Any idea what alage this is?

[jsbzmcdaniel]

I have a few spots of this alage on my rock and its seems to spread. It encrusts on the rock. I tried to brush it off with a tooth brush but it doesnt come off. I am a little concerned that its going to keep spreading so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jim

 

[masson]

Dont know what kinda algae but it looks like an angler with the shawdows.

 

[dbrown]

Hard to tell from the pic but it looks like its plating at the bottom. Maybe just a dark coralline?

 

[NewSchool04]

Jim, I'm pretty sure it's called Lobophora. It's a plating macro algae and very hard to get rid of. None of our clean up crew will touch it but there are a few fish that do eat it. Triggers I think but not sure.

 

[NewSchool04]

oh yeah, urchins will eat it also

 

[jdieck]

Yes it looks like encrusting lobophora variegata

 

[Rod Buehler]

I have a large naso that will munch on the stuff.

 

[jsbzmcdaniel]

Any other suggestions Rod / Jose? I really dont want to pulll the rocks out where this stuff is at cause it would me a total reaquascape project . I feel that its came in on a plug from a aquaculture sps.

 

[Rod Buehler]

Sorry Jim. No other suggestions.

 

[menard]

Re: Any idea what alage this is?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6972938#post6972938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsbzmcdaniel
I have a few spots of this alage on my rock and its seems to spread. It encrusts on the rock. I tried to brush it off with a tooth brush but it doesnt come off. I am a little concerned that its going to keep spreading so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jim

SALLYLIGHTFOOT CRABS eats Lobophoras. I have lobophoras in my tank gold ,browns ,redish, my Sallys. keeped them trimed.

 

[tp5056]

Is it a bad type of algae/nuisance?

 

[Highlander]

Jim,
When I had the long spined urchins, they devoured that stuff in my tank.

 

[jsbzmcdaniel]

I guess I will have to give them another try. I just hate the fact that they knock everything down, and eat the coraline alage.

I know there are many species of urchins and would like to know which ones you feel would do the job that are not such a PIA.

 

[mhurley]

I have something similar, but the coloration is much more beautiful. Mine is red, green and yellow sworls. This is only one section of it I have left...The other area was on a rock of a digitata colony I recently sold.
Same thing?

 

[jsbzmcdaniel]

Its hard to tell by the pics Mike. Mine is turd brown and encrusted to the rock. When there is a void in the rock it tends to plate. Its slick to the touch but very very difficult to remove by brushing it off. I have no other alage in the tank anywhere and my TDS, PO4, & NO3 are both 0. Its got to be feeding off something other than nutrients.

 

[mhurley]

Mines the same way Jim...very slick, very hard...I'd have to chip it off...Almost coralline-like.

 

[jsbzmcdaniel]

Yep....I thought it was early stages of coraline thats why I left it. After looking close I noticed it was starting to encrust over the coraline thats when I started to get concerned.

 

[Sullyman]

I'd try the lightfoot crabs, they can't hurt anything else. They've done a hell of a job of some turf algae I've just gotten the better of.
I did have some stuff like that on a wild zoo rock, I had it close to a power head and it disintegrated. Don't know if that's an option for you, that looks like it's on the bottom of your tank.

 

[jgleach]

Jim,
I think I've got a little of the same stuff....and I think it came in on an aquacultured coral also. Anyhow, FWIW, I don't think my urchin touches the stuff...(I've got Dave's urchin) If he does, it's not much munching at all. I think maybe I'll try a sally....I've got one in my softie tank and it's a pretty cool and well behaved inhabitant.

Jeff

 

[NewSchool04]

the sally won't touch the stuff. might look good perching on it though.