Overrun by Sea Lettuce!!!

Lukas75 · May 13, 2019

Justfebreezeit said:
The one spot is just preferred because even adult size your tank is big enough for it

yup, the others will do the job, but they'll outgrow your tank.

Manose · May 16, 2019

Still waiting on a one spot Foxface as all out of stock online. Meanwhile I am going to remove as much as I can by hand.

acbaldwin · May 18, 2019

Ulva sp. is like the most palatable macroalgae, I'd go with a tang, rabbitfish, or even just a decent size blenny. Plenty of species of blennys will chomp on that all day long.

road_runner · May 18, 2019

Man my tangs would think your system is a theme park for food ha ha.
Couple of tangs should take care of that..
Given your tank is 80G. I would say get one tang for now.
Yellow or Chevron are some of the best algae eaters.
Actually my personal preference is purple tang, but its bit more expensive and can get bigger than yellow and Chevron.

Manose · May 21, 2019

Ohashimz said:
Man my tangs would think your system is a theme park for food ha ha.
Couple of tangs should take care of that..
Given your tank is 80G. I would say get one tang for now.
Yellow or Chevron are some of the best algae eaters.
Actually my personal preference is purple tang, but its bit more expensive and can get bigger than yellow and Chevron.

I really want a one spot rabbit fish but everyone is sold out constantly. The captive bred yellow tangs from Biota seem like the next best thing tho.

dansreef · May 21, 2019

I wish I had some of that stuff growing....and feeding my hoard of tangs.... Instead they eat Nori like it is crack!!!!

A fish to consider for your 80 gal is a Convict Tang. I have one and it had become one of my favorite tangs. It has remained pretty small....given it has been in my tank now nearly 2 years, a 180 with larger tangs. It is a constant grazer and the color and pattern is nice. I have seen them very small in stores. I bet you could pick one up from Live Aquaria or have a LFS keep an eye out for one. Great fish.

Good Luck!

Manose · May 21, 2019

dansreef said:
I wish I had some of that stuff growing....and feeding my hoard of tangs.... Instead they eat Nori like it is crack!!!!

A fish to consider for your 80 gal is a Convict Tang. I have one and it had become one of my favorite tangs. It has remained pretty small....given it has been in my tank now nearly 2 years, a 180 with larger tangs. It is a constant grazer and the color and pattern is nice. I have seen them very small in stores. I bet you could pick one up from Live Aquaria or have a LFS keep an eye out for one. Great fish.

Good Luck!

That is a real good suggestion as it seems Live Aquaria gets them in regularly. I do not have an lfs I would trust to sell me a dry shell much less a fish

so all my buying will be online unless I travel a long way.

Demonic · May 21, 2019

Manose said:
That is a real good suggestion as it seems Live Aquaria gets them in regularly. I do not have an lfs I would trust to sell me a dry shell much less a fish so all my buying will be online unless I travel a long way.

Not sure how the local Petco is near you, but they have been getting captive bred Yellow Tangs in quite a bit lately. Mine has 3-4 babies in right now and we have a crappy one.

Manose · May 21, 2019

Demonic said:
Not sure how the local Petco is near you, but they have been getting captive bred Yellow Tangs in quite a bit lately. Mine has 3-4 babies in right now and we have a crappy one.

Mine does not carry any marine animals otherwise that would be awesome. I am going to get some new pictures later today as I have let it grow out a little bit. It is really pretty stuff but OMG it is like a weed.

fattiremike · May 21, 2019

I had bubble algae for years. Tried everything but it kept coming back. Long story short, Vibrant worked for me with no ill effects. But, it will also kill your chaeto, etc. I did double doses and it took about three/four months. Then I re-introduced chaeto and all is going well now.

Manose · May 21, 2019

Here are some pics as of today:

This looks like very small bubble algae and bryopsis

and here

This is a nice big clump of the Ulva when its huge:

My chaeto has been out of the tank now since my first post and have a little increase in Po4 .o5. I have salt ordered and should be here on Thursday so I can start my AWC system back up and do about 2gal a day.

Demonic · May 21, 2019

I think the only way to really battle this stuff is to send me these corals so I can take samples of what the real problem is here. LoL
I hope you get it taken care of, but I'm willing to bet that rabbit fish or a yellow tang would be of great help to you.

InvaderJim · Jun 8, 2020

Bumping an old thread because this stuff is starting to grow like crazy in my tank. Did you ever get yours under control?

fity2pounder · May 30, 2021

Anyone got a good answer for this stuff? Sea hare would eat it?

Clanger · Jun 8, 2022

Manose said:
My coral is doing wonderful but still having a REALLY REALLY REALLY hard time keeping this sea lettuce under control!!!!!!!!!!

AND a new surprise is what looks like the start of some really tiny bubble algae

My parameters as of 2:25 pm 5/12
Ph=8.07
alk=8.7-8.8 tested same time everyday
No3=0 (I have finally removed all my chaeto as to get some to show up and still zero)
Po4=0.03-0.035(yes this is a little high but if I use any gfc then I am at zero)
Calcium=440
Mag=1275

I have some options:
1.Start a double dose regiment of Vibrant and suffer the consequences of red slime
2.Get a pincushion or tuxedo urchin and worry about him knocking all my coral over. I would have to take my rock out and glue all my frags in place
3.Get a small Rabbitfish and be prepared to remove him when he gets big
https://fishybusinessaquatics.com/wysiwyg/nano-size-golden-rabbitfish/

Any animals that I need to get have to be ordered as my local LFS is not to be trusted

I am at my wits end because the tank is doing so well and stable but this Sea Lettuce is NUTS!!!!

Anyone's help would be recommended