Algae

fisfordeath84 · 03/25/2008, 06:35 PM

I have a very bad thing going on in my tank. It has just sprouted up one day and I have not idea what to do. My tang will not eat it (in my reef tank) but the other fish in my fish only will it sucks. So if anyone has any suggestion please tell me. I have looked in to getting a foxface, but don't know if it will eat the problem.
Thanks Brad

not_sponsored · 03/25/2008, 06:49 PM

Looks like bryopsis, I think people have gotten rid of it by increasing magnesium levels.

SWaquariast · 03/25/2008, 06:52 PM

That is calaerpa "dont know if thats spelled right" but it will eventualy take over your aquarium if not taken care of. The're three ways on taking care of this.

1.Cultivate it by hand.
2.Emerald Crab,they love the stuff.
3.Then there are always sea urchin those aren't garunted to take care of it.

Remember this species of macro algea spreads super fast and my guess is it will take over your aquarium in a month or two, it caneven kill corals!!!

I did have the stuff but I don't know if it was my crab or urchin that took care of it.

P.S. the little anemones "hydras" off to the right of your coral frag are very bad as well they will sting and kill coral. the easiest way is to inject them with calcium but if you have a lot of them buy peppermint shrimp with a 75g aquarium i would get 4-5. these usually cost around $10.

SWaquariast · 03/25/2008, 06:57 PM

http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/cal1.jpgthis is one pic of it.
http://www.clubdelamar.org/caulerpa.jpg
these are just pics of the caulerpa"correct way to spell it"

fisfordeath84 · 03/25/2008, 07:10 PM

That is not what I have. I have some of that in another tank. The leafs are really small and not big like the other in the above message.

azcraig · 03/25/2008, 09:11 PM

it's a form of hair algae, possibly bryopsis. You don't have much so I wouldn't worry too much. If you try removing it manually it may spread even more. Keep the mag levels up along with calcium and alkalinity. Eventually it will die off..though it may take a while.

ctreefer · 03/25/2008, 09:17 PM

I'd agree, it looks pretty much like bryopsis. Best to get rid of it early. like others have said, raise the magnesium using Kent's Tech-M (there's something in it that does the trick) Also like already said, keep your alk up above 9.0dkh and Ca in the 400's.

avp · 03/25/2008, 09:49 PM

definitely not caulerpa. It's a hair algea / hair algea variant. The faster you get rid of it, the better off you are.

-avp

ManotheSea · 03/25/2008, 10:29 PM

I agree with hair algae and disagree with the caulerpa diagnosis.

Does anyone know if raising mag levels works for all hair algae? Is it only affective against bryopsis?

SWaquariast · 03/26/2008, 07:57 PM

Sorry it is hair algea it just represents the small sprouts of caulerpa in my reef tank i would still harvest by hand or get an emerald crab. An exspensive but effective way is to get a UV sterillizer and it will eliminate all your bad algea problems it doesn't even harm coralline algea.

03/25/2008, 06:35 PM	#1
fisfordeath84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Clinton TN Posts: 6	Algae I have a very bad thing going on in my tank. It has just sprouted up one day and I have not idea what to do. My tang will not eat it (in my reef tank) but the other fish in my fish only will it sucks. So if anyone has any suggestion please tell me. I have looked in to getting a foxface, but don't know if it will eat the problem. Thanks Brad

03/25/2008, 06:52 PM	#3
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	That is calaerpa "dont know if thats spelled right" but it will eventualy take over your aquarium if not taken care of. The're three ways on taking care of this. 1.Cultivate it by hand. 2.Emerald Crab,they love the stuff. 3.Then there are always sea urchin those aren't garunted to take care of it. Remember this species of macro algea spreads super fast and my guess is it will take over your aquarium in a month or two, it caneven kill corals!!! I did have the stuff but I don't know if it was my crab or urchin that took care of it. P.S. the little anemones "hydras" off to the right of your coral frag are very bad as well they will sting and kill coral. the easiest way is to inject them with calcium but if you have a lot of them buy peppermint shrimp with a 75g aquarium i would get 4-5. these usually cost around $10. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

03/25/2008, 06:57 PM	#4
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/cal1.jpgthis is one pic of it. http://www.clubdelamar.org/caulerpa.jpg these are just pics of the caulerpa"correct way to spell it" __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

03/25/2008, 09:11 PM	#6
azcraig Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 136	it's a form of hair algae, possibly bryopsis. You don't have much so I wouldn't worry too much. If you try removing it manually it may spread even more. Keep the mag levels up along with calcium and alkalinity. Eventually it will die off..though it may take a while. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of fear. Current Tank Info: 200 gal reef w/60 gal sump, 55 gal reef

03/26/2008, 07:57 PM	#10
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	Sorry it is hair algea it just represents the small sprouts of caulerpa in my reef tank i would still harvest by hand or get an emerald crab. An exspensive but effective way is to get a UV sterillizer and it will eliminate all your bad algea problems it doesn't even harm coralline algea. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

03/25/2008, 06:49 PM	#2
not_sponsored Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hiding Posts: 341	Looks like bryopsis, I think people have gotten rid of it by increasing magnesium levels.

03/25/2008, 07:10 PM	#5
fisfordeath84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Clinton TN Posts: 6	That is not what I have. I have some of that in another tank. The leafs are really small and not big like the other in the above message.

03/25/2008, 09:17 PM	#7
ctreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: southern CT Posts: 3,274	I'd agree, it looks pretty much like bryopsis. Best to get rid of it early. like others have said, raise the magnesium using Kent's Tech-M (there's something in it that does the trick) Also like already said, keep your alk up above 9.0dkh and Ca in the 400's.

03/25/2008, 09:49 PM	#8
avp Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 452	definitely not caulerpa. It's a hair algea / hair algea variant. The faster you get rid of it, the better off you are. -avp

03/25/2008, 10:29 PM	#9
ManotheSea Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FL Posts: 414	I agree with hair algae and disagree with the caulerpa diagnosis. Does anyone know if raising mag levels works for all hair algae? Is it only affective against bryopsis?