What is this and how do i get rid of it?

reefman77 · 02/16/2009, 12:51 PM

My tank has recently been taken over by these two varietys of macro algae. ive tryed to pull it all ub but it always grows back. what is this stuff and how can i get rid of it for good?

Sorry for the bad picture. this kind is long and stringy. some pieces are over a foot long.

Thanks

MikePowell · 02/16/2009, 01:00 PM

It looks like some type of caulerpa. Have you tried natural predation?

reefman77 · 02/16/2009, 01:05 PM

no. what would you suggest?

Peter Eichler · 02/16/2009, 01:16 PM

Looks like you have a few different types of algae going on in there... The most prominent is Halimeda sp. though. It's usually not a nuisance like caulerpa can be and is a calcerous so make sure to monitor your levels if you like it. The caulerpa on the other hand can get out of control and become a real problem. Caulerpa is the stuff that's creeping along the rocks and rooting almost like a vine.

Here's a good article about Halimeda...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/index.php

duane9 · 02/16/2009, 01:20 PM

could it possible be Sargassum fluitans

here is a good site to help identify different algae

http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest.../algaepage.htm

Jenisiz · 02/16/2009, 01:25 PM

Not sure on the first...Halimeda on the second. I wouldn't really call Halimeda a nusicance as much as I would an ornamental algea.

Anemonebuff · 02/16/2009, 01:29 PM

The first is caulerpa and the flat ones in the second is halimeda.

reefman77 · 02/16/2009, 02:31 PM

does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of either kind. i know the halimeda is suppose to be decorative but it is getting out of control and is taking away from the rest of the tank.

returnofsid · 02/16/2009, 03:06 PM

Halimeda can be pruned back on a regular basis to keep it in control. If you have good calcium levels, it'll grow quite fast though. It actually used to be used as an indicator of calcium levels, before good test kits were available. It used to be said that if you got 1 plate of growth per day, your calcium level was great.

Caulerpa is a totally different story. It's very invasive and takes a lot of work to rid your tank of it. Manual removal is about the only method, other than having a fish that eats it, like members of the Rabbit fish family or Tangs.

I actually feed all my Rabbit fish Grape Caulerpa at times. I never worry about it getting a foothold in my display tanks because they LOVE IT!!

supervdl · 02/16/2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemonebuff
The first is caulerpa and the flat ones in the second is halimeda.

I agree with this.

supervdl · 02/16/2009, 03:27 PM

Your tank is good enough for a Rabbitfish or a tang. They will take care of the Caulerpa and the Halimeda likely requires pruning by hand. An urchin might eat them both but might nip at other stuff in your tank.

02/16/2009, 12:51 PM	#1
reefman77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: naperville, IL Posts: 729	What is this and how do i get rid of it? My tank has recently been taken over by these two varietys of macro algae. ive tryed to pull it all ub but it always grows back. what is this stuff and how can i get rid of it for good? Sorry for the bad picture. this kind is long and stringy. some pieces are over a foot long. Thanks

02/16/2009, 01:16 PM	#4
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	Looks like you have a few different types of algae going on in there... The most prominent is Halimeda sp. though. It's usually not a nuisance like caulerpa can be and is a calcerous so make sure to monitor your levels if you like it. The caulerpa on the other hand can get out of control and become a real problem. Caulerpa is the stuff that's creeping along the rocks and rooting almost like a vine. Here's a good article about Halimeda... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/index.php __________________ April 2015 TOTM

02/16/2009, 01:20 PM	#5
duane9 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlantic City NJ Posts: 181	could it possible be Sargassum fluitans here is a good site to help identify different algae http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest.../algaepage.htm __________________ 75 gallon in wall display, 40 gallon refug., 8x54w T5's Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef, 25 gallon refug, 8x 54w T5 Lites, Skimmer, GFO/Carbon Reactor

02/16/2009, 03:27 PM	#11
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	Your tank is good enough for a Rabbitfish or a tang. They will take care of the Caulerpa and the Halimeda likely requires pruning by hand. An urchin might eat them both but might nip at other stuff in your tank. __________________ 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

02/16/2009, 01:00 PM	#2
MikePowell Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 1,141	It looks like some type of caulerpa. Have you tried natural predation?

02/16/2009, 01:05 PM	#3
reefman77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: naperville, IL Posts: 729	no. what would you suggest?

02/16/2009, 01:25 PM	#6
Jenisiz Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Somewhere over the Rainbow... Posts: 235	Not sure on the first...Halimeda on the second. I wouldn't really call Halimeda a nusicance as much as I would an ornamental algea.

02/16/2009, 01:29 PM	#7
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	The first is caulerpa and the flat ones in the second is halimeda.

02/16/2009, 02:31 PM	#8
reefman77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: naperville, IL Posts: 729	does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of either kind. i know the halimeda is suppose to be decorative but it is getting out of control and is taking away from the rest of the tank.

02/16/2009, 03:06 PM	#9
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Halimeda can be pruned back on a regular basis to keep it in control. If you have good calcium levels, it'll grow quite fast though. It actually used to be used as an indicator of calcium levels, before good test kits were available. It used to be said that if you got 1 plate of growth per day, your calcium level was great. Caulerpa is a totally different story. It's very invasive and takes a lot of work to rid your tank of it. Manual removal is about the only method, other than having a fish that eats it, like members of the Rabbit fish family or Tangs. I actually feed all my Rabbit fish Grape Caulerpa at times. I never worry about it getting a foothold in my display tanks because they LOVE IT!!