about cleaning my rocks Nov 4th...

[scbadiver]

Well, turns out I have to work that Saturday so obviously that wouldn't have worked out. I appreciate all who said they would help though! Since I wasn't going to be able to do it then, I decided I was tired of looking at the "freshwater tank" as Chad refers to it, so I just removed all the offending rocks over the last several nights. Now the tank looks like a sales tank at the LFS. just little clumps of stuff all over the sand bed. The current is keeping all the little debris in suspension and in general it still looks pretty rough. I tested the water at lunch and it's great. Ph 8.15, alk 9.9dkh, Ca 410. PO4 0, Nitrate 0, temp 78, and salinity right at 1.025. Still have little sprigs of weeds around the corals and stuff to clean out. What is your opinion of putting new fresh live rock in the tank? Now or should I wait for some reason?

 

[capncapo]

If it has been cycled have at it!

About the rock cleaning thing ....... I had to tell my best friend that I couldn't be his best man at his wedding because I had to help a guy clean his rock. I'm totally disappointed now. SHEESH!

 

[scbadiver]

I know I know, I ruined EVERYTHING! I have no idea what I'm going to do with all the beer I got for then too. On the bright side Greg, you should be able to get a nice chunk of coral with the cash I saved you on the tux rental!! .

You don't think that the weed will start growing again on new rock? I'm scared it will revert back to bright green.

 

[capncapo]

Rob,

You might want to research your algea and see how it reproduces. If it produces spores then it could be a problem.

 

[scbadiver]

Man, I've read and researched everywhere I know where to look and everything, everywhere states this is a desirable, non-invasive algae that i should be happy to have. I assure you it is niether desirable or non-invasive. Thats what has me so baffled about it. My water has tested great all along but this crap keeps coming back. the only thing I have left, which IS a possibilty, is to completely drain this mess, nuke it with bleach and start over from scratch. The biggest drawback there is I have 300lbs+ of beautiful white southdown that has only been wet for 18 months and I really don't want to loose it. I decided to bite the bullet and get new live rock but the sand is no longer available. I like this hobby why again????? AAARRRGH! I'll get it because I wont quit but I sure wish somebody could help point me straight again. I'm lost on this one. (how I yearn for the days of plain ol' hair algea plagues )

 

[capncapo]

Rob,

Have you read anywhere how it reproduces?

Does it send out roots or offshoots or does it just show up?

And last but not least ..... are you absolutely sure that what you have is what you think it is? And if so ....what is it?

 

[Arsenal11]

No tangs that will eat that stuff?, My tangs pick clean any algea that comes in on new stuff i put in, maybe you should break off a small pc of rock with some attached & we can try it out.

 

[scbadiver]

I haven't found anyting that really eats it, at least not propotional to how it grows. It is definately Noemeris Annulata, or spindle weed or catapiller weed. All one in the same. It is calcium based, not particular about lighting either though everything I have found said it prefers shady areas but, it grows at the surface under a 250w MH and also on the walls on the sump, a good 18-24 inches away from NO florescents. I have no idea how it spreads. It has no actual root system but is VERY firmly attached to whatever surface it grows from, including acrylic! I'm really at a loss. Nobody has ever been able to shed light on the problem for me. My tank still looks awful, nothing has good color, nothing has good polyp extension, no growth, just existing. the fish are ok and I haven't lost any of them but I did have 2 emerald crabs that, presumably, staved to death. The only rocks I left in the tank are the ones with coral or polyps on them. The fish are really freaked with nowhere to hide. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN! Thanks guys. Absolutely ANY suggestions are appreciated.

I have a yellow tang in the tank, he won't eat it, snails won't eat it. Besides, if tangs did eat it, I'd need 26 of them to keep up!!
I tried urchins too, several kinds, and they wont eat it either, this stuff must taste as bad as it looks! Thanks again.

Robbie