Macro algae in my tank (pics)

[sage_commander]

Here's a shot of my tank on May 23rd, shortly after the rock was added:

And here it is about ten minutes ago:

Notice anything different?

I actually do like *some* of the green in the tank; I like the variations in color instead of nothing but rock. BUT I don't want this stuff to get out of hand. I have gone in and pruned it a few times by hand, but it's obviously gotten prolific.

I'm expecting to add a lawnmower blenny in a couple of months. I have one emerald crab in there now. Should I go in and remove as much as possible? I use ro/di from a friend. I don't test for phosphates (yet). Nitrates=0. Thanks.

 

[Aquarist007]

I can't tell from the dist of the picture but it looks like it could be halmida---it grows quite quickly, absorbs alot of calcium and most fish won't eat it----so I would continue to harvest it.
Other macro algae---put a tang in there--it'll eat it

 

[hmello@bermexin]

Looks like some grape caulerpa. Does the emerald eat anything that you have seen? If it were me I would start at one side pull out a rock and clean it best I could working to the other side until done. Don't break the little round things if that is grape caulerpa, it wil just wpread the spores.
Better to address the cause of the proliferation of the macro algae now though. Too many nutrients in the tank. The algae needs something to feed off, nutrients are it's food. Something dying, overfeeding, tap water etc.etc. Best way to get rid of algae is to starve it.
Lawnmower will help but it is not addressing the cause.

 

[sage_commander]

capn: Can't keep a tang in there. You trying to get me in trouble?

hmello: I've seen the emerald eat some of the fern-looking stuff. Not the "grape" stuff that I've seen. I figured some of it was good for the color and to act as a nitrate sink. But I will spend some time today (possibly) getting a bunch of the stuff out.

Wish I had room for a fuge. I'd just throw that stuff in there.

 

[mildew]

Looks like a variety of different macro algae. You'll probably find some harder to control than others. I'd say, that no matter how attractive it may seem in small quantities you ought to get rid of all of it before it gets out of hand. A small yellow tang, get it on loan - like rent it- and then maybe the tang police won't get after you, should help some. I think I detect some red macro up front and for me that is the worst. Nothing eats it. I thought the first piece that sprouted was neat but 2 years later I'm still pulling it with no hope of ever being completely free of it. Get every piece of what you pull out of the tank so it doesn't drift off, take root and start a new colony.

 

[meco65]

I had a Mexican Turbo eat the red macro.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

send to me so i can add to my fuge. lol actually it does add some nice color to the tank. but can also get out of hand very fast. if you keep your nitrates and phosphates down it should start to receed but pulling as much as you can first helps alot.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10277836#post10277836 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sage_commander
capn: Can't keep a tang in there. You trying to get me in trouble?

hmello: I've seen the emerald eat some of the fern-looking stuff. Not the "grape" stuff that I've seen. I figured some of it was good for the color and to act as a nitrate sink. But I will spend some time today (possibly) getting a bunch of the stuff out.

Wish I had room for a fuge. I'd just throw that stuff in there.

oops sorry--I didn't see the tank size when I first posted--I am getting my self in trouble here--honestly guys my tangs are in a 110 gal which I have designed with lots of swimming room---I fully intend to up grade when they get bigger.

You could but a small yellow in temporalily though to clean up the algae.

 

[petoonia]

Rip as much out as you possibly can, because it will grow back. I thought it looked kind of nice in my tank as well. Then it just got out of control. Do yourself a huge favor get as much out as you possibly can. I wound up getting rid of a lot of my rock because it spreads to everything. Once it gets on a rock it is nearly impossible to get it permanently off without damaging the rock.