White Hair Algae

[RGoltz]

I have quite a bit of what appears to be a white hair algae growing in the shaded areas of my aquascape. I recently had some general hair algae but this has been cleaned up with quite a few snails (~40 snails in a 4”x2” tank).

I’m pretty sure this is algae and not bacteria because under a microscope I believe that I can see a couple of small chloroplast.

The snails will not touch this stuff. Either they don’t like it or they are just lazy, IDK. So, what to do?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pitiferan sponge and filamentous sponge

 

[RGoltz]

Pitiferan sponge and filamentous sponge

It’s always something, isn’t it? I’ve attached a video here just in case movement aids in confirming the identification.

I should add that the tank is currently fallow and I’ve been attempting to maintain some nutrients with a combination of broadcast feeding and dosing nitrate+phosphate. The tank parameters are:

NO3 : 5
PO4 : 0.03
PH : 8.1
MG : 1420
CA : 430
ALK : 8.4

I have been using Oyster Feast as part of the broadcast feeding. So if this is a sponge I can eliminate that. What else should I possibly address now, and what additional recourse if this continues to spread?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like derbesia which is a filamentous algae but also very similar to calcareous sponge.
The best course of battle is to remove rock abd scrub with a small dish brush or firm totthbrush, rinse and return rock to the tank.
Add some chemipure blue or elite which will help control the nutrients that are likely feeding this stuff

 

[RGoltz]

Looks like derbesia which is a filamentous algae but also very similar to calcareous sponge.
The best course of battle is to remove rock abd scrub with a small dish brush or firm totthbrush, rinse and return rock to the tank.
Add some chemipure blue or elite which will help control the nutrients that are likely feeding this stuff

Always something... Will something like Vibrant help here?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Always something... Will something like Vibrant help here?

It may but would be a gamble

 

[RGoltz]

It may but would be a gamble

Hmmmmmmmm

I’m going to sleep on this one. If the lack of chloroplasts is any indicator the algae may already be pretty weak. I *think* I may be willing to try the Vibrant and if slows the progression over the next two weeks I’ll proceed. If not, as you said, it’s time to get to work!

Either way, I will make sure that I post the exciting conclusion here so that maybe someone else will find this useful.

Thank you for the help!

 

[RGoltz]

I have been dividing the weekly recommended dose of Vibrant and applying this 1/2 dose twice weekly. The white hair algae that had been growing in shaded areas is ~90% gone. This is after three doses. I cannot say for certain that the Vibrant resolved the issue but it does seem to be going away.

I also have some Ulva growing in the tank. This started on the rocks and a few emerald crabs solved that issue.. Now it just seems to grow loose in the sand. As an experiment I will continue some light dose of Vibrant and see if it helps with this..