ID please green grass

borntoride_98 · 11/01/2011, 11:29 AM

I have this green grass stuff taking over all my corals and live rock. What is it and what kills it or eats it?

cloak · 11/01/2011, 11:39 AM

It looks kind of like caulerpa brachypus. As far as getting rid of it goes, manual removal is probably your best bet.

Sk8r · 11/01/2011, 11:46 AM

If it is limited to one rock, take that rock out. You'll thank us later. Better to replace the rocks than allow that stuff to spread.

borntoride_98 · 11/01/2011, 12:31 PM

yes I have found it spreads fast, it is on several of my live rock, and seems to be killing my corals. So will try to get it off.

thegrun · 11/01/2011, 12:39 PM

It's nearly impossible to remove, every little root fragment left behind will sprout a new plant. That is why Sk8r recommends its removal IE: throw it in the trash. You also have a major bubble algae outbreak to complicate matters. High magnesium levels (1500+) using Kent TechM has been reported to slow its growth and even kill it off over an extended period of time. IMHO it would be less expensive to frag as many corals off the infected rock as possible and then throw the infected rock away.

Dustin1300 · 11/01/2011, 02:23 PM

Something is feeding the algae. High nutrients is usually the problem. Some steps that can help:

1) Black out period with no lighting for a couple days and cover with blanket
2) Manually remove as much as possible
3) Test Phosphates, ensure source RO/RODI water has low TDS (prefer 0)

I like running a phosphate reactor to remove phosphates and also having a fuge with a macro algae in it that will consume all the nutrients the algae feeds off of and then less likely to have algae outbreak in DT.

cloak · 11/01/2011, 04:18 PM

It might be a little tedious, (every week/biweekly) but I would much rather remove as much as you can right before a water change than throwing a bunch of rocks in the trash. There's going to be alot of life lost with this method. (algae aside) It's actually quite beautiful IMO, it's just needs to be manicured a little.

borntoride_98 · 11/03/2011, 03:17 PM

I was told that a yellow tang might eat this. Anyone else think so?

cloak · 11/03/2011, 04:00 PM

Possibly, but adding a tang might not be the best thing to do as far as algae control goes. How big is your tank?

borntoride_98 · 11/03/2011, 04:04 PM

55 know it is small tor a tang, but only 4 fish in there at the moment bur plan on getting 2 emerald crabs and sixline wrasse this weekend crabs for bubble algae and wrasse for bristle worms

cloak · 11/03/2011, 04:18 PM

Bristleworms are cool. They're a great part of your CUC. I wouldn't add a tang though. Your tank is a little too small for it and that would really suck if it didn't eat that algae. Manual removal is probably your best bet.

borntoride_98 · 11/03/2011, 04:23 PM

what about emerald crabs for bubble algae

cloak · 11/03/2011, 04:37 PM

It's hit & miss. Some people have had great success with them, but I didn't. They didn't seem to pay no mind to the bubble algae that I had but my zoanthids started to look funny right after. (closed) I got rid of it. There real easy to catch though, so give it a try. If it doesn't take, just remove as many of those bubbles as you can right before a water change. You can get rid of them faster then they can reappear. GL.

11/01/2011, 11:46 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If it is limited to one rock, take that rock out. You'll thank us later. Better to replace the rocks than allow that stuff to spread. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/01/2011, 02:23 PM	#6
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Something is feeding the algae. High nutrients is usually the problem. Some steps that can help: 1) Black out period with no lighting for a couple days and cover with blanket 2) Manually remove as much as possible 3) Test Phosphates, ensure source RO/RODI water has low TDS (prefer 0) I like running a phosphate reactor to remove phosphates and also having a fuge with a macro algae in it that will consume all the nutrients the algae feeds off of and then less likely to have algae outbreak in DT. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

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11/01/2011, 11:39 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It looks kind of like caulerpa brachypus. As far as getting rid of it goes, manual removal is probably your best bet.

11/01/2011, 12:31 PM	#4
borntoride_98 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 34	yes I have found it spreads fast, it is on several of my live rock, and seems to be killing my corals. So will try to get it off.

11/01/2011, 12:39 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It's nearly impossible to remove, every little root fragment left behind will sprout a new plant. That is why Sk8r recommends its removal IE: throw it in the trash. You also have a major bubble algae outbreak to complicate matters. High magnesium levels (1500+) using Kent TechM has been reported to slow its growth and even kill it off over an extended period of time. IMHO it would be less expensive to frag as many corals off the infected rock as possible and then throw the infected rock away.

11/01/2011, 04:18 PM	#7
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It might be a little tedious, (every week/biweekly) but I would much rather remove as much as you can right before a water change than throwing a bunch of rocks in the trash. There's going to be alot of life lost with this method. (algae aside) It's actually quite beautiful IMO, it's just needs to be manicured a little.

11/03/2011, 03:17 PM	#8
borntoride_98 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 34	I was told that a yellow tang might eat this. Anyone else think so?

11/03/2011, 04:00 PM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Possibly, but adding a tang might not be the best thing to do as far as algae control goes. How big is your tank?

11/03/2011, 04:04 PM	#10
borntoride_98 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 34	55 know it is small tor a tang, but only 4 fish in there at the moment bur plan on getting 2 emerald crabs and sixline wrasse this weekend crabs for bubble algae and wrasse for bristle worms

11/03/2011, 04:18 PM	#11
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Bristleworms are cool. They're a great part of your CUC. I wouldn't add a tang though. Your tank is a little too small for it and that would really suck if it didn't eat that algae. Manual removal is probably your best bet.

11/03/2011, 04:23 PM	#12
borntoride_98 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 34	what about emerald crabs for bubble algae

11/03/2011, 04:37 PM	#13
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It's hit & miss. Some people have had great success with them, but I didn't. They didn't seem to pay no mind to the bubble algae that I had but my zoanthids started to look funny right after. (closed) I got rid of it. There real easy to catch though, so give it a try. If it doesn't take, just remove as many of those bubbles as you can right before a water change. You can get rid of them faster then they can reappear. GL.