Hi All. A few weeks ago I planted some red ogo in my tank. After trying a few spots I chose one up higher in the tank (I started to see air bubbles forming on the branches so I figured that was a good sign). Well, it's becoming covered in a green film algae. I was wondering if this was a sign it's not doing well in my tank and if I should pull it before nutrients are released.
Should I remove my macro?
- Thread starter TedsReef
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EmdeReef
2500 Club Member
I don’t think you need to worry about nutrients getting released but that other algae is outcompeting your macro for some reason.
What are your nutrients at and what photoperiod? Dosing carbon or amino acids?
What are your nutrients at and what photoperiod? Dosing carbon or amino acids?
@EmdeReef my photo period is 11 hrs plus two hour ramp up/down periods plus very low blue moonlight for evening viewing (max 5% royal blue).
Phosphates and nitrates are 0. I spot feed coral every 4 days. I’m not dosing anything but I haven’t seen a cerith in a couple weeks.
Phosphates and nitrates are 0. I spot feed coral every 4 days. I’m not dosing anything but I haven’t seen a cerith in a couple weeks.
Subsea
5000 Club Member
How long does it take to look that way, when placed there clean. Also with respect to clean, is that stuff on the macro easy to blow off?
what I see of your tank substrate looks well maintained. Do you see this green film anywhere else? It may be bacteria? Cynobacteria comes in many differrent colors. Do you have a tank journal so I can understand your system needs better?
I have grown Gracilaria Parvispora, Tikavahae and Hayi. All of them accumulate detritus when in display tank. Out of those three Red Gracilaria, I would recommend Gracilaria Hayi for display. I also grow Red Grapes which is an outstanding ornamental for a lower light area as it is collected at 60’-120’ in the Gulf of Mexico..
https://www.marineplantbook.com/marinebookbotryo.htm
what I see of your tank substrate looks well maintained. Do you see this green film anywhere else? It may be bacteria? Cynobacteria comes in many differrent colors. Do you have a tank journal so I can understand your system needs better?
I have grown Gracilaria Parvispora, Tikavahae and Hayi. All of them accumulate detritus when in display tank. Out of those three Red Gracilaria, I would recommend Gracilaria Hayi for display. I also grow Red Grapes which is an outstanding ornamental for a lower light area as it is collected at 60’-120’ in the Gulf of Mexico..
https://www.marineplantbook.com/marinebookbotryo.htm
It takes 1-3 days for it to look that way. Sometimes it becomes dislodged from the rock and tumbles around in the tank - after a night of this it's mainly clean. However, I can't blow it off with a baster. So, id say it’s moderate to blow off. There is a small clump of hair algae that I noticed was also covered. There was some green slime in small patches on 3 spots elsewhere but as soon as I started to get worried about it it cleared up completely overnight. I’m having an ostracod bloom in the tank right now and they’re all over everything. I think they may have contributed to the slime removal as I saw a lot of them on it.
Unfortunately I don’t have a tank journal. I stopped documented shortly after my tank was cycled. I spot feed reef roids 1-2 times a week and do weekly wc. Currently it has coral only. I have a file fish in QT that’s just about ready to go in.
Thanks for the info on other macros! I may try out the red grapes and Hayi!
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Hey Ted,
I agree with Subsea here on Gracilaria Hayi (PomPom) doing best in the display tank. Are you able to get some more flow over the Red Ogo? What are your nitrates?
I talked to your Facebook rep and they told me I was good with either pompom or ogo and you were out of pompom at the time. Nitrates went to 0 since I put it in. I could try moving it around in the tank for more flow.
You will need to have more nitrates than 0 to keep it well. Even hovering around 5ppm will be helpful
