Whats this fuzz?

[wharfrat48]

Copied this from the general forum to see if anyone else had any ideas....

It kinda crept up on me and before I knew it, it was covering just about all my rocks. Doesn't seem to be hurting or outcompeting anything... it just looks bad. I didn't realize how bad until I saw a friends tank and realized your supposed to be able to actually see the rocks. Anyone have any idea what it is (I'm assuming some sort of algae)? All parameters are good, no detectable NO3, NO2, PO4. Ca 430ppm, Alk 9kdh, good skimmer, running carbon, doing water changes (RO/DI). Any help would be great. Thanks

I don't think it's Asparagopsis (unless it's a different type/stage), I've had that before, and it's not "cottony" or red enough.

Rich

 

[Shoestring Reefer]

Is it slimy?

 

[wharfrat48]

Not like gooey slimy, but it is slick if you run you finger over it.

 

[scarter]

is any of it red? in the fuge or anywhere? no trace or red in new growth?

 

[wharfrat48]

Nope no red--- I've seen/had asparagopis and it doesn't look like it at all. It's almost like a fungus or mold covering all the rock, but only where there is light-- none on the underside of the rocks. If you look across the top of the rock, it looks like they have a really short crew cut. It's getting very frustrating.

 

[scarter]

well, it appears to be very fine, and similar to aspar it is gonna fall apart in your hand if you try to groom it. JMO but the only way you are gonna get that outta there is to find the correct clean up guy for it. e-tropicals has a build your own pack. I would get two of everything. I know i have seen my little red foot conch, emerald crab, and mex hermit all eat the aspar. This may be a good place to start. actually I am not positivde that the conch is eating it or jsut ripping it up, but I have actually seeen the other two ingest it. I believe that all algae problems are cured with the correct crew. oh BTW, the mex herm are prob your best bet, but be careful if you vivit the LFS cause there are about 6 crabs that are falsely sold as mex her. print a good color picture and take it to the lfs. you will be 'that weird guy with the picture' but you will get what you need.