How do I control

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 12:01 PM

I have a slight algae problem from some rocks donated to me. They have some nice mushrooms and yumas growing on them.

Below is a picture of the algae. I am not sure what kind it is or how to get rid of it. Please help!

In this 55 gallon tank I have about 90 pounds of live rock, 25 pounds of live sand. Various soft corals and a few lps. Fish include a lawnmower blenny and goby.

Params:

Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
alk 180
ph 7.6
amm 0

RicGio · 10/27/2007, 12:22 PM

a tang would probably make short work of that. A yellow or a Hippo perhaps?

LobsterOfJustice · 10/27/2007, 12:22 PM

I would use a razorblade to cut the mushrooms of that rock, then reatach them somewhere else and toss the rock out.

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 12:37 PM

Getting rid of the rock is not an option at this point. I need some suggestions for creatures that will eat this stuff. Sometimes I see my emerald crabs munching on it...

My 55 is too small for a tang, unless I get a small one.

JM68 · 10/27/2007, 12:41 PM

I have the same stuff and i can't get rid of it. Even leaving the lights off for a few days doesn't seem to phase it. I usually just pick off as much as i can when i do my water changes. I have heard that a foxface will eat it and thats about it. I guess its not a very tasty algea. My buddy has it in his tank to and his hippo tang won't touch it.

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 12:44 PM

Yeah I need to get it from spreading, it is rather invasive.

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 01:21 PM

Well I pulled out the two rocks and scrubbed them down, probably tearing up some mushrooms in the process.

I got most of the stuff off and then hosed it down. It sure looks at lot better now.

I am just afraid it will just spread all over again.

RicGio · 10/27/2007, 01:21 PM

Forgot about a foxface. I had one in my 40L he did a nice job. Highly recommended.

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 01:43 PM

Can I just rent a herd of them to graze through my tank for a week?

Anyways, here is a shot of the middle of my tank:

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 03:04 PM

How much does a foxface usually cost from your LFS, will they get too big for my 55 tank?

aaron L · 10/27/2007, 03:56 PM

Also look in to a starry blenny. Mine is great at cleaning my unwanted algea up

Logzor · 10/27/2007, 04:17 PM

Yeah my lawnmower eats a lot of algae but only if it is very short. The longer stuff that has had significant growth he does not care for.

aaron L · 10/27/2007, 04:25 PM

A lawnmower eats micro algea. A starry blennie eats hair algea and other types that a lawnmower will not eat.

Reef'in Colorado · 10/27/2007, 06:25 PM

I second the foxface suggestion, or some other rabbitfish. They have a voracious appetite and my blue and gold line rabbit even eats bubble algae.

Craig Lambert · 10/27/2007, 06:44 PM

That looks like Sargassam. Nothing will eat it. If it's sargassam it's pretty easy to pull the individual strands off the rock. It may grow back a few times, but in time it won't continue to grow at all. Usually if a tank is a year old, it won't have sargassam anymore.

10/27/2007, 12:01 PM	#1
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	How do I control I have a slight algae problem from some rocks donated to me. They have some nice mushrooms and yumas growing on them. Below is a picture of the algae. I am not sure what kind it is or how to get rid of it. Please help! In this 55 gallon tank I have about 90 pounds of live rock, 25 pounds of live sand. Various soft corals and a few lps. Fish include a lawnmower blenny and goby. Params: Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0 alk 180 ph 7.6 amm 0

10/27/2007, 12:22 PM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I would use a razorblade to cut the mushrooms of that rock, then reatach them somewhere else and toss the rock out. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

10/27/2007, 01:43 PM	#9
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Can I just rent a herd of them to graze through my tank for a week? Anyways, here is a shot of the middle of my tank: Last edited by Logzor; 10/27/2007 at 01:50 PM.

10/27/2007, 03:56 PM	#11
aaron L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Watauga Texas Posts: 110	Also look in to a starry blenny. Mine is great at cleaning my unwanted algea up __________________ 175 gallon bowfront, halides and coral Current Tank Info: 175 bowfront

10/27/2007, 04:25 PM	#13
aaron L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Watauga Texas Posts: 110	A lawnmower eats micro algea. A starry blennie eats hair algea and other types that a lawnmower will not eat. __________________ 175 gallon bowfront, halides and coral Current Tank Info: 175 bowfront

10/27/2007, 12:22 PM	#2
RicGio Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 658	a tang would probably make short work of that. A yellow or a Hippo perhaps?

10/27/2007, 12:37 PM	#4
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Getting rid of the rock is not an option at this point. I need some suggestions for creatures that will eat this stuff. Sometimes I see my emerald crabs munching on it... My 55 is too small for a tang, unless I get a small one.

10/27/2007, 12:41 PM	#5
JM68 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 658	I have the same stuff and i can't get rid of it. Even leaving the lights off for a few days doesn't seem to phase it. I usually just pick off as much as i can when i do my water changes. I have heard that a foxface will eat it and thats about it. I guess its not a very tasty algea. My buddy has it in his tank to and his hippo tang won't touch it.

10/27/2007, 12:44 PM	#6
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Yeah I need to get it from spreading, it is rather invasive.

10/27/2007, 01:21 PM	#7
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Well I pulled out the two rocks and scrubbed them down, probably tearing up some mushrooms in the process. I got most of the stuff off and then hosed it down. It sure looks at lot better now. I am just afraid it will just spread all over again.

10/27/2007, 03:04 PM	#10
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	How much does a foxface usually cost from your LFS, will they get too big for my 55 tank?

10/27/2007, 04:17 PM	#12
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Yeah my lawnmower eats a lot of algae but only if it is very short. The longer stuff that has had significant growth he does not care for.

10/27/2007, 06:25 PM	#14
Reef'in Colorado Reefer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Frederick, Co. Posts: 934	I second the foxface suggestion, or some other rabbitfish. They have a voracious appetite and my blue and gold line rabbit even eats bubble algae.

10/27/2007, 06:44 PM	#15
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	That looks like Sargassam. Nothing will eat it. If it's sargassam it's pretty easy to pull the individual strands off the rock. It may grow back a few times, but in time it won't continue to grow at all. Usually if a tank is a year old, it won't have sargassam anymore. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic