Sps and algae

[l3leedingstar]

Hi everyone I have to ask some opinions. I have a frag rack that is constantly getting algae on it. But I've heard this is just what they do attract algae. The problem is my purple and green birdsnest frags keep getting it really bad. I've been scraping The algae off in a separate container then using coral rx to dip em. The algae doesn't seem to be bothering them but it bothers me. I don't mind dipping them once a week or so but I feel like it takes them a few days to open back up after I dip em and this is probably stressing them and stopping the growth. The green birdsnest has some type of blackish algae on the new tips but once I clean it off it comes back. So I guess what I'm asking is it better to chance the algae taking over or chance them being stressed out and dying? And is it ok to dip the corals that much? Why would the algae keep comming back? I've attached some pics maybe that will help pin point a good or bad algae. Thanks!

 

[mordinad]

Maybe an emerald crab would do you some good.

 

[MechEng99]

It's hard to tell, but it looks like a bryopsis problem (but it doesn't have the feathery ends - probably because you're attacking it so much). Bryopsis will grow even in nutrient-poor systems, and it also seems to love frag racks. Manual removal, treatment with Tech-M, and running the system with a low bioload will help. Not much will eat it.

But yes, frag racks can leach phosphates (depending on what they're made of), and they can trap detritus. Plus, crabs/snails can't get to frag racks as easily as climbing on rocks. Try blowing out your frag racks on a regular basis.

I wouldn't dip corals more than once a week unless you're treating for a parasite. Depending on what you use could stress them to death.

Try placing the algae-covered areas (not the corals tissue) in hydrogen peroxide for about 20 seconds. It'll kill the algae. I've dipped some corals - some live, some don't. Someone may be able to chime in on the use of hydrogen peroxide and corals better. I know it will cause problems with calcification long term, but I don't know about short term effects other than it worked fine on a few zoanthids, an acan, and the acros didn't like it.