Some strange leafy algae

[Grimmj]

If you look around the return in the middle ad in the sand I have this very leafy algae that is growing. I only started to see this recently. I am not sure what it is or how to get rid of it other than manual removal. Can someone identify and help me out. The cyano has been decreasing as I have adjusted my flow and nutrients. But this leafy stuff is stubborn. I am not sure if this is contamination from my sump. I used to have miracle mud and a macro of some sort; honestly cant remember as I removed it a few years ago.

Tank:
Salinity 1.026
Temp 77 F
Calc 380 ( working getting this up)
ALK 9.9 dkh
Mag 1260
Nitrate say 0 but i assume the algae is eating it.
nitrite 0 ammonia 0

 

[AdamD76]

A close up picture would help immensely

 

[Grimmj]

I can try and grab a better shot after work but here is a flashlight picture 10 days ago. You can see the leaf and stem on the blue box along with a little stem in the sand out front.

 

[Karen00]

I don't know about the algae but I love the TARDIS and is that the gate from Stargate? Where did you get the TARDIS?

 

[Grimmj]

I don't know about the algae but I love the TARDIS and is that the gate from Stargate? Where did you get the TARDIS?

Amazon

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Snag a pic when you get home under white lights and cloe up, but focused. We should be able to ID for ya, as I can tag some others who grow macros, like me, to help out if needed.

 

[G Santana]

IDK but that brittle star playing the role of Doctor Who is KILLER

 

[Eagle_Steve]

IDK but that brittle star playing the role of Doctor Who is KILLER

Its just "The Doctor" lol.

 

[Karen00]

IDK but that brittle star playing the role of Doctor Who is KILLER

That is hilarious. I didn't even see the star coming out the door. LOL

 

[Grimmj]

Snag a pic when you get home under white lights and cloe up, but focused. We should be able to ID for ya, as I can tag some others who grow macros, like me, to help out if needed.

Will do on the better pictures later, was working with what was in my phone at work.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Will do on the better pictures later, was working with what was in my phone at work.

No worries. Happy to help if we can.

 

[Grimmj]

Closeup under white

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Caulerpa and possibly caulpera prolifera. ( I am on my phone) so sort of hard to see, but is caulerpa of some sort.

@F i s h y @Subsea @WheatToast should be able to confirm which one for sure, as they may be on PCs.

No matter the one it is, in oder to remove, you must get all of the runners and all of the roots. Sometimes this requires a dental pick or similar to do. Others have had success with stuff like reef flux or similar. @dvgyfresh recently went through a massive annihilation of it, as it overran the tank.

Being as it is not that much, manual intervention now may prevent it from getting out of hand. Just got to be sure to get rotts and runners. Even taking rock out to do it is ok. You can also put a little perozide (3%) on the area where a runner was, let sit for 5 minutes and then rinse off in old tank water. This will kill any remnants that may be left behind, but will not hurt bacteria in all of rock or tank. Just need to do it out of tank and rinse with old tank water before putting back in.

 

[Grimmj]

Sounds like I'm in with the long tweezers. Not a big deal might look into reef flux to make sure it doesn't come back

 

[WheatToast]

Caulerpa and possibly caulpera prolifera. ( I am on my phone) so sort of hard to see, but is caulerpa of some sort.

@F i s h y @Subsea @WheatToast should be able to confirm which one for sure, as they may be on PCs.

No matter the one it is, in oder to remove, you must get all of the runners and all of the roots. Sometimes this requires a dental pick or similar to do. Others have had success with stuff like reef flux or similar. @dvgyfresh recently went through a massive annihilation of it, as it overran the tank.

Being as it is not that much, manual intervention now may prevent it from getting out of hand. Just got to be sure to get rotts and runners. Even taking rock out to do it is ok. You can also put a little perozide (3%) on the area where a runner was, let sit for 5 minutes and then rinse off in old tank water. This will kill any remnants that may be left behind, but will not hurt bacteria in all of rock or tank. Just need to do it out of tank and rinse with old tank water before putting back in.

I am leaning more towards Caulerpa brachypus or Caulerpa subserrata (featuring flattened blades like Caulerpa prolifera, but much smaller and slightly serrated). They can become a nuisance, but the Caulerpa brachypus I own has barely grown since I purchased it last September. They are also said to be great at nutrient uptake.


Caulerpa brachypus


Caulerpa subserrata

 

[dvgyfresh]

Yeeep that’s what I had!! I was removing a big freezer bag of it weekly manually! I was tired of doing this and reef flux worked like a charm

 

[Subsea]

Marine Plants in the Aquarium

macroalgae, marine plants, caulerpa, refugium substrate, marine macroalgae for sale

www.marineplantbook.com

This species of Caulerpa features small, irregular branched uprights with a series of flat serrated blades. It is fairly common in the aquarium trade and is often used as a nutrient exporter in the refugium. It is native to shallow water habitats, growing on small rocks and coral fragments. This smaller sized specimen is very hardy and will not grow too large in the aquarium. Somewhat palatable, it is mostly left alone due to its stiff composition.

 

[Subsea]

@Grimmj0b

I looked for a tank thread to better understand your comment of contaminant. I see nutrient recycling if you had herbivores to nibble.

If you don’t like, then pull it out. Whoever said to use reef flux is treading on thin ice. I see little science to back that up. This is what the manufacture says:

Reef Flux Fluconazole Treatment

Reef Flux is a fluconazole treatment that is effective against certain fungal fish infections. It contains no fillers or additives and is lab tested for purity. A notable side-effect of fluconazole is that it is extremely detrimental to bryopsis algae. Previously known as Algae Buster, Reef Flux...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Reef Flux is a fluconazole treatment that is effective against certain fungal fish infections. It contains no fillers or additives and is lab tested for purity. A notable side-effect of fluconazole is that it is extremely detrimental to bryopsis algae.

Previously known as Algae Buster, Reef Flux is an aquarium fluconazole treatment that is effective against fungal fish infections. To avoid unintended nutrient spikes it should not be used in tanks with refugiums that have Caulerpa and Bryopsis.



Note: Not effective against hair or other turf style algae.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

@Grimmj0b

I looked for a tank thread to better understand your comment of contaminant. I see nutrient recycling if you had herbivores to nibble.

If you don’t like, then pull it out. Whoever said to use reef flux is treading on thin ice. I see little science to back that up. This is what the manufacture says:

Reef Flux Fluconazole Treatment

Reef Flux is a fluconazole treatment that is effective against certain fungal fish infections. It contains no fillers or additives and is lab tested for purity. A notable side-effect of fluconazole is that it is extremely detrimental to bryopsis algae. Previously known as Algae Buster, Reef Flux...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Reef Flux is a fluconazole treatment that is effective against certain fungal fish infections. It contains no fillers or additives and is lab tested for purity. A notable side-effect of fluconazole is that it is extremely detrimental to bryopsis algae.

Previously known as Algae Buster, Reef Flux is an aquarium fluconazole treatment that is effective against fungal fish infections. To avoid unintended nutrient spikes it should not be used in tanks with refugiums that have Caulerpa and Bryopsis.



Note: Not effective against hair or other turf style algae.

That would be me walking on ice lol. Numerous individuals on here and ones I know personally (locally) have used it for Bryopsis and Caulerpa to eradicate it.

This is why it was mentioned as a secondary step, if needed. First step is always manual removal IMO, as I hate adding checmical to tanks. I do see a need for it sometimes, but usually as a last resort.

 

[F i s h y]

I am leaning more towards Caulerpa brachypus or Caulerpa subserrata (featuring flattened blades like Caulerpa prolifera, but much smaller and slightly serrated). They can become a nuisance, but the Caulerpa brachypus I own has barely grown since I purchased it last September. They are also said to be great at nutrient uptake.


Caulerpa brachypus


Caulerpa subserrata

I like the caulerpa brachypus identification. I think the removal part of the question has been answered.

Good catch on the serated blades.