Macro Algea Problem

[Montezuma]

ok guys, im having a small problem. I have this algea growing only at the top of the tank. it grwns really long. My params all look good. The only thing is my nitrates are a creeping up. I am doing weekly water changes to try and control that. I have a phosphate media in a reactor I added. Is there anything else I can do??

Thanks in Advance

Here is the entire tank.

 

[coralnut99]

Your Yellow tang is a lazy bum. Rent a sailfin.

Seriously though, the biggest problem I see is that you have a foam/rock wall, so you can't just remove the infested rock. It's not a species I've ever seen before either. It looks soft enough that your YT should at least nibble on it.

I really hate suggesting buying an animal to control something and then it turns into a pest of it's own variety, but again since those rocks are fixed, you may not have much of a choice. I've had macros get loose in my tanks also, and if the tangs don't do it in, I whip out the tweezers and pluck away. It's not fun, and seriously tedious, but it is an option. The thing that will most likely mow it down in a hurry is a sally lightfoot. They really are green-stuff hoovers. But once they finish, they'll turn on snails and othe inverts, so you'll have to trap him once it's done.

It wouldn't hurt to cross-post this in the macroalgae forum and see if you can get an ID, and some suggestions there.

 

[DennisRB]

That stuff sort of looks cool, unlike hair algae. Get a few more herbivorous fish

 

[billsreef]

It's Enteromorpha, related to sea lettuce. Only grows in shallow well lit water, hence why it's only at the top. I'm surprised your yellow tang hasn't eaten it all, they usually devour the stuff, as will most herbivorous fish. Urchins will also eat it, so you might want to try one of those since your tang isn't doing his job.

 

[norskfisk]

As an algae lover I must say it is beautiful. I don't understand why you want to get rid of it. I've been trying to keep this in my tank without success. It probably doesn't get the right nutrients. It feeds the corals indirectly by feeding a microfauna with sugar. Also, since it needs such a high flow and ammonium you seem to have it contained at the top by the outlet. It is not often you have algae outbreaks contained like that.

 

[DennisRB]

I vote for keeping it!

 

[eyesinthedrk]

i vote to keep it as well, algae is not bad untill it choakes your corals or covers a particulary cool looking piece of rock, your algae is contained at the top only and is a pretty cool type of algae so i say why get rid of it

 

[coralnut99]

Controlling macroalgae growth in a reef display is very diffcult to do. In time the entire upper tier of this display will be covered and growing corals there will be about impossible. Have you ever seen a zoanthid rock with caulerpa snaked through it? The rock is smothered in a matter of a few days. This is one of the main reasons for running a refugium. It keeps macroalgaes in their place while still benefitting from their presence in the system.

 

[fishysteve]

Very nice tank. Personally, I think it looks good. But I'm sure it will take over eventually. I had that happen to me a few years ago with feather caulerpa. Luckily I was able to trade my rock pound for pound with the LFS I used to work at. I'll never give my herbivorous fish a treat from my refugium again.

 

[fishysteve]

coralnut99 - Are you near the Poc Mont resort?

 

[coralnut99]

Well, close is a relative term in my neck of the woods. It's about 7 miles from where I live. Closer, as the crow flies. Heading this way?

 

[xJake]

The Perfect Algae Solution!

But in all seriousness, you should probably start with the above and if your problems continue then look for an animal that has a high chance of taking care of it for you (e.g. Lo vulpinis). Only if your tank is large enough of course.

 

[Bill Cobb]

Maybe if you cut back on the tang feeding, he'll start nipping at it.

 

[thecoralreefer]

Agreed w bill If you stop feeding the tang he will start to look for normal foods. And thus forcing him to eat that algae