Reef tank forest

JJHHHJTH · 03/12/2007, 05:53 PM

I have a 46-gallon tank that has been running for 10 weeks and I have 50 pounds of Fiji live rock. My reef tank seems to be becoming a forest. I have what I think is a plant or some kind of algae growing out of control. I have a clean up crew of Crabs and snails. I also tried getting a Yellow Tang and they are not interested in eating any of it either. Is there anything I can get that would eat it, or should I just start pulling it out? Thank you!

jwithem26 · 03/12/2007, 05:57 PM

If it is hair algae then get a sea hair it will mow it down.

JJHHHJTH · 03/12/2007, 06:06 PM

I am sure it is not hair algae. I tried to attach a picture but it did not work out. I have tried to attach a .pdf this time.

Salamander · 03/12/2007, 06:06 PM

parameters?

probably due to high nutrients. try to get them under control to solve your problem

jamynsdad · 03/12/2007, 06:19 PM

Does it look like "romaine lettuce" growing off the rock from a "spore"? My fiji rock started growing this off. I'm pretty sure it was a macroalgae of some kind. If it is, my emerald crab took care of it.

JJHHHJTH · 03/12/2007, 06:26 PM

Yes, that is exactly what it looks like and yes, it grew from a spore. I may have to get a few of those emerald crabs because there is a lot of it. Thank you.

ReefWreak · 03/12/2007, 06:46 PM

Remember to do lots of waterchanges while it's being eaten up, or it'll just grow back once it passes through the crab. And don't buy too many crabs that they'll start starving once the nusince algae is gone...

Fast Eddie H · 03/12/2007, 07:26 PM

Sounds like Caluerpa

JJHHHJTH · 03/12/2007, 08:31 PM

I down loaded a picture of it in the photo gallary area.

supervdl · 03/12/2007, 09:45 PM

It looks more like some kind of brown algae. I am sure sea urchins and certain tangs are eating it, but your size tank eliminates pretty much those tang choices like Naso etc. Try an urchin.

melev · 03/12/2007, 09:56 PM

That looks like Sargassum to me. Here's a picture of some for you to compare against:

Like any algae, manual removal is the first step toward a solution.

JJHHHJTH · 03/14/2007, 11:37 AM

After researching it more and comparing your picture to my tank, and to other pictures on the Internet I am confident that it Sargassum. I will make an effort to remove it manually, but is there any thing I can put in my tank that will assist? Thanks for your help.

sunfish11 · 03/14/2007, 12:20 PM

Remove it and trade it at your LFS for credit or trade with other reefers for refuge macro.

HowardW · 03/14/2007, 12:50 PM

It's been my experience that the large Mexican Turbo Snails will eagerly eat that algae. They really seem to enjoy the various red and brown macros, but won't touch the green ones.

03/12/2007, 05:53 PM	#1
JJHHHJTH Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18	Reef tank forest I have a 46-gallon tank that has been running for 10 weeks and I have 50 pounds of Fiji live rock. My reef tank seems to be becoming a forest. I have what I think is a plant or some kind of algae growing out of control. I have a clean up crew of Crabs and snails. I also tried getting a Yellow Tang and they are not interested in eating any of it either. Is there anything I can get that would eat it, or should I just start pulling it out? Thank you!

03/12/2007, 06:06 PM	#4
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	parameters? probably due to high nutrients. try to get them under control to solve your problem __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

03/12/2007, 07:26 PM	#8
Fast Eddie H Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 112	Sounds like Caluerpa __________________ Not all who wander are lost

03/12/2007, 09:45 PM	#10
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	It looks more like some kind of brown algae. I am sure sea urchins and certain tangs are eating it, but your size tank eliminates pretty much those tang choices like Naso etc. Try an urchin. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

03/14/2007, 12:50 PM	#14
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	It's been my experience that the large Mexican Turbo Snails will eagerly eat that algae. They really seem to enjoy the various red and brown macros, but won't touch the green ones. __________________ Florida live rock addict

03/12/2007, 05:57 PM	#2
jwithem26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ohio Posts: 81	If it is hair algae then get a sea hair it will mow it down.

03/12/2007, 06:19 PM	#5
jamynsdad Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 160	Does it look like "romaine lettuce" growing off the rock from a "spore"? My fiji rock started growing this off. I'm pretty sure it was a macroalgae of some kind. If it is, my emerald crab took care of it.

03/12/2007, 06:26 PM	#6
JJHHHJTH Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18	Yes, that is exactly what it looks like and yes, it grew from a spore. I may have to get a few of those emerald crabs because there is a lot of it. Thank you.

03/12/2007, 06:46 PM	#7
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Remember to do lots of waterchanges while it's being eaten up, or it'll just grow back once it passes through the crab. And don't buy too many crabs that they'll start starving once the nusince algae is gone...

03/12/2007, 08:31 PM	#9
JJHHHJTH Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18	I down loaded a picture of it in the photo gallary area.

03/12/2007, 09:56 PM	#11
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	That looks like Sargassum to me. Here's a picture of some for you to compare against: Like any algae, manual removal is the first step toward a solution.

03/14/2007, 11:37 AM	#12
JJHHHJTH Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18	After researching it more and comparing your picture to my tank, and to other pictures on the Internet I am confident that it Sargassum. I will make an effort to remove it manually, but is there any thing I can put in my tank that will assist? Thanks for your help.

03/14/2007, 12:20 PM	#13
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	Remove it and trade it at your LFS for credit or trade with other reefers for refuge macro.