What type of algae is this and will tangs devour it?

Charles4400 · Nov 13, 2017

I'll take this over hair algae any day, kind of cool in a way, and they are surprising easy to remove. Looks kind of like lettuce leaves.

I'm letting it grow for now if tangs will happily feast on it. I'm waiting for my tangs to get in stock, but don't know when that will be.

Relatively new tank at about 7 weeks old, what do you think?

mtraylor · Nov 13, 2017

By all means. I'm not the tang police, but if I were you....I wouldn't put tangs in a 7 week old aquarium unless you are an experienced reefer.
Now it does look like reef lettuce algae.

Zack K · Nov 13, 2017

Lawnmower Blenny would be a better choice for a fish this early on IMO

Charles4400 · Nov 13, 2017

Thanks I'll look into the algae more, looks like tangs will love it.

Yes 7 weeks doesn't sound too long for this tank but it's ready for some tangs. It's a 180 (more like 150 actually with actual display area) with about 175 lbs if live rock in it. (Good live rock with real life from Tbs and lr&r ) The thing cycled in less than 2 weeks, and that's no exaggeration!

Params have been pretty darn steady for the last month as well. Pretty sure the range will like place.

There is even a small bta hitchiker that I found in a rock, kind of bleached but it's alive and eating! (Actually he is in an inconvenient spot in a base rock with a giant Aussie toadstool over it blocking all it's
Light but will see if the bta decides to move).

KIRBLIT · Nov 13, 2017

Charles4400 said:
Thanks I'll look into the algae more, looks like tangs will love it.

Yes 7 weeks doesn't sound too long for this tank but it's ready for some tangs. It's a 180 (more like 150 actually with actual display area) with about 175 lbs if live rock in it. (Good live rock with real life from Tbs and lr&r ) The thing cycled in less than 2 weeks, and that's no exaggeration!

Params have been pretty darn steady for the last month as well. Pretty sure the range will like place.

There is even a small bta hitchiker that I found in a rock, kind of bleached but it's alive and eating! (Actually he is in an inconvenient spot in a base rock with a giant Aussie toadstool over it blocking all it's
Light but will see if the bta decides to move).

I'm always weary when people say BTA hitchiker, more than likely it's a mojano nem and you don't want them. Look into it some and see it that's what it is. Get rid of it asap if that's what it is.

Charles4400 · Nov 13, 2017

KIRBLIT said:
I'm always weary when people say BTA hitchiker, more than likely it's a mojano nem and you don't want them. Look into it some and see it that's what it is. Get rid of it asap if that's what it is.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hitchhiker-giant-aphasia-or-bta.335238/#post-4170354

I was thinking that at first too, tell me what you think.

Maritimer · Nov 13, 2017

The algae is Ulva, which is sometimes called sea lettuce.

Not uncommon, especially in newer tanks. I had it for a while in my 65, and it's all over the shores of Long Island Sound - at least on the Connecticut side!

~Bruce

Charles4400 · Nov 13, 2017

Thanks Bruce, actually glad that's what it is. Its' only on 2 large rocks and they are accessible so I can remove them if needed.

Algae barn I think sells this stuff and from my understanding tangs eat ulva algae.

(Btw I'm not getting tangs for the purpose of getting rid of the algae, I'm actually purposefully not removing the algae in anticipation of getting tangs!)

DanConnor · Nov 13, 2017

If you were looking to get rid of it, urchins would do the job.

KIRBLIT · Nov 13, 2017

Charles4400 said:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hitchhiker-giant-aphasia-or-bta.335238/#post-4170354

I was thinking that at first too, tell me what you think.

Hard to tell 100%. If your live rock was not submerged in water when you got it I would say majano for sure. Good nems rarely survive the trip with the wet newspaper shipping of moist dry rock. You can wait for others to chime in though I'm Def no expert, but I have seen alot of people think they are BTA.

Charles4400 · Nov 13, 2017

Tbs actually ships their rock in water (it came from tbs rock) but someone on the other thread said nems are from the Pacific and not Atlantic. Tbs is based in FL so definitely not Pacific rock.

Haven' done more research on it though...

KIRBLIT · Nov 13, 2017

Charles4400 said:
Tbs actually ships their rock in water (it came from tbs rock) but someone on the other thread said nems are from the Pacific and not Atlantic. Tbs is based in FL so definitely not Pacific rock.

Haven' done more research on it though...

Interesting they ship it in water, I did not know that. As for the Atlantic vs pacific thing I have no idea to be honest. I do know alot of people get good and bad hitchhikers from Tampa Bay saltwater though so it could go either way. If anything I would keep a very close eye on it until you are 100% sure what it is. Just don't mess with it at all until you know, don't even look at it funny. If you cut it or mess with it at all you may end up with many more and that's not a good way to positively ID it!

Charles4400 · Nov 14, 2017

KIRBLIT said:
Interesting they ship it in water, I did not know that. As for the Atlantic vs pacific thing I have no idea to be honest. I do know alot of people get good and bad hitchhikers from Tampa Bay saltwater though so it could go either way. If anything I would keep a very close eye on it until you are 100% sure what it is. Just don't mess with it at all until you know, don't even look at it funny. If you cut it or mess with it at all you may end up with many more and that's not a good way to positively ID it!

Roger that. I'll stop feeding it then!
Its actually looking less bubbly these past few days since my toadstool leather opened a little higher above it blocking alot of light... well if it turns out to be aphasia, mojano ive got a bottle of aiptasia x ready.