Won't go away-Algae-3reef Forums

KOgle · 12-03-2007, 06:42 AM

I've been battling hair algea for some time now. I'm confused at this point as to why I can't get rid of it though because both my nitrates and po4's are at 0. I thought it needed at least one of these to grow????

I don't know what to do at this point to get rid of this but it's getting bad enough it's affecting my corals.

I manually pulled some out a month or two ago but the stuff that was still in there turned from a whitish green to a bright healthy green and came right back in full force. That being said I'm a little hesitant to pull this stuff out by hand. Any suggestions???

reef_guru · 12-03-2007, 07:12 AM

phosphates and silicates are the initial fuel for algae, but once algae starts light takes over. yellow tangs and a lawnmower blenny are good for getting rid of algae. there are chemicals to introduce that i know nothing about, i like to keep it natural.

Tangster · 12-03-2007, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KOgle

I've been battling hair algea for some time now. I'm confused at this point as to why I can't get rid of it though because both my nitrates and po4's are at 0. I thought it needed at least one of these to grow????

I don't know what to do at this point to get rid of this but it's getting bad enough it's affecting my corals.

I manually pulled some out a month or two ago but the stuff that was still in there turned from a whitish green to a bright healthy green and came right back in full force. That being said I'm a little hesitant to pull this stuff out by hand. Any suggestions???

Could be Bryopis and that is some stuff to get rid of. Did you use any L/rock ):

KOgle · 12-03-2007, 07:21 AM

I don't understand your question Tangster???

Did I use any live rock for what?

I've got a lawnmower but he doesn't seem to touch the stuff. Now that I know my nitrates and po4's are at 0 I think I might try to manually remove some of the stuff again.

Tangster · 12-03-2007, 07:48 AM

If you used L/Rock in the system or added a coral on plug you may have introduced it to your system. Noting eats it period its rumored a type of slug will ? None are proven to though. It will kill anything it touches I have a fire coral that totally grew around a littler tuft of it..

I'm debating now to just rip my reef down and cut my losses.. All I had a was a little speck on a coral I thats I transfered to the new one.. But it was on L/Rock that was sued 7 yrs ago in a 90 she had set up.. There are people who will say that magnesium Chloride and or Kent's Tech M will kill it ? I tried both nothing P.H at 8.9 9.2 for a few weeks nothing it would weaken and turn Brown and all but not die. Its a rich dark green with a feathery looking leaf, Have a peek Caulerpa taxifolia

KOgle · 12-03-2007, 08:37 AM

I'm with you now. After looking at the picture I'm pretty sure what I have is hair algea.

I think I'm going to work on manual removal and hope it doesn't backfire.

reef_guru · 12-03-2007, 08:41 AM

tangster bryopis is almost impossible to get rid of. and like you said nothing eats it. can you dip the specific item that has this?

Nemo 22 · 12-03-2007, 08:53 AM

i handle my mangrove hair algae issue buy nuking the rock.i was feeding it not realizing it.i bought one piece of l/r and seeded it the rock after it was nuked.im not saying go do this.but it worked for me.

as for that bryopis wouldnt drying that piece of l/r kill it? or does it spread onto other rocks quickly?

amcarrig · 12-03-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reef_guru

tangster bryopis is almost impossible to get rid of. and like you said nothing eats it. can you dip the specific item that has this?

We'd have to dip the entire reef at this point as it has spread like wildfire in the past 3 months. Also, I'm not sure that a dip would even kill this garbage

reef_guru · 12-03-2007, 04:44 PM

blow torch works wonders