Stiff dark brown algae covering all rocks

[abhishek@1985]

Hi ,

I have these dark brown stiff algae all over my tank . Now all my acros are thriving but these dark brown stiff sometimes look horrible .
PO4-0.05 and nitrates - 10-20 .

What kind are these algae ? Some form of GHA ? Red turf algae like Callithamnion?
I have a few snails - trochus and turbo . What will eat these buggers ?

Will tuxedo urchins help ?







Regards,
Abhishek

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Its some type of red turf algae alright.
Urchins should clean it up I'd expect, & perhaps some grazing fish, but some of these turf algae are unedible to fish.

 

[JTL]

I have been fighting something similar for a few months. It looks a little different but not much. Mine tends to grow in certain areas of the top rocks and even get on the corals. It does not come off easy we have taken to removing the worst rocks and brushing them with a metal brush. Going forward we are going to blow off the crevices in the suspect rocks on a daily basis to get rid of any excess food or detritus. Also have reduced the lighting times and will feed less. Nasty stuff.

 

[Subsea]

If rock can be taken out of tank, use H202 and apply with a tooth brush. Let set 5 minutes and brush off and wash before returning to tank.

Hydrogen peroxide is collateral damage to everything when used as a concentrate with a tooth brush. I also use it as a 10 minute dip. Mix a 10% solution of H202 with tank water. In some cases I have had to dip twice.

Both techniques work, however, coral can be damaged if applied incorrectly.

 

[ClownNut]

i had that all over my tank to the point all the rock in the tank looks maroonish. then i added a powder brown, convict and clown clean them up in couple of weeks. the tangs didnt eliminated them from the system, they will keep them in check.

 

[McPuff]

What's your magnesium level? I've had that stuff in the past but it always goes away. Not sure if that's because of the fish assemblage or the fact that I try to keep my Mg levels quite high.

 

[abhishek@1985]

What's your magnesium level? I've had that stuff in the past but it always goes away. Not sure if that's because of the fish assemblage or the fact that I try to keep my Mg levels quite high.

Its around 1420 . Think I should increase it to 1600 ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[abhishek@1985]

i had that all over my tank to the point all the rock in the tank looks maroonish. then i added a powder brown, convict and clown clean them up in couple of weeks. the tangs didnt eliminated them from the system, they will keep them in check.

Tank is small only 70 gallon cube - 30 in x 30 in x 18 in . Think any other tang would work ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[ClownNut]

short term for sure, long term might not.

 

[McPuff]

Its around 1420 . Think I should increase it to 1600 ?

Regards,
Abhishek

Hmmm, 1420 is already pretty high. Not sure increasing it would help... but you could try. Maybe the tang would be worth trying until it outgrows your tank.

 

[abhishek@1985]

Which tangs do you guys suggest ? Kole ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[abhishek@1985]

Tried tuxedo urchins but not much effect . All the snails have the stuff brown algae growing on their shell too .
Any other cleanup crew option?

Should try a tang but which one for a small tank ???

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[mcgyvr]

IMO manual/peroxide removal is your best bet..
You could try Mexican Turbo Snails too or another type of urchin but thats always such a slow process unless you really overstock the tank with them..

 

[abhishek@1985]

IMO manual/peroxide removal is your best bet..
You could try Mexican Turbo Snails too or another type of urchin but thats always such a slow process unless you really overstock the tank with them..

I have started removing rocks one by one and scrubbing them. Its so difficult with acros encrusted all over them !
Wishes there were some fishes or inverts I could try !!!

Regards,
Abhishek