Mystery Algae

[Jeremy_Martin]

I hate to start yet another algae ID thread, but I have been browsing the various algae ID threads and can't seem to find anything similar. Hopefully someone smarter than me can ID this algae, and better yet suggest a method of removal. It looks like multiple types, but my best guess is Bryopsis? It have tried picking it off, but it seems to really be in there.

Tank info"¦ 57 gallon rimless. My live rock is about 10 years old and immediately after trying to move the tank a few years ago it crashed and I lost everything. I kept the tank running, but basically just topped off the water and over time this algae completely took over the tank. Now I have a new tank that I moved the rock over to with sand instead of a crushed coral substrate. After a lot of research on algae I have added media reactors with carbon and Phosban. I have been testing the water regularly with Red Sea test kits. I show 0ppm Nitrate, 0.04ppm Phosphate, 8.4dKH Alk, 430ppm Calcium, and 1520ppm Magnesium. PH is ~8.3. Lighting is six T5 bulbs with a 10hr photoperiod. I have been using the phosban for about a month now, but I'm not seeing much of a change. I don't want to remove the rock as it is full of interesting creatures that I would hate to kill off. I also have about six hermits, a few Turbo, and some Astrea snails. The tank has been fishless since the crash, but I now have a single green chromis.

 

[Jeremy_Martin]

Another picture

 

[brandon429]

We can beat that for sure.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2082359&page=43

 

[brandon429]

Removing the rock for brief external treatment won't kill off the life we do it all the time, it will kill the algae. Benthic life associated with the new surface area made by the thick algae mass will be lost under any treatment, but not the greater balance in the tank.

That algae would be considered valuable by macro tank keepers btw

It looks like fw cabomba

Maybe just keep it or find a tang that w eat it

But if you want it gone, that can be done easily

Nothing says you have to do the full tank
Try one test rock give it six days after a treatment post pic then

 

[Jeremy_Martin]

Thanks! That's very helpful.

 

[tektite]

Please don't kill it too fast! I would love to be able to buy some of the bottlebrush macro off of you. I sent you a PM last night, I can send you a shipping label and heating pack to make it easy. Please let me know, it looks like a cool macro and I need more green ones in my macro tank