Look at these pics, and youll see why I want to cry!!!

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

This is what all the live rock in my 55 looked like when i broke it down -

http://photobucket.com/albums/a319/stuckinfla/th_hair.jpg

This is what is starting in my 180 which I set up in November.

http://photobucket.com/albums/a319/stuckinfla/th_hairagain1.jpg

I added a black urchin a week ago, so he has already started to munch on in (as well as my coraline) The worst part is, the only thing from the 55 is come corals & sand. I thought I could start fresh, but I am finding that this is not going to happen. This stuff is starting to grow on about 5-6 rocks. Its very hard to pull off (takes some of the rock with it). LMB wont touch it, and If the one Sailfin I have is eating it, I dont see it.

What is it, and how do I rid it??? I did a search, and came up with "Turtle Grass" which is why I bought the urchin.

While shopping this weekend, I think I found the source.....The small "chain" store around the corner where I had gone a few months prior and picked up some rock.....their tanks are FILLED with this stuff.

 

[kaslan]

Add in the Ultimate warriors!

Add in the Ultimate warriors!

1- Tangs

2-Hermits

3-Ceralith Snails

Reduce light for a while.

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

Have snail, hermits. Tang is not an option at the moment, and I'll Try reducing the lights. I have 4x96 PC 2-20K 2-Actinics, and 2x175 MH. Actinics run for 9 hrs and MH I have already lowered to 5hrs.

Water is as follows:
Amn, Trite, - 0
Trates - <15
DK - 6
Cal - 450
PH - 8.3
Mag - 1250
Phos - 0

Wet-Dry with live rock rubble and skimmer.

Which lights should I lower, and for how long?

 

[kaslan]

How Deep is your tank?

How Deep is your tank?

Have snail, hermits. Tang is not an option at the moment, and I'll Try reducing the lights. I have 4x96 PC 2-20K 2-Actinics, and 2x175 MH. Actinics run for 9 hrs and MH I have already lowered to 5hrs.

Water is as follows:
Amn, Trite, - 0
Trates - <15
DK - 6
Cal - 450
PH - 8.3
Mag - 1250
Phos - 0

Wet-Dry with live rock rubble and skimmer.

Which lights should I lower, and for how long?

How deep is your tank? I hope its deep enough for the lights you have.

Did you notice any cut back on the pests after reducing the MH lighting hours?

If the problem still persists, then reduce MH for less than 5 hours until the algae starves.

From the looks of this pest it definatly requires alot of lighting and i think your MH is helping it grow.

What corals do you currently have in there?

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

Its a 180 = 72x24x24. Actually, I dont think the MH could have caused this, I did not have them on the 55 when it became overrun. I'll try reducing both of them (PC & MH).

Corals, thats what worries me.

Tons of softies (zoo's, shrooms, star & misc polyps, daisy...ect...)
5 brains (3 diff type - open, moon, pineapple)
Pink birds nest
Bubble
Orange M cap
Flower anenome
and more.

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

ps....all the rock that was in the 55 is now in a solid tubberware container with a few powerheads - totally deprived of light. Ill have to check when I get home to see if there has been a decline in the alge. I have had it in there for about 5 weeks (only 2 without any kind of light.)

 

[Triterium]

Jessica, looks nice. Just get rid of your corals...add some other algae species and you're set. Hair algae is one of the most beautiful algaes, IMO, and is very easy to grow. Unfortunately I cant get it to do well in my tank. Ironic I think

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

Jessica, looks nice. Just get rid of your corals...add some other algae species and you're set. Hair algae is one of the most beautiful algaes, IMO, and is very easy to grow. Unfortunately I cant get it to do well in my tank. Ironic I think

Are you serious?

 

[Seahorsewisprer]

Jessica, the scary part is, he is serious! You're in the algae lovers forum!

I have just a bit left in my reef. I got a few more hermits, a few algae eating snail, ect. But, you have to treat the cause of the issue or you will just be battling nuisance algaes forever! Food= nutrients. Period. You can either have less food=nutrients or find something else that eats the nutrients!

Corals eat nutrients, but my tank is filled with them, and they can't eat enough of it. I've found in my system, macro algaes are the answer. When I started exploring ways to get my desirable algaes growing better, the less desirable ones have been diminishing quickly. Do you have a sump where you can grow macros? or do you have room to add them to your main display?

You can get nutrient adsorbers. Nitrate and phosphate can be removed with a them. But, I think they are such a pain to use and expensive in the long run.

Reducing feeding, light periods ect are just a temporary fix. Eventually, you will want to increase both and then the problem will rear its ugly head again!

Although, I'm with ^^^^ Trit. I think it can be gorgeous!

 

[Samala]

Hmm.. a phosphate reading of zero. Interesting. And you've got lots of nitrates hanging about.

Do you use an RO/DI source for the water?

It sounds like you got spores of this algae on the rock from the chain store. But just having spores doesnt mean it'll become a nuisance.. you have to have just the right conditions for it prosper.

What I would bet is that the amount of phosphate you are putting into the system via fish food is turning into more algae. And if you are putting in even more nutrients by using tap water its going compound the problem. You wouldn't see the algae fall off by not feeding for instance, because they would be fueled in another way - through the tap water's nutrients.

I'm with Aero on this one.. do you have a fuge? Are you growing macroalgae? It would be a nice simple way to help catch those nutrients before they become hair algae food. It should also help you bring your nitrates down to zero. All you need is some Chaetomorpha from a nice fellow reefer (or check the trade/sale listings here on RC, always lots of it) and a decent light source, a simple single tube normal output fluorescent is plenty for them. Try to get one that is daylight color (5000 to 7000k), Home Depot is usually a cheap source for these kinds of bulbs.

>Sarah

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

Phos has been "0" since set up. I have auto top off w/ 6stage RO/DI. I have some "finger aglae" in my sump, but it gets no direct light. Its not dieing, nor does it have "prolific" growth....its like just there. Ill have to figure a way to get a sump set up in there, little tricky, no room

Little about feeding: Fish only 5: 3" Sailfin, 1/2" clown, 1 1/2" Carndinal and 2 LMB 1 1/2" & 2" - eat every 2(sometimes I forget - 3) Days, flake or granules, Food is usually gone within minutes. I leave a 2"x6" sheet of seaweed selects in there that is usually gone in the morning. I feed the whole tank once a week (cyclopeeze) and corals by mouth....shrimp, or homemade slop (shrimp, scallop, clam, and squid). Would this be considered to much?

 

[Seahorsewisprer]

It really doesn't matter how much if there is no way to export out. In a captive system, everything that is added in, will find a way out, persay! What you feed the fish, goes through the fish and into the captive system. You need a way to export out of the system what you put in, 'cause it will build up. You can get it out through growing macro and grasses, then harvesting them. Or you can get it out through adsorbers. or it will go into nuisance algae. The nutrients you add must end up somewhere!

i wonder about your test kit! i have always had Po4! it bites!

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

Its an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals PO3-
4 (with the 4 dropped)


Is this the same?

 

[Triterium]

Your phosphates are undetectable because the hair algae is probably sucking it out of the water.

Come on Jes, cant you at least try to love it? The way it gently sways in the current....its almost hypnotic.

If you must get rid of it, i agree with Aero and samala.. add some macro. Or another method of getting rid of it is to pretend to like it and try to make it spread. Give it fertilizer and read it stories. That is a sure method or killing it.

 

[Samala]

Triterium says..
The way it gently sways in the current....its almost hypnotic.

:lol: I think he's in love.. I think he'd like lava lamps too.

Seriously, take the sump you have now, modify it a bit so you can stick some algae in there and a small light and toss in some Chaeto.. its the least 'risky' of all the macro going by reefer experience. You shouldnt have to build a new sump and try to squeeze it in there.

Or, if you have the cash and dont wanna mess with the macro, go with the adsorber route (rhowaphos.. etc). I much prefer mother nature's remedy but these will certainly work.

>Sarah

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

I picked up some algea from the LFS yesterday, and threw it in the sump for now. What exactly is Chaeto? I got three different types. One is on like a green string with feathery leaves every 1/2" or so. Another is like that except with tons of little bubbles. Third is a red type.

I really would like to set up a total seperate system, and set up a dedicated tank for sea grass(if thats what you call them) I think they are pretty, just not in the main tank.

I'll post some pics of it.

PS......thank you all for your help

 

[scottya10]

Sorry to hear about your problem ive had the same thing happen to me before i put a sump in the algae you have sounds like it is feather caulepera and grape calupera. When i had my problem i bought a tang some emeral crabs and mexican turbo snails they took my aglae away took a month or so but they cleared it all out.

 

[StuckinFtLauderdale]

Is the caulepera good?

 

[scottya10]

Yes that is good ive got feather,grape and razor caulepera in my sump ive hear that they will go asexual sometimes but mine has never but i run my light all the time.

 

[bluenassarius]

i know many of u won't agree with this.
do yourself a favor man, use a mini-torch, flame thrower and just make sure its gone for good. sure you'll have some die off but do you really wanna buy all these crabs etc to see if they will eat it? i had a small algae problem and used a torch to remove it. never saw it again.