Need ID on this Algae which started popping up

[Rakie]

This algae has slowly started popping up, so far it's living on 2 rocks and doesn't appear to have spread much outside of that.

Pic 1: The algae is green, but my phone pics made some of them look brown

Pic 2: Never seen this before

Just wondering what I can do to get rid of it, and what it is precisely.

My tank is small (29g Biocube) but I would be glad to house a baby Yellow Tang for a month or two then give it to a local member after the algae has gone (I'm talking a 1.5" fish here)

 

[jraker]

Could it be Valoniopsis pachynema? There isn't too much info out there on it, so I don't know if there is a specific way to get rid of it. What is your current stock?

Here is a picture I found of it:

 

[rvlcf]

It appears one of your tank inhabitants has learned how to make balloon animals. You don't have a clownfish by any chance?

 

[hann1bal]

It appears one of your tank inhabitants has learned how to make balloon animals. You don't have a clownfish by any chance?

LOL Funniest **** ever!

 

[hann1bal]

According to your own pic it is "Valoniopsis pachynema"

 

[Rakie]

Could it be Valoniopsis pachynema? There isn't too much info out there on it, so I don't know if there is a specific way to get rid of it. What is your current stock?

Here is a picture I found of it:

SPS Dominant with Zoa's, Geometric Hawk, and Firefish.

 

[jraker]

It seems to be a turf algae of some sort. Get some turbo or trochus snails, and an urchin. I heard that those were good against turf algaes. Are there any rocks you can remove and put in an acid bath? If so, remove whatever rocks you can and boil them or put them in an acid bath.

 

[Rakie]

I'm reading that Turbo Snails can mow it down, and Hairy Pincushion Urchin.

Sadly a lot of frags are glued to this rock -- And I JUST dosed Prazi in my DT today due to no room for a QT and possible Flukes. So I could probably do the turbos but I'd be worried about the Urchin.

 

[Rakie]

I've got Trocus, they've grazed on it but they aren't that interested in it. A small urchin would be fine if it doesn't get affected by Prazipro

 

[jraker]

I would wait until the prazi treatment is done until you add more inverts. Turbo snails and pincushion urchins will work extremely well at mowing it down, so I would get those.

 

[Rakie]

So i take it a tiny YT wouldn't be ideal? Not sure there's much room in my Biocube for an Urchin

 

[jraker]

I really don't know about a yellow tang as a reliable algae control method. I know that they do eat algae, but it seems kind of hit or miss, and I have not seen much evidence of people using them to control algae. You could try a dwarf angel, but again, it is hit or miss. It might also nip at corals.

You can definitely try a small tang temporarily or a dwarf angel, but I think something like a pincushion urchin or some turbo snails would be better, because they are proven to mow down tough algae, especially turf algae. I know from experience that large turbo snails will get the job done.

 

[Rakie]

Cool deal, thanks much!I'll just have to glue or move a few frags for those guys so they have room to do their thing