What kind of algae is this?

[JasTheReefer]

I thought this was just part of new tank syndrome but this algae is not letting up. New to saltwater tanks, but my tank has been running for 5 months after the initial cycle. Any suggestions?

 

[JasTheReefer]

I already had a horrible diatom phase, next was cyano and gha, I got rid of cyano by increasing the flow in the tank and then I had some real long gha appear which eventually died back by itself, and now I have this just thick, loose green crap that is smothering some of my corals. I read no phosphates or nitrates. Do a 20% w/c bi weekly.

 

[Rubberfrog]

What do your no3 and po4 look like? Is this a small tank? If a larger tank, get your nutrients under control, pluck out what you can, and get a clean up crew in there.

 

[JasTheReefer]

What do your no3 and po4 look like? Is this a small tank? If a larger tank, get your nutrients under control, pluck out what you can, and get a clean up crew in there.

I read 0 phosphate and maybe 5 nitrate, it doesn’t even show up on either of my test kits. It’s a 75g, I have plucked and plucked and it comes back very quickly. I have mixed snails hermits, my recently added tang.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I read 0 phosphate and maybe 5 nitrate, it doesn’t even show up on either of my test kits. It’s a 75g, I have plucked and plucked and it comes back very quickly. I have mixed snails hermits, my recently added tang.

I think the algae is consuming all phosphate and nitrate making it seem at 0. I would buy some turbo snails, hermit crabs , emerald crab to help beat the algae. You can also buy a sea hare but have a plan to rehome once the algae is gone

 

[JasTheReefer]

I think the algae is consuming all phosphate and nitrate making it seem at 0. I would buy some turbo snails, hermit crabs , emerald crab to help beat the algae. You can also buy a sea hare but have a plan to rehome once the algae is gone

Don’t emerald crabs eat fish? I was already thinking of getting one but a lot of people say they will attack fish. I do plan on adding a bunch more of snails n more hermits. I don’t want to add anything to tank that won’t be happy n content in the tank or keep the peace. The only fish in the tank are 2 clowns, a engineer goby and a recently added blue eyed bristletooth tang.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Bryopsis. Once you lower nutrients you can start manual removal till coralline grows over

 

[dvgyfresh]

Don’t emerald crabs eat fish? I was already thinking of getting one but a lot of people say they will attack fish. I do plan on adding a bunch more of snails n more hermits. I don’t want to add anything to tank that won’t be happy n content in the tank or keep the peace. The only fish in the tank are 2 clowns, a engineer goby and a recently added blue eyed bristletooth tang.

I have 5 emerald crabs in a 40g and they have never been anything but peaceful. Just eat algae all day

 

[JasTheReefer]

Bryopsis. Once you lower nutrients you can start manual removal till coralline grows over

Coralline has started taking over parts, mainly in darker areas. 20% weekly?

 

[JasTheReefer]

I have 5 emerald crabs in a 40g and they have never been anything but peaceful. Just eat algae all day

Hm. Maybe I’ll give it a go, I don’t plan on heavily stocking so it would have plenty of room to wander too.

 

[JasTheReefer]

Would adding a hob refugium help outcompete the bryopsis?

 

[Rubberfrog]

As mentioned, your nutrients are low because the algae is consuming it all. It's hit or miss with emerald crabs. I would seriously up the clean crew to to stupid levels, and maybe get a few fish that eat algae in there. Pluck and trim it weekly. It's going to take a while to get it down.

 

[Rubberfrog]

Would adding a hob refugium help outcompete the bryopsis?

It wouldn't hurt

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Would adding a hob refugium help outcompete the bryopsis?

Yes it would, the big thing you want to focus on is lowering phosphates and nitrates. A fuge would do that, so would water changes. Their are many ways to manage nutrients, only you can decide which fits your needs best. But we can help inform you on how each works

 

[JasTheReefer]

As mentioned, your nutrients are low because the algae is consuming it all. It's hit or miss with emerald crabs. I would seriously up the clean crew to to stupid levels, and maybe get a few fish that eat algae in there. Pluck and trim it weekly. It's going to take a while to get it down.

Will be getting a bunch today? Is there certain snails that love this algae? I was thinking of adding a blenny to help as well which I’ve been wanting anyway. N will start doing 20% water changes weekly pluck and pull out as much as I can.

 

[JasTheReefer]

Yes it would, the big thing you want to focus on is lowering phosphates and nitrates. A fuge would do that, so would water changes. Their are many ways to manage nutrients, only you can decide which fits your needs best. But we can help inform you on how each works

I already have some red ogo I was adding to the main display to help with the algae a bit before my tang decides it tastes good while I figure out how I want to do a refugium. I’m thinking a hob but I also think maybe just as algae scrubber instead, i don’t know much about algae scrubbers though.

 

[JasTheReefer]

Do you think it’s possible to take the lid off the top of my hob filter and grow chaeto ontop?

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Do you think it’s possible to take the lid off the top of my hob filter and grow chaeto ontop?

The chaeto might grow weird in there, stringy instead of a compact ball because of the flow pattern in your hob. The Algae turf scrubber or ATS works by growing micro algae similar to bryopsis but instead the goal is to grow Green Hair Algae or GHA.

 

[JasTheReefer]

The chaeto might grow weird in there, stringy instead of a compact ball because of the flow pattern in your hob. The Algae turf scrubber or ATS works by growing micro algae similar to bryopsis but instead the goal is to grow Green Hair Algae or GHA.

Is there a different kind of macro that could work better ontop?

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Is there a different kind of macro that could work better ontop?

Yes but cheato is a powerhouse in comparison. There are many macros that are appealing in a reef display. If you decide on this route, I would find a type that looks appealing to me and place it directly in the display, if you don’t have tangs to bother them.