I have just had it! - Page 3

goodblasson · 12/28/2005, 11:16 PM

I believe I have the solution and in my opinion its fairly cheap. I have dealt with the same type of algae. Emerald crabs are your solution. They will consume mass amounts of algae. Do you have emeralds in the fuge only? If so definately put some in the tank. 4 Emeralds destroyed my out of control algae in under a 4 days in a 60 gallon. They are totally reef safe, however after the consumed all my algae they began to pick at my coralline algae. After my tank evolved and more rock, life, and food was introduced they stopped picking at the corralline. They have never harmed my corals and are mostly nocturnal. Hope this helps, it has for me. Plus emeralds are no more than 8 bucks at a LFS. Alot cheaper online.

johnnstacy · 12/28/2005, 11:45 PM

I had tried an emerald crab in my old tank and found it picking at my yongei coral so I killed it. I only have the emerald in the sump because I bought a reef cleaner crew package that included 2 of these. One has died in the sump. Probably starvation as I keep the sump very clean.

But yeah...you might be right about the emerald. I am going to watch this one for a few days and see how he does with it. Thanks!

TippyToeX · 12/29/2005, 12:22 AM

goodblasson

To Reef Central

jelwyoming · 12/29/2005, 11:57 AM

Well, mine tend to be more green, but the shape is the same. The bryopsis can be either shade and nearly nothing touches it. The stuff in my tank does sound like yours...starts with fuzzy clumps that eventually grow longer; kind of tuft like. It looks like strands, but if you look real close, it actually is more feathery or branch like. This isn't obvious just looking at it outside the tank. I bought a starry blenny and a yellow tank because they were supposed to be great hair algae eaters, but they only pick at mine. Check out a site called http://www.seaslugforum.net/
to get more info on the sea hare. My particular species is called Aplysia dactylomela. Really a chow hound. The article will tell you about it's ability to ink. I found that this is not much of a danger and is further diminished if you do not feed them red algae.

goodblasson · 12/30/2005, 01:59 PM

How is that emerald crab doing??? Put some in your main tank. It will not be picking at any corals if it has a abundence of food, which it does.........GO FOR IT.

tibbs2 · 12/30/2005, 02:18 PM

You can also try to increase pH up to around 8.5 8.6. That will encourage corraline to grow and make conditions less favorable for the algae.

FYI, a foxface IS a rabbitfish.

kbmdale · 12/30/2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnnstacy
I have great lighting over the sump. There have been periods where it will grow quickly but it doesn't seem to grow much now.

What kind of light do you have over your cheato

johnnstacy · 12/30/2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by goodblasson
How is that emerald crab doing??? Put some in your main tank. It will not be picking at any corals if it has a abundence of food, which it does.........GO FOR IT.

Well, we will know soon enough. I had a new SPS coral in my sump that I transferred to the main tank this morning. He was on the bottom of it and I didn't see it. As soon as I put the colony in the main tank the crab fell off and hid. Oh well. It's just an emerald crab.

Lionfan · 12/30/2005, 04:38 PM

Here's mine, same stuff. Hard to pull out unlike green hair. Seems to like the high light better. Image hosted by *******.com

Lionfan · 12/30/2005, 04:39 PM

johnnstacy · 12/30/2005, 11:12 PM

yup, that's the stuff. Very tough to get off. Even with the stiffest of brushes and loves the light

johnnstacy · 12/30/2005, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kbmdale
What kind of light do you have over your cheato

I am using a mogul type compact fluorescent. It's called a TCP P38 rated at 5100k. About a year ago someone mentioned them and so I bought a case from Home Depot. They are only available through their commercial services. Works great though. I just replaced one after about a year. They are rated for 8000 hours. I think that is about a year.

johnnstacy · 12/30/2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tibbs2
You can also try to increase pH up to around 8.5 8.6. That will encourage corraline to grow and make conditions less favorable for the algae.

FYI, a foxface IS a rabbitfish.

I wonder if there would be an detriment to running the ph that high over the long term? Not sure how to get ph that high without rasing alk high also.

otolith · 12/30/2005, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Weatherman
Sometimes, no matter how good you are at cooking your rock, or keeping your tank clean with strong flow or a powerful skimmer, a low-nutrient-tolerant algae will sneak in. All it takes is a few little spores on a piece of rock a coral is attached to.

This is the stuff IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m dealing with right now in my 120. Rhodophytes and Dictyota.

Nothing IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve tried, so far, eats it, but if I can find a healthy Siganus doliatus, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m going to get one. One of the lfs in Miami has a little one in their coral display tank. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s fearless and does nothing but nibble algae all day. I asked them if I could buy it from them and they said no. It was doing such a good job keeping the display clean they wouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t consider giving it up.

I guess if rabbitfish get really hungry they will nip at coral, but itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s not very likely. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve got a PBT that eats xenia, so I guess anythingÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s possible.

Weatherman, I have a blonde naso tang that just loves brown algae! I had dictyota growing all over the tank, and it just devoured it in no time. It is still present, unfortunately, and I don't think you'll ever be able to get rid of dictyota once it's introduced to a tank, IMO. Not sure what it would do to your other algae, but I have been really please with how this one tackled the dictyota. Of course, with every fish, results may vary.

Weatherman · 12/30/2005, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by otolith
Weatherman, I have a blonde naso tang that just loves brown algae! I had dictyota growing all over the tank, and it just devoured it in no time.

Thanks for the suggestion. But, considering how active tangs (like the character below) are, I really couldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t in good conscience put a tang in a 120 (especially one the size of a Naso).

It's just one of those disadvantages of having a "little" tank.

otolith · 12/30/2005, 11:55 PM

Wow, that is such a cool picture. I hear you on the tangs. There's one other thing that'll eat dictyota, but I'll be darned if I can remember what it is ATM.

Weatherman · 12/30/2005, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by otolith
Wow, that is such a cool picture.

Malcolm was just dancin' in the evening sunlight.

cmc5dc · 12/31/2005, 12:10 AM

John,

That is some beautiful LR, BTW where did you get it? If you chose to get new LR go with a highly recommended sponsor, I'm sure you won't have the same occurrence as your present, if it is your LR which it sounds like.

Rikko · 12/31/2005, 04:04 AM

I refuse to believe that any "cleanup crew" creature in an aquarium will eat that tufty hair algae. I've never once seen it happen and i've tried all sorts of different hermits and snails and slugs. They're worthless - save your money.

UV likewise won't help because it will only target free floating spores in the water. The algae itself won't be killed and chances are it's spreading along the surface of the rock and not by releasing spores.

I'd put my money in doing large, constant water changes. Just keep doing it over and over and you'll deplete the water of nearly all nutrient resources the algae is feeding off of. That and competitive exclusion might be your best solutions (eg. get several other specimens or ideally species of macro algae and add them so they're outcompeting the tufties).

Just remember that that algae is growing because it is filling a void in the tank that isn't being fulfilled - something needs to take its place or the tank is out of balance. Like it or not, that's what the biological system currently needs to stay balanced.

johnnstacy · 12/31/2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cmc5dc
John,

That is some beautiful LR, BTW where did you get it? If you chose to get new LR go with a highly recommended sponsor, I'm sure you won't have the same occurrence as your present, if it is your LR which it sounds like.

I did use a RC sponsor:

http://reefermadness.us/

johnnstacy · 12/31/2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rikko
Just remember that that algae is growing because it is filling a void in the tank that isn't being fulfilled - something needs to take its place or the tank is out of balance. Like it or not, that's what the biological system currently needs to stay balanced.

I just wish the system would have chosen green hair algae or something manageable.

johnnstacy · 12/31/2005, 02:20 PM

I am beginning to wonder if any period of rock cooking could take out this brown algae. I mean, 12 weeks and I couldn't see it on the surface but how can you ever know that it is completely gone? Maybe it just lies dormant and perhaps it has some defense against bacteria. That is the only thing I can think of. The worst part of this is how do you just throw away 150 lbs of $5.00 rock just because of some stupid algae that refuses to die?
I have the foxface in the sump with a rock of that brown algae and he isn't going near it. But then again, I also hung some nori on a clip and he isn't going near that either. So, let's see, what else can I waste my money on? Sea slugs, urchins, what else?

johnnstacy · 12/31/2005, 02:21 PM

am I getting bitter.........yes...

hipertec · 01/01/2006, 12:05 AM

John,
did the emerald crab help or the foxface?

Tomzpc · 01/01/2006, 10:06 AM

I would give serious consideration to a sea hare.

12/29/2005, 12:22 AM	#53
TippyToeX Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 10,711	goodblasson *To Reef Central* __________________ -Amy-

12/29/2005, 11:57 AM	#54
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	Well, mine tend to be more green, but the shape is the same. The bryopsis can be either shade and nearly nothing touches it. The stuff in my tank does sound like yours...starts with fuzzy clumps that eventually grow longer; kind of tuft like. It looks like strands, but if you look real close, it actually is more feathery or branch like. This isn't obvious just looking at it outside the tank. I bought a starry blenny and a yellow tank because they were supposed to be great hair algae eaters, but they only pick at mine. Check out a site called http://www.seaslugforum.net/ to get more info on the sea hare. My particular species is called Aplysia dactylomela. Really a chow hound. The article will tell you about it's ability to ink. I found that this is not much of a danger and is further diminished if you do not feed them red algae. __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

12/30/2005, 11:55 PM	#66
otolith Cancer Sucks Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: MN Posts: 1,398	Wow, that is such a cool picture. I hear you on the tangs. There's one other thing that'll eat dictyota, but I'll be darned if I can remember what it is ATM. __________________ [QUOTE=BrianD;21444507]Listen to this man.[/QUOTE] "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." --John Muir Current Tank Info: 210g in the works :)

12/31/2005, 04:04 AM	#69
Rikko Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,328	I refuse to believe that any "cleanup crew" creature in an aquarium will eat that tufty hair algae. I've never once seen it happen and i've tried all sorts of different hermits and snails and slugs. They're worthless - save your money. UV likewise won't help because it will only target free floating spores in the water. The algae itself won't be killed and chances are it's spreading along the surface of the rock and not by releasing spores. I'd put my money in doing large, constant water changes. Just keep doing it over and over and you'll deplete the water of nearly all nutrient resources the algae is feeding off of. That and competitive exclusion might be your best solutions (eg. get several other specimens or ideally species of macro algae and add them so they're outcompeting the tufties). Just remember that that algae is growing because it is filling a void in the tank that isn't being fulfilled - something needs to take its place or the tank is out of balance. Like it or not, that's what the biological system currently needs to stay balanced. __________________ Remember: safety last when you ain't got no money. -- Damon Wayans Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef; 8 gallon stomatopod nano; 77 gallon freshwater planted

12/28/2005, 11:16 PM	#51
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	I believe I have the solution and in my opinion its fairly cheap. I have dealt with the same type of algae. Emerald crabs are your solution. They will consume mass amounts of algae. Do you have emeralds in the fuge only? If so definately put some in the tank. 4 Emeralds destroyed my out of control algae in under a 4 days in a 60 gallon. They are totally reef safe, however after the consumed all my algae they began to pick at my coralline algae. After my tank evolved and more rock, life, and food was introduced they stopped picking at the corralline. They have never harmed my corals and are mostly nocturnal. Hope this helps, it has for me. Plus emeralds are no more than 8 bucks at a LFS. Alot cheaper online.

12/28/2005, 11:45 PM	#52
johnnstacy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,043	I had tried an emerald crab in my old tank and found it picking at my yongei coral so I killed it. I only have the emerald in the sump because I bought a reef cleaner crew package that included 2 of these. One has died in the sump. Probably starvation as I keep the sump very clean. But yeah...you might be right about the emerald. I am going to watch this one for a few days and see how he does with it. Thanks!

12/30/2005, 01:59 PM	#55
goodblasson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 131	How is that emerald crab doing??? Put some in your main tank. It will not be picking at any corals if it has a abundence of food, which it does.........GO FOR IT.

12/30/2005, 02:18 PM	#56
tibbs2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: IA Posts: 1,422	You can also try to increase pH up to around 8.5 8.6. That will encourage corraline to grow and make conditions less favorable for the algae. FYI, a foxface IS a rabbitfish.

12/30/2005, 04:38 PM	#59
Lionfan Moved On Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Stratford CT. Posts: 661	Here's mine, same stuff. Hard to pull out unlike green hair. Seems to like the high light better.

12/30/2005, 04:39 PM	#60
Lionfan Moved On Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Stratford CT. Posts: 661

12/30/2005, 11:12 PM	#61
johnnstacy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,043	yup, that's the stuff. Very tough to get off. Even with the stiffest of brushes and loves the light

12/31/2005, 12:10 AM	#68
cmc5dc Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Central California Posts: 351	John, That is some beautiful LR, BTW where did you get it? If you chose to get new LR go with a highly recommended sponsor, I'm sure you won't have the same occurrence as your present, if it is your LR which it sounds like.

12/31/2005, 02:20 PM	#72
johnnstacy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,043	I am beginning to wonder if any period of rock cooking could take out this brown algae. I mean, 12 weeks and I couldn't see it on the surface but how can you ever know that it is completely gone? Maybe it just lies dormant and perhaps it has some defense against bacteria. That is the only thing I can think of. The worst part of this is how do you just throw away 150 lbs of $5.00 rock just because of some stupid algae that refuses to die? I have the foxface in the sump with a rock of that brown algae and he isn't going near it. But then again, I also hung some nori on a clip and he isn't going near that either. So, let's see, what else can I waste my money on? Sea slugs, urchins, what else?

12/31/2005, 02:21 PM	#73
johnnstacy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,043	am I getting bitter.........yes...

01/01/2006, 12:05 AM	#74
hipertec Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California (Inland Empire) Posts: 1,266	John, did the emerald crab help or the foxface?

01/01/2006, 10:06 AM	#75
Tomzpc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: NY Posts: 1,738	I would give serious consideration to a sea hare.