Green algae, how to get rid?

[serbusfish]

I am getting some green algae on one of my pieces of live rock, I dont know if it is hair algae but it has what I would describe as a threaded appearance:



My tank is fairly new, could this algae be a symptom of this? If not how can I remove it? Will anything eat it? Some tank details:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0
SG 1.025

I have a skimmer running and use ROWAphos media + a polyfilter pad. I have no skimmer, refugium, etc. My lighting is 4x T5's which run for 9 hours a day.

[cloak]

It looks kind of like Green Turf Algae.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

[Dkuhlmann]

More varied cuc

[CStrickland]

Do the threads kinda lay down over the rock, but only attach at the base? Or like connect to the rock at several points along the way (umm, like how ivy grows up a wall sorta). If it's the second one that can be cladophoropsis, which not many cuc go for so its best to scrub off where you can before it gets a leg up.

I think it looks kinda pretty though... Better than dinos

[FraggledRock]

set up an ATS Algae turf scrubber?

[serbusfish]

Originally Posted by CStrickland

Do the threads kinda lay down over the rock, but only attach at the base? Or like connect to the rock at several points along the way (umm, like how ivy grows up a wall sorta). If it's the second one that can be cladophoropsis, which not many cuc go for so its best to scrub off where you can before it gets a leg up.

I think it looks kinda pretty though... Better than dinos

All I can see is that it is growing along the rocks and not up off them. At the moment it is only one this one rock, and truth be told if it stayed on this rock I wouldn't mind so much as I could just put a coral or 2 on top of it, but I am worried it will spread to other rocks and infest my tank.

The only CUC I have atm are 6x Trochus Snails, 3x Nassarius Snails, and 3x Red Legged Hermit Crabs. I am worried about putting too many in incase there isn't enough food for them.

[CStrickland]

Yeah, I'd try to stay on it. It's hard cause with that kind the root part (hold-fast?) gets pretty well into the rock so if that stays behind it can sprout again. Don't worry too much but maybe when you are doing other maintenance try to pick it off. It's always easier to manage when these probs are small

[smedlin]

Originally Posted by serbusfish

I have a skimmer running and use ROWAphos media + a polyfilter pad. I have no skimmer, refugium, etc.

Wait.. what?


.

[CStrickland]

I figured it's a typo for "no sump, refugium, etc."
Like an hob skimmer, and the media are in a reactor type deal.

[serbusfish]

Originally Posted by smedlin

Wait.. what?


.

Originally Posted by CStrickland

I figured it's a typo for "no sump, refugium, etc."
Like an hob skimmer, and the media are in a reactor type deal.

Yes you are correct, I meant to write sump, but when I noticed the error it wouldn't let me modify my post.

I will have to try picking at the algae, I cant remove the rock as I glued it to keep it secure.

[Phludd]

+1 green turf algae

[nmotz]

You can try adding some macroalgae to the tank although most people prefer to use a refugium for this purpose. There are some decent HOB refugiums out there, CPR makes a nice one. Otherwise, make sure you change your GFO media regularly and ensure your skimmer is working properly. Some of the cheaper HOB models wont' do much for you. You can also probably decrease lighting by at least an hour or two a day, especially if you're keeping LPS or soft corals. Also, change your bulbs out regularly because old T5 bulbs often emit a spectrum of light that makes algae go crazy. Good luck!