Refiugm plants in tank

[larrylwill]

I started a refiugm about 8 months ago. I was given some plants to start it. It has a lot of micro algie now as well as plenty of life. However the 2 plant species got into the main tank last month and are taking over. The red I can pretty much control but the green is attaching to everything and I cant pull it off. Any ideas how I can get rid of it?

thanks

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/358002a.JPG

 

[s1xtyfe3t]

could you take some closer pics? I can't tell if it's chaetomorpha or hair algae. Hair algae will be taken care of by a lawnmower blenny or astrea snails. I don't know what will take care of chaeto.

 

[larrylwill]

If these arn't good enough Ill take some more in the morning with a different camera and the power heads off. I have a scootter blennie but he doesnt touch it. Right now I dont have but about 3 snails left. Its been a year or more since i bought any because they didnthave much to eat. I don't think its hair algie. I had it some years ago. I have no phosphates and use RO water and only feed about once a week and mostley kelp flakes.

thanks

I have no idea why the images dont show.

 

[sjvl51]

I've never seen chaeto attach to anything. It seems to be more of a floating type of macro algae. From your photos, I really can't say what algae you have.

Some people have had sucess by removing a rock or two at a time and placing them in another container with a heater and powerhead. No light for a month or so. Some say the algae comes back others say it doesn't.

You could have no phosphate and nitrate readings because the macro algae is absorbing them. Another suggestion is to pull out of the display tank as much as possible and at the same time adda large amount of a fast growing macro algae, like chaeto, to the refuge. The fast growing macro algae will use up the nutrients before the stuff in your display tank which will eventually starve to death.

Vickie

 

[larrylwill]

Here are 3 more pictures that should help identify it.

thanks for your suggestions.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/3580001.jpg

 

[s1xtyfe3t]

Lawnmower blenny will blaze it for you.

 

[TN_sledge]

Looks like Bryopsis IMO. Hard to tell.

 

[larrylwill]

my lawnmower wont touch it.

 

[TN_sledge]

Lawn mower don't eat bryopsis to me knowledge.

 

[hmott]

try a few turbo snails, they will eat most macro's.