years with no problems either with varigated or tuxedo.

Look at the ORA website at the varigated. That is what I have had for years. They are maybe 3 inches in diameter after 4 years.

Never bother coral except to bring along for a ride once in a while.

 

[Chrisss]

Which one do you think is better for algae eating, the varigated or tuxedo?

Plus where would I get one, can you order straight from their site? Or tell LFS to get one?(LFS little bit far away)

Might be a good solution