How to control turtle weed? (Chlorodesmis)

reefranger911

Premium Member
I have a 180g reef tank that I recently converted from a FOWLR to reef system. At the time of the conversion (breaking down a 72g reef to build the 180g) my nitrates and phosphates were through the roof and hair algae was an moderate issue. The hair algae decreased as the levels of phosphate & nitrate dropped. The nutrient levels were lowered with medias (phosphate sponge and phosban in reactor and a sulfer media in a nitrate reactor). I also began dosing iron to get the Chaeto in my refugia growing again, (this seems to have worked) my Chaeto now requires weekly trimming. During this time a small area of turtle weed has grown to take over a couple of rocks and patches here and there. I am seeking ideas on how to control it.
 
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Are you sure its Turtle weed and not Hair algae? The controls for the two may very different atleast from a herbivor standpoint.
 
are you sure its turtleweed? turtleweed comes and goes easily whereas HA keeps growing :) turtleweed is a bright neon greenish color also.
 
ok now I'm not so sure in reguards to color, what I have is darker green, other wise it is a match to pictures I've seen of chlorodesmis. I have viewed all the images of hair algae that I can find. nothing else even comes close to the short stranded, turf like appearance. I'll get pix.
 
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