What algae is this ? And what eat it ?

[SCiMMiA]

I am trying to find what this algae is for over a year.

I am guessing some kind of "turf" algae but I can't pinpoint it.

Also I would love to know what can eat this algae.

What does NOT eat it so far:
Yellow tang
Kole tang
Trochus snail
Hermit crab
Emerald crab (they did eat all my bubble algae)
Pincushion urchin

 

[WV Reefer]

I am trying to find what this algae is for over a year.

I am guessing some kind of "turf" algae but I can't pinpoint it.

Also I would love to know what can eat this algae.

What does NOT eat it so far:
Yellow tang
Kole tang
Trochus snail
Hermit crab
Emerald crab (they did eat all my bubble algae)
Pincushion urchin

look up Toadstool Algae, Cladophora prolifera.......looks very similar and seems to grow in the same way.

 

[SCiMMiA]

look up Toadstool Algae, Cladophora prolifera.......looks very similar and seems to grow in the same way.

Ohhhhh by searching for cladophora, I found Chlorodesmis !

The Turtle Weed - Whats That Fish!

Also known as the Green Algae. The Turtle Weed is found in the Indo-Pacific region growing up to 20cm in length. Found in clumps, over shallow waters, on slopes, terraces, and reef tops, of coral and rocky reefs. Looks like long grass. Length - 20cm...

www.whatsthatfish.com

The pictures of the species Chlorodesmis hildebrandtii seems to be pretty exactly what I have, at least by the look, I don't have a microscope.

What can eat this algae ?

 

[Alaeriel]

I think it looks pretty neat XD much nicer thank most nuisance algae do.

 

[SCiMMiA]

I think it looks pretty neat XD much nicer thank most nuisance algae do.

Yes it does not look bad at all.

BUT, it is starting to grow everywhere and it bothers corals when it grows near them.


I really need a fish or critter that can slowly eat this to keep it from taking over.

 

[Alaeriel]

Yes it does not look bad at all.

BUT, it is starting to grow everywhere and it bothers corals when it grows near them.


I really need a fish or critter that can slowly eat this to keep it from taking over.

Have you tried an urchin? They munch on nearly everything. And I love them. They wear hats.

 

[SCiMMiA]

Have you tried an urchin? They munch on nearly everything. And I love them. They wear hats.

Yes, as I wrote in my first post, I have 2 Pincushion urchin.
They don't touch this algae at all.

 

[Alaeriel]

Yes, as I wrote in my first post, I have 2 Pincushion urchin.
They don't touch this algae at all.

That you did! Sorry, lost track of which thread this was. How fast does it come back after manual removal?

 

[SMSREEF]

This info is from reefcleaners.
I like the way it looks, but I understand getting rid of it if you think it is spreading too fast.
I would try the manual removal with spot treatment of peroxide. Maybe try emerald crab too.


Green Turf Algae

What is known as "Green Turf Algae" in the hobby is really a generic name given to hundreds of different species of macroalgae that describe certain similar characteristics. They are coarse, wiry, and generally have thicker wider blades than Green Hair Algae. They may or may not have a mat like root structure, sometimes they just seem to sprout from the rock.

Turf algae that sprouts directly from the rock can be a pain to control, as it is difficult if not impossible to pluck it all. Once discovered it should be treated outside of the aquarium, perhaps by dipping the affected rock or frag in water treated with an algaecide.Turf algae that grows with a "root" mat can be peeled by pushing down on the algae as you scrape your thumb against the rock dislodging it in one swoop. Let it get big enough so you have leverage. The 3reef member who removed this piece did it perfectly.

Clean up Crew members that will eat Green Turf Algae include inverts with considerable cutting power like urchins, chitons, and emerald crabs.

 

[SCiMMiA]

This info is from reefcleaners.
I like the way it looks, but I understand getting rid of it if you think it is spreading too fast.
I would try the manual removal with spot treatment of peroxide. Maybe try emerald crab too.


Green Turf Algae

What is known as "Green Turf Algae" in the hobby is really a generic name given to hundreds of different species of macroalgae that describe certain similar characteristics. They are coarse, wiry, and generally have thicker wider blades than Green Hair Algae. They may or may not have a mat like root structure, sometimes they just seem to sprout from the rock.

Turf algae that sprouts directly from the rock can be a pain to control, as it is difficult if not impossible to pluck it all. Once discovered it should be treated outside of the aquarium, perhaps by dipping the affected rock or frag in water treated with an algaecide.Turf algae that grows with a "root" mat can be peeled by pushing down on the algae as you scrape your thumb against the rock dislodging it in one swoop. Let it get big enough so you have leverage. The 3reef member who removed this piece did it perfectly.

Clean up Crew members that will eat Green Turf Algae include inverts with considerable cutting power like urchins, chitons, and emerald crabs.

I have 3 emerald crab, they eat bubble algae but not this algae.
I have 2 pincushion urchin, they don't touch this algae.

 

[SCiMMiA]

That you did! Sorry, lost track of which thread this was. How fast does it come back after manual removal?

It does not grow VERY fast but, the last time I removed it manually, I let some foat and it did spread like wild fire

3 weeks ago, there was nothing on the rock in the second picture of my first post.

 

[SMSREEF]

I have 3 emerald crab, they eat bubble algae but not this algae.
I have 2 pincushion urchin, they don't touch this algae.

Then manual removal will be the key. Hopefully you can get some of the rocks out of the tank.
I doubt chitons will eat it if emeralds and urchins aren’t.
Sorry I missed the emeralds you posted about in original post.

 

[SliceGolfer]

Manually trim the algae. Try a few Gold Ring Cowries, or other Cowries.

 

[bwelch]

I am trying to find what this algae is for over a year.

I am guessing some kind of "turf" algae but I can't pinpoint it.

Also I would love to know what can eat this algae.

What does NOT eat it so far:
Yellow tang
Kole tang
Trochus snail
Hermit crab
Emerald crab (they did eat all my bubble algae)
Pincushion urchin

Get a sea hare and you can see it go

 

[SCiMMiA]

Get a sea hare and you can see it go

Ok but there is 1 million of different seahare, which one would eat this ?

 

[SCiMMiA]

Manually trim the algae. Try a few Gold Ring Cowries, or other Cowries.

I'll check my LFS if they can have gold ring cowries.

 

[Snoopdog]

I am trying to find what this algae is for over a year.

I am guessing some kind of "turf" algae but I can't pinpoint it.

Also I would love to know what can eat this algae.

What does NOT eat it so far:
Yellow tang
Kole tang
Trochus snail
Hermit crab
Emerald crab (they did eat all my bubble algae)
Pincushion urchin

I am curious, do you know how you got it? It might help to know how it came in, might could pinpoint the exact algae easier. If it came in on live rock, was it from the Gulf?

 

[spiraling]

Vibrant will kill turf algae in about 4 - 6 weeks.

 

[eric33014]

Following this post. I have same issue. Nothing in my tank will touch this stuff. Manual removal was a total fail and only propagated more spots where this crap is growing. Ive attached my a pic of my rocks. I had another thread going about this and people have recommended Vibrant. I have some coming via Amazon. Resorting to chemicals cause nothing wants to eat it. Unknown how it got into my tank but it did. Good luck.

 

[terraincognita]

true Margarita Snails (not Turbo or Astrea sold as Margarita) generally have eaten all types of Algae for me.

Also what type of Hermit crabs do you have? Some are pickier than others IME.

Scarlets are the least picky, but also I had a Halloween Hermit eat a Red Turf Algae none of the others would touch.

I always try to diversify even my hermit crew lol I get Scarlet, Blue Legs, Halloween, and any other little neat ones I can find when I'm shopping around.