How do you control this stuff?

[ReefArtist]

I've had this red algae weed in my tank now for about 5 months. At first I thought it was Ogo (gracilaria) NOT! I think it's Red Spikeweed (Actinotrichia). My Mimic Tang won't eat it and neither will the Red or Blue legged crabs. I scrub it off each week and pull it out individually but it still doesn't control it. I've put a clump of GSP's in one area (Weed for a Weed ) and it is running over it but is there a better way to control it? When you try to pull it out it almost impossible as the roots are in the rock. Any help would be appreciated.

This was a few months ago, now that rock is covered!

 

[GlobaLPimP]

That is some nasty stuff to get rid of...I had a bunch on my LR when I first got it. I had to remove the rocks that it was growing on and pull what I could off by hand (which wasn't much as it is so strong). I had pretty good success using tweezers to pull it out of my LR. I also soaked the few rocks that had it in RO/DI water. It killed a lot of good worms but I don't have that algae growing anymore. Good luck with that stuff

 

[mattliu]

my tangs pick at it, but they are not the bristletooth variety. that stuff can be good if u manage it right. i would put in a different tang or maybe a rabbit type fish and the scrub it off the best u can. then it can grow in and act as a continuous food source. they should be able to keep like a well trimmed lawn.

 

[ReefArtist]

I can keep it as a well kept lawn with LOTS of work - LOL. I love tangs but I think another tang in a 75g would not be good for my other fish. The fish I get are the ones I really want to have not because I need them to do something (Besides look pretty - ). The Tang does pick at it but not to a point it's manageable - if you know what I mean. This is a very big rock and the corner stone of the 75g tank. Most of my fish hide in it at night and it's where my gobies and pistol shrimp have their home (Under it). I've had other rocks with this on it and for the most part GlobaLPimP did what you have done - removed the rock, scrubbed it and then removed more with tweezers. I have two of the rocks now in my refugium which is a good place for stuff like this. I was hoping that maybe some other type of crab - brown or maybe I just don't have enough blue/red legged ones? Do the blues and reds really eat the stuff - I had heard they did but . . .

 

[ReefArtist]

Also please let this be a warning to all the newbies - this is not good stuff. It will kill your corals. I'm still picking it off my Zoa rocks. If you place anything on the stuff it will attach its self to the new rock. This is what has happened to me and the Zoas. On this one rock I've now made it my GSP rocktop . It does seem to be working.

 

[NICERICAN4YOU25]

u should put that rock in a refugium, if u hsve 1 let it grow.

 

[ReefArtist]

Like I said it is the corner stone of my tank and it cost me around 125 bucks. It would take up my refugium area for nothing else and then about 6 inches would be out of the water -LOL. I'd rather put up with manual cleaning then disrupt my fish - too many of my fish live in it. I was just hoping that someone had come up with some different ideas. I've used a razor blade and scraped it that way and it works good but . . .

 

[NICERICAN4YOU25]

i c , yea then u prob want to take it out. goood luck with it

 

[Emster]

Its hard for me to tell if its the same kind as my red algae but I just added some turbo snails and they have been mowing it down.

 

[ReefArtist]

Might have to get me some of them. Right now I just have Red and Blue legged Crabs, Astrea and Nassarius Snails. I'll get some this weekend and see if they start eating it. Thanks for the information.