Brown Wafer algae

Always think natural fixes first. If there was nothing that would eat it, then our oceans would be overrun with it. Something eats everything, yeah you may lose a coral or two but you will anyway if the algae grows over them. Plus, you are not killing all your live rock which costs hundreds of dollars even thousands
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13543843#post13543843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fitchguy
Anyways, I got 4 Globe Urchins, they are cousins of the Tuxedos Urchins.
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Aren't "Globe Urchin" and "Tuxedo Urchin" both common names for Mespilia globulus? I am wondering what species the cousin would be...

I have one M. globulus and would add a caution: They are herbivores, yes - but they also tend to collect macro/micro algae on their "back". Therefore, it is possible that Tuxedos can broadcast undesirable algae through a tank on their travels. Every once in a while I will "export" some of the algae off my Tuxedo's back to help prevent this process. A few days later and he has a new head of hair...

It is probably just as likely that other herbivores/omnivores (like the Sally Lightfoot) can broadcast undesirable algae by releasing uneaten portions of their harvest into the water column.

One hopes that these harvesters devour at a rate faster than they broadcast.
 
Thanks why i think i am going to dry out my rock and start over. Their should be enough organics in and on my rock to start a cycle again so i figure why not start fresh...
 
Hey, it could be fun to start over with a new aquascape. I know there are a few things I would change if I was to do it again.
 
algae

algae

I too am plagued withis this horrible algea.And i thought having very good water quality,you weren't supposed to have to worry.Wasn't having any issues with any algae,with 3 tangs precent.for sure,It loves the high flow and thrives in the direct path of a vortech.I read on this post about the sally's.thought i try them.They are making a dent,but probably don't like the force of flow,i run.Its the high flow area,but then everything gets covered.It looks promising,but zoos and and lps rocks are getting covered.in the mean time. :( I'll post some pics..asap
 
I've had some luck with kalk past on the Lobophora. You will need to reduce flow so the paste stays on for at least a few hours if not longer. Then just leave it, even if it doesn't blow off. In about 1-2 weeks you should see the difference. I had a 2" x 3" area of Lobo where I applied some paste to just the top half. I would say the Lobo is dying or the paste made it more edible to the colinista snails in my tank. There is a signifigant reduction down to the bare rock below the Lobo, even on areas where the kalk was not in contact. I just this week applied kalk to the other 3 areas where I have this algae. Just give it some time and maybe a couple applications. I think it gave the Colinista snails a way to get ahead of it. This also works on Valonia. The bubbles go clear and are easier to vacuum in about a week or so after application.
 
This is the only algea I have a problem with. I do very frequent water changes so my water is very clean. I don't mind it so much where it has the "wafer look", it's kinda attractive and pulls off easily. But it has started to spread to where it is just a mat over the live rock. I don't know what to do!!!
 
I had quite a bit of Lobo, and added a Sally Lightfoot in hopes that he would eat it. Well, great news is, the Sally ate EVERY spec of the Lobo !!! I knew the Sally was a thread once he got bigger, so I planned on keeping him till he wiped out the Lobo, and then trap him and give him away. I saw him lunge a couple times at fish, but never say him kill a fish. I did have a new fish that I added, that died, and the Sally could have easily grabbed the fish and ate him, as the fish was dying, but never went near him. I had to flush the fish when he died. I did however, see the Sally go after an Acan, so I decided I had to get him out. I had a heck of a time trapping him. My fish trap was worthless. I tried different tricks. I finally built my own crab trap for about $2, and caught him in 2 minutes. Found him a new home. My tank has been COMPLETELY algae free now for a few months. Don't see a spec of it. Pam


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15010278#post15010278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rigleautomotive
i got it also.any updates.i am going to try a couple sallys and a naso this weekend if no one has a better plan
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I have Lobophora too. I have tried everything I could think of to get rid of including tons of CUC creatures (all snails), an emerald crab, scraping, an algae blenny and vodka dosing. The vodka dosing indeed brought down my N and P to undetectable levels and the sps corals loved it, but the Lobophora also loved it; it seems happier than ever and spreading.

So, today I gave up and bought a Sally lightfoot crab. Yikes! I am worried that it will try to eat my coral polyps or a small fish or snail. But, I want that Lobophora gone; it is ugly and takes up room that should be for coralline. I have discontinued vodka for now, but will take that up later, when things look better.

I have heard (Pam) that to trap a crab, you can lean a tall drinking glass against the live rock with some nice food at the bottom. Do this at night and supposedly, by morning, the crab may be in the glass, stuck, because it cannot crawl out. Is this what you did to catch yours? I hope you see this post; it's been awhile.
Thanks!
 
Serval-

Is the sally going to town on the stuff? I've only seen pics of your Lobophora in the early stages, so I was never absolutely certain you had Lobophora...
 
Hi Serval. The good news is, the Lobo never came back after the Sally wiped it out 5 months ago. Not a speck of it to be found. The only thing I ever saw the sally go after, is a single Acan head I had. :( I still think it was worth it to get rid of the Lobo. I did try the glass trick, and also a fish trap,
and a cut off nylon trick that I read about, and that Sally was just too darn smart to go in any of the traps. He would stick his claws in the glass, but seemed to know he'd be doomed if he entered, so never went in. I also got really frustrated at one point and just tried to catch him with a pair of tongs. I ended up making a homemade trap, sort of like a crab trap. Check out the following thread, where I go into detail about the trap I made that worked for me, with a couple of pictures. Let us know if he starts eating the Lobo. Pam
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=14192301



serval said:
I have Lobophora too. I have tried everything I could think of to get rid of including tons of CUC creatures (all snails), an emerald crab, scraping, an algae blenny and vodka dosing. The vodka dosing indeed brought down my N and P to undetectable levels and the sps corals loved it, but the Lobophora also loved it; it seems happier than ever and spreading.

So, today I gave up and bought a Sally lightfoot crab. Yikes! I am worried that it will try to eat my coral polyps or a small fish or snail. But, I want that Lobophora gone; it is ugly and takes up room that should be for coralline. I have discontinued vodka for now, but will take that up later, when things look better.

I have heard (Pam) that to trap a crab, you can lean a tall drinking glass against the live rock with some nice food at the bottom. Do this at night and supposedly, by morning, the crab may be in the glass, stuck, because it cannot crawl out. Is this what you did to catch yours? I hope you see this post; it's been awhile.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
roselavy, Sally is too new; still in the bag as we speak. So, I will report when she has had a chance to work. I love my Acans, I hope she doesn't get a taste for them! Here is a "before" picture taken today:
LobophoraOct282009.jpg

Wetwebmedia thought it was Lobophora too. Some others weren't sure, but I don't know what else it could be. It never scrolled for me.

The Sally Lightfoot is a pretty crab, I give it that. I am worried though; it is super fast.
 
Too bad we cannot put leashes on those Sally's...LOL.

In related news, I had to recently banish a Emerald to the fuge for picking on my p. Damicornis. My Zebras were also stealing food from my fungia plates on a regular basis so they they are temporarily in the hold until I decide if I really need them in the display.

My scarlet is the only crab I've never seen bother anything, and thus the only one I'd consider getting more of...
 
I agree; the scarlets may be the only reasonably safe crabs. I wasn't planning on any crabs until the algae struck. Hopefully, they are temporary. I am happy to hear Pammy's experience indicates (and yours?) that the dreaded Lobo doesn't return once licked.
 
I have always had it in my reef tanks, I seems to really thrive in very clear, nutrient low water, unfortunately so does my sps. I peel it off from time to time and just live with it I have worried about it too much in the past.
I have noticed that peeling it, if you leave a speck it seems to grow back even quicker.
 
Adtravels, I noticed that it grows fast(er) when you pick it off as well. Very frustrating. I don't want to live with it if I can help it because it's really the only algae I have. It's outcompeting the coralline right now, so the rocks just look dark brown, which is pretty uninteresting. I thought I might try that "Purple Up" product at the same time, to encourage the coralline on the rocks. I'm hoping the Lobophora will be nice food for the crab.
 
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