Hair algae on SPS frag plug, is this a problem?

[jdamon]

I have tried using a tooth brush a few times to remove some brown hair algae from the frag plugs, but it comes back very quickly. It is hardest to remove from the super glue... Is this a problem? Will the SPS encrust over a bit of algae? I am afraid to brush too much, as I feel I may damage the growing edge of the corals. My parameters are reasonable, 0 nitrate on Red Sea and 0.05 phosphate on Hana checker. There is not a ton of algae growth in general, I have a kole tang and a number of snails and hermits. Also, the corals in general seem fine, good PE and are growing slowly. Thanks for your help!

I realize a picture would be helpful, but not possible to attach one at the moment. Algae is little fine threads maybe 4-5mm tall around the outside edge of plugs. Some have none, some have a little more.

 

[joekidwell]

I received a few plugs like this as well, I'm not an expert or know of the proper way to deal with this but I took the frags off the plugs and put an ample amount of glue on the new plug to cover any algae that may have been on the coral, solved my problem.

 

[jdamon]

Oooh, that's a good idea, just cover the algae with glue! Will try one this evening.

Am still wondering if coral will encrust over algae?

 

[Nanighan]

Oooh, that's a good idea, just cover the algae with glue! Will try one this evening.

Am still wondering if coral will encrust over algae?

In my experience they will encrust over algae unless its really thick/long.

 

[greenhead]

I hate this brown hairy crud. This is why I now season all my plugs in a dark part of the system first and then in the light. Once it cures and builds a good bacteria column on it this stuff won't grow. I have found this is about the one algae that thrives in low nutrient tanks. But will melt away after the bacteria takes hold. I have seen it come flowing right off of new frag racks in the frag tank. But beware I have noticed most of the time this brown hairy stuff will prevent the frag from encrusting and sometimes will even cause STN.

 

[jdamon]

Update

Update

Got a Foxface and he has been going to town on all the tufted algae in the tank!! Awesome. He has cleaned up most of the frag plugs and its only been 4 days...