algae on Polyp

adeliel · 05/23/2007, 07:46 PM

I recently bought my first coral but I did have some algae on my LR and sandbed. My polyps only semi opened but now they are closed and have some brownish algae on them. What should I do? I don't want my Polyps to die.

Avi · 05/23/2007, 08:01 PM

Use a turkey baster to blast water over the polyps, which I guess are zoanthids of some kind. Blast the water all over them and do your best to break up and blow off the "brownish algae" on them. Don't worry about hurting them...they can take as strong a blasting as you can give them. Do this a few times a day. This kind of thing suggests that increasing the flow in your reef significantly is something to consider.

adeliel · 05/23/2007, 08:04 PM

I do have really good flow, two maxi jet 1200 and two other lesser maxi jet power heads in a 45-50g. It's just a nuisance bloom cause i don't have RO water, just skimming right now.

adeliel · 05/23/2007, 08:12 PM

Avi, thanks man...i just blasted that ****. And perfecto...looks so much better. I want that baby to survive this algae bloom. What should i do to get rid of that brown ****?

adeliel · 05/23/2007, 08:13 PM

and yes..they are some kind of purplish zoas...

drummereef · 05/23/2007, 08:45 PM

The brown stuff is most likely diatoms. They feed off of silica introduced from the water source. The only way I've beaten them is from using RO/DI water with 0 TDS. I would either invest in a RO/DI unit or find another source for pure water.

adeliel · 05/23/2007, 09:15 PM

yeah honeslty...I wish it was that easy getting a RO/DI unit. But i will try to invest in one.

Avi · 05/23/2007, 09:33 PM

I'd have to agree that it could well be diatoms. If it is, then you surely don't have strong enough flow. from what you've said, adeliel, you most likely have something like 17X or 18X the 45-50-gallons of your tank. There are reefers that believe this is enough, but I think that closer to 30X is preferable. If it is diatoms and you can't get a good RO/DI unit right now, you might want to get a reactor and run Rowaphos or some other good phosphate removing medium in it...they also remove silicates, which, like drummereef noted, diatoms thrive on.

In any event, keep using that turkey baster and you have a good chance of keeping those zoanthids alive.

drummereef · 05/23/2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adeliel
yeah honeslty...I wish it was that easy getting a RO/DI unit. But i will try to invest in one.

Look into www.thefilterguys.biz They have a really nice unit for 160 bucks. If you have more of a budget get the Spectrapure MaxCap.

05/23/2007, 07:46 PM	#1
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	algae on Polyp I recently bought my first coral but I did have some algae on my LR and sandbed. My polyps only semi opened but now they are closed and have some brownish algae on them. What should I do? I don't want my Polyps to die.

05/23/2007, 08:01 PM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Use a turkey baster to blast water over the polyps, which I guess are zoanthids of some kind. Blast the water all over them and do your best to break up and blow off the "brownish algae" on them. Don't worry about hurting them...they can take as strong a blasting as you can give them. Do this a few times a day. This kind of thing suggests that increasing the flow in your reef significantly is something to consider. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

05/23/2007, 08:45 PM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	The brown stuff is most likely diatoms. They feed off of silica introduced from the water source. The only way I've beaten them is from using RO/DI water with 0 TDS. I would either invest in a RO/DI unit or find another source for pure water. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/23/2007, 09:33 PM	#8
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I'd have to agree that it could well be diatoms. If it is, then you surely don't have strong enough flow. from what you've said, adeliel, you most likely have something like 17X or 18X the 45-50-gallons of your tank. There are reefers that believe this is enough, but I think that closer to 30X is preferable. If it is diatoms and you can't get a good RO/DI unit right now, you might want to get a reactor and run Rowaphos or some other good phosphate removing medium in it...they also remove silicates, which, like drummereef noted, diatoms thrive on. In any event, keep using that turkey baster and you have a good chance of keeping those zoanthids alive. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

05/23/2007, 08:04 PM	#3
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	I do have really good flow, two maxi jet 1200 and two other lesser maxi jet power heads in a 45-50g. It's just a nuisance bloom cause i don't have RO water, just skimming right now.

05/23/2007, 08:12 PM	#4
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	Avi, thanks man...i just blasted that **. And perfecto...looks so much better. I want that baby to survive this algae bloom. What should i do to get rid of that brown **?

05/23/2007, 08:13 PM	#5
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	and yes..they are some kind of purplish zoas...

05/23/2007, 09:15 PM	#7
adeliel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 190	yeah honeslty...I wish it was that easy getting a RO/DI unit. But i will try to invest in one.