brown encrusting algae

[electricbluelizzy]

I have a brown encrusting algae slowly covering my LR. Is there any way to get rid of this stuff? Its sheeting over the surface of everything, and doesn't hold together well enough to peel off.

I can't imagine limiting nitrates any further would ever get rid of it, but might just stop it where it is....

Does anything eat this stuff? BTW, my pistol shrimp has destroyed every crab in my tank, so they are probably out, and I don't think they'd eat it anyway.

Thought about a tuxedo urchin? Aren't these guys bulldozers??

I need help! ! This is making me nuts!!!

 

[adtravels]

the urchin eats mine but the bits it misses seem to grow back stronger.
I reckon we may be stuck with it as peeling it is not really feasable.
I am going to try to learn to love

 

[Aquarist007]

can you post a picture of it
Is is algae or cyano?

 

[Craig Lambert]

Is it this? :

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1227004

 

[electricbluelizzy]

That is definitely it - and it is most certainly not a coraline alga.

A little bit is fine, but this stuff is overtaking!

 

[javajaws]

Its commonly called brown wafer algae. Urchins and naso tangs are your friends. I had/have this stuff...it thrives on low nutrients. I added a pincushion urchen who seems to eat the stuff and keeps it in check. I'd suggest a smaller urchin though so it can get in more places. Mine is probably too large and can't get everywhere it needs to.

 

[Aquarist007]

I agree with the urchins but you don't want to be putting a naso tang in a 75 gal