Ok so it seems I have a minor issue. My montipora cap has what seems to be a minor outbreak of hair algae growing on it. Growing on the ridges. Still has great polyp extension and brushing it all off with a toothbrush doesn't really help it just comes back. Any ideas? Will try and get a good pic once all the lighting comes on in a bit. Have a little growing on rocks as well but I expect that at times. Not growing on what seems to be a healthy coral.
Montipora cap has algae growing on it.
- Thread starter Aaeolien
- Start date
reefboarder
Intelligent Donkey
IME hair algae or any algae won't grow on a healthy coral, it sounds like the growth edge is receding. Any chance it is on the bottom of the coral and growing in a manner that it is killing the coral? You could try putting in a higher flow area and maybe try to shade the area a little, or possibly somewhere that light for sure isn't reflecting off the bottom. Without seeing what is really going on these are just stabs in the dark. Hopefully when you post pics we will be able to get a better idea.
It's weird it's not on the outside growth edge. Sorta just growing all over it where it's bumpy. Not on the bottom. I would just snip it if it was on the edge. I moved it around into a bit higher flow this evening so will see what happens. Polyps were a bit retracted tonight for the first time in a long while so I am thinking whatever it is really is not making it a happy camper.
All water parameters are the same as they have been for weeks no changes to speak off. Nitrate .6 po4 is .04, alk 9.2, ca 450, mg 1500, ph floats between 8.2 and 8.4, salinity 1.025. Everything else in tank is doing fine including another red monti cap. Did a 15% water change today and those measurements were taken before the change. Will do a full round of tests again tomorrow, but assuming they will be very similar.
Have a little bit of algae growing on rocks but nothing that is out of control or abnormal for this tank. Always seem to have a small amount.
Tried to get a good pic this evening but could not get one to come out well to save my life. Really only can see it if you get right up close to the piece and my camera apparently doesn't like that. Lol.
Thanks guys hopefully it is something the coral will fight off.
All water parameters are the same as they have been for weeks no changes to speak off. Nitrate .6 po4 is .04, alk 9.2, ca 450, mg 1500, ph floats between 8.2 and 8.4, salinity 1.025. Everything else in tank is doing fine including another red monti cap. Did a 15% water change today and those measurements were taken before the change. Will do a full round of tests again tomorrow, but assuming they will be very similar.
Have a little bit of algae growing on rocks but nothing that is out of control or abnormal for this tank. Always seem to have a small amount.
Tried to get a good pic this evening but could not get one to come out well to save my life. Really only can see it if you get right up close to the piece and my camera apparently doesn't like that. Lol.
Thanks guys hopefully it is something the coral will fight off.
Eastamherstbias
New member
I don't know how right this is but i have in the past taken a toothbrush to the algae part and the cap has recovered and grown over the death (i dropped a rock on it). It recovered, but you need to figure out the cause of why the cap is unhappy.
