How do I get rid of this?

[GL]

Can someone identify this and tell me how to get rid of it?

This is taking over my tank. It definitely came off the TBS rock. It started off in 2 small patches, now it has spread all over the tank.

I took some of the rocks out and removed all that I could without killing anything else. It was good for a short while but now it is back with vengence. It is rooted in the rock which makes it very difficult to remove.

At this point the only option I may have is to take out my rock and boil it, I don't know what else to do.

It is not a phosphate problem, my p04 is 0. I have tried everything, the clean up crew does not touch it.

any ideas, here are some pics.

pic on white cardboard

small bush

Help!

 

[avman67]

It's macroalgae. Good stuff. Why get rid of it? You probably have no phosphate problem because this stuff is absorbing it all. Looks nice! Fauchea maybe?

I'd just keep it pruned so it isn't totally out of control.

 

[GL]

It's macroalgae. Good stuff. Why get rid of it? You probably have no phosphate problem because this stuff is absorbing it all. Looks nice! Fauchea maybe?

That is what I thought in the beginning, it was just growing from 2 spots. It would get big, looked ok too. Next thing you know it started spreading. I have one rock where there must be 10-12 patch growing now. The small clippings that get loose see to root very easy. I even had some root in the sand.

 

[Slicktrax]

i used to have a couple different varieties on my rock until i put in my yellow tang. it ate every last bit of it in the tank. i dont know what you plan on introducing to your tank, but a tang may help keep it under control.

 

[avman67]

I don't know if a tang will eat that stuff. I have a naso and he will not touch the red macros in my tank. Green is certainly scalped, but he hates the reds.

I wouldn't go so far as to boil your rocks. If you can't prune it or introduce something that will eat it, then maybe just put the infested rocks in your sump without any light. The algae will eventually die off (unfortunately along with anything else on your rock that needs light) but at least you won't kill absolutely everything.

 

[spankerbob]

Looks like the red tang heaven stuff that indo pafic farms sold me as a macro algea, and as food for my tang. I couldn't tel you the scientific name though.

 

[raki]

I have 2 hungry Tangs if you don't want the stuff bag it and send it to me I'd love to have that growing in my tank

 

[Edge]

i had some of that growing in my tank until I put a Cherub Angel in and it went crazy on it in a week it had eaten a 6inch patch.
If you want it anihillated you should get a fish that eats algae in it's diet.CBs stay small.

ED

 

[GL]

This stuff is unbelievable! It actually rooted inside one of my tunze streams. I went on vacation for a week and when I got home there was a softball size bush growing out of my tunze stream.

I have found that if I take the rock out and place it in total darkness it dies in about a week or so. I have not put any rock back into the main tank to see if it returns yet. I'm still battling 2 large rocks with a few patches on them.

 

[phil519]

I'd second the vote on possibly purchasing a yellow tang. Naso/Blues might eat some but there is a reason why mother nature created a yellow tang with that long snout...to eat macro algae in hard to get places!

However - it's not always ideal to add a fish just for "control" purposes unless you really plan on adding said fish to your community.

Good luck.