2 Questions

[shallowreef]

Q1

I have a bushy type of algae growing on a dea piece of coral. Its not like your average hair algae because this has dark green leaves. They almost look like feathers. My big problem is nothing in my tank is eating it. Anyone know what kinda algae it is? Is it good or bad algae?

Q2

I have in 90 SPS

1 Blue Hippo Tang
1 Flame Angel
1 True Percula
1 Green Mandarin
1 Eingineer Goby
1 yellow colored goby that lives in my SPS
1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Emerald and 1 Sally Light foot

What can i get to help control my first problem and still live with what i already got?

Thanks a lot

Nick ~shallowreef~

 

[cwby416]

Wait I see three questions

Sounds like it could be feather Caulerpa?? A pic would definatly help. I can't recomend a fish to control it without knowing for sure what kind of algae it is.

If it were me, I would just yank what I could out of the tank. But I have had very bad expieriences with caulerpa taking over tanks very quick

~Randy~

 

[shallowreef]

True there are three

Well see its only growing in one spot its not like its spreading or anything.
My overflow is filled with a similar looking algae. I'll see if i can grab a picture this afternoon.

 

[LakeEd]

Shallowreef,

Judging from your discription, you have Bryopsis Algae. It is dark green and has feather-like tufts growing from its tips. It prefers growing on hard surfaces and is usually found clinging to the tank sides or on rocks. Once it takes hold, it’s difficult to get rid of because not too many herbivorous fish or invertebrates will eat it. Try your best to pull out as much as you can, as often as you can.

 

[shallowreef]

Ill try and post a picture but it really doesn't look like either one. Well i guess it kinda looks like the first one if any.

 

[Krish]

Ill try and post a picture but it really doesn't look like either one. Well i guess it kinda looks like the first one if any.

Yeah...A picture would definately help. Sorry to hear about your troubles and hope you get it all sorted out very soon

 

[shallowreef]

I'm not really worried about it growing it just looks ugly thats all. I have a Guy from My LFS coming out to help me get my SPS up to its full potential so i'll see what he says. Lately my tank has been in the crapper. Nothing that great to look at.

Hopefully in a month or two i'll be whistlinga different tune.

 

[Dragonfly]

Yip sounds like Bryopsis. Once it gets a foothold in your tank it can be a real pain to get rid of. If it's on a dead piece of coral I would suggest removing from your tank before it spreads onto your rock.

 

[diablo]

Well I have a purple tang that eats hair algae. Thats a possiblity for yeah. also I have heard alot of great things about rabbit fish and algae issues. about the best I can come up with at the moment without know what algae we are dealing with. just my two pennies

 

[shallowreef]

I was thinking of a purple tang but i figured my blue tang and the purple would fight like crazy. I was also thinking of a rabbitfish but not your regular foxface though. i would probably get a two barred rabbitfish. I was also thinking a powder brown but i'm so confused.

 

[morgan]

i dont thinka puple tang and a pbt would fight i have seen them in aquaruims togeather even tho there both tangs the puple is a zebrasoma and the ptb is... i cant rember but differnt enough fin sturcter
unrchins are good for algae

 

[shallowreef]

Well i don't know where you got Powder blue tang from, but i have a blue "hippo" tang. I tried mixing them together once and it didn't work out but that was in a smaller tank. I also thought Urchins only ate coraline algae?

I know Rabbitfish are like lawnmowers when it comes to algae.

 

[steve-s]

I also thought Urchins only ate coraline algae?

Certain urchins have food preferences but most will eat varying types of algaes. The best overall choice would be a Diadema sp (long spine). They aren't that fussy about what "greens" they eat for the most part.

I know Rabbitfish are like lawnmowers when it comes to algae.

I would agree on not risking the Purple tang, even in a 90 I wouldn't have two tangs. If this is bryopsis, fish additions won't really be a useful solution. This type of algae has a toxin which makes it distasteful to most herbavors. Also consider, if the Regal won't eat it and they're pretty much swimming garbage cans, there's not too many other fish that will.

I think your best option is to first get a possitive ID on what you have.

Cheers
Steve

 

[shallowreef]

Well yesterday my LFS guy was suppose to come over and he ended up being a no show. I was hoping he was going to be able to give me all my answers to my questions. I'm gonna try and get him out here again to see if he can help me out.

 

[NaH2O]

I also thought the description of the algae matched that of bryopsis. If the coral is dead, and the algae is growing on it, then you might want to pull the skeleton out. Bryopsis can be difficult to get rid of. How are your water parameters?

 

[shallowreef]

I don't know i'll have to check them when i get home. Are there certain things that could cause this? I've never had an algae problem before.