"Wafer Algae"

[xenia2]

Did some searching around and found what I have are unknown as "wafer" algae, a brown plating type algae slowly covering all rocks, zoas, etc.

It seems like naso tang can control the algae, but my tank is too small to add of one these guys. Anything else out there can help me with this?

 

[Piazzon12]

got any pics? never heard of the stuff...

 

[xenia2]

Look at the brown stuff on the middle tank.

 

[xenia2]

Another close up picture

 

[dreaminmel]

Here's the jist of the writeup on it in my Reef Invertebrates book by Calfo & Fenner.

Lobophora AKA Brown Wafer Algae or Encrusting Fan-Leaf Algae:
Upon touch the gelatinous almost rubbery texture lets us know it is not calcareous. It is not especially noxious or inclined to become a nuisance. Lobophora may be enjoyed in the marine aquarium for it's uniqueness but it can be controlled by limiting nutrients or using grazers such as the Diadema urchin if necessary.

 

[Piazzon12]

I think it's kinda cool, as long as it doesnt get outta hand

 

[xenia2]

Yes, it is almost rubbery texture, and slippery too.

At first I thought it was cool too, but now I afraid it will take over the other stuff and soon I have a brown rubbery rocks lol. I need something that can survive in a nano tank.

 

[dreaminmel]

I don't see why you couldn't try a Diadema urchin and then pass it on to someone else once you're done with it... Long term the urchin probably wouldn't have enough to eat in your tank but short term to take care of that algae would be fine.

 

[xenia2]

I think the urchin would have a hard time move around in there. Maybe a baby naso tang?

 

[Piazzon12]

how about manual removal??

 

[xenia2]

Yes I try to do that when I do water change for the ones growing outward. Some wrap itself to the rock and those are hard to it remove.

 

[frankandmaura]

Is it on a rock that can be removed? Maybe take the rock out and scrub it down...in some mixed water...

 

[xenia2]

it is almost like coralline algae, encrusting to the rocks.

 

[dreaminmel]

Not sure if you'd want to do this or how well it would work with that algae but here's how I accidentally ended up cleansing my live rock over the summer...

I tore down my tank to completely revamp it and plumb to the basement. In the process I put all of my live rock into a rubbermaid tote while all my coral and fish went into a 55g tank. In the chaos of everything, about two or three days later I noticed a foul stench starting to come from the tote due to no water movement or heater. I dragged the tote outside and dumped the water and then proceeded to aggressively swish and dunk every piece in buckets of freshwater that had to be changed out with more freshwater after every couple of rocks due to the nastiness. I then put the live rock back into the rubbermaid tote with a powerhead and heater and did water changes every week and would put a pinch of fish food in maybe once a week. In the end when the rock all went back into the tank I maintained the survival of some mini brittle stars, pods, all kinds of worms etc but all the invasive green star polyps and mushrooms were gone. Normally I would worry that it wouldn't be affective on algae but I still have yet to get any valonia bubble or bryopsis hair algae on those rocks. Those two algae are still only growing on the couple rocks that were in the 55g w/ corals attached...