Help! Macro Algae Problem!

[wbholwell]

Ok, so I've got this macro algae growing in my display and it's starting to take over. It used to be isolated in one corner in the upper right side, but now I'm noticing it everywhere.

It's reddish brown in color, very stringy, and <u>very tough</u>. I can't pull it off the rocks. The best I can do it cut it with scissors while siphoning. I'll take a picture of it tonight and post it up.

I want to find something that will eat this stuff. If I can't, I'm afraid I'll forever be doomed to pruning this stuff to keep it in check. So, to whoever can suggest a reef-safe critter that will devour this algae with gusto, I will award two mounted frags of any coral in my tank!

Let the suggestions begin! (And please, don't randomly suggest something without any clue as to if it will eat it or not.)

 

[purplegorilla]

I would try the tuxedo urchin. I know my urchin would eat anything. I had him for a year and used him like a 5 dollar street entertainer. He went from one tank to another and made my rock completely clean from algae. Obviously you already know that it will take unmounted frag with it but tuxedo is not that bad.

I had a purple urchin (not tuxedo) that was worst because his spine was a little longer, and I managed to deal with him for a year. If you need, I can loan him to you. However I just gave it to one of my neighbor but I don't think he would mind to let loan it to you to try out.

 

[wbholwell]

Will a tuxedo urchin eat coraline algae?

Do you think he would be able to climb up the tonga branch in the upper right corner of my tank?

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[purplegorilla]

Yes, they will eat coraline and more. I use to worry about it but actually coralines grow back within a week. I don't see how he wouldn't be able to climb on there..If mine can't, I would just pick him up and put him there and come back a day later it he would completly mow it down. BUt they usually climb all over place. Sometimes I would worry that he fall into my overflow. LOL.

From your descriptions. You said that the algae is tough and fibrous. I was thinking it is some type of calcerous algae, but I can't find any that is reddish brown.

 

[FutureInterest]

It sounds like red turf algae. Nasty stuff that is really hard to pull off the rocks and kind of mats the surface of the rock versus growing up and out like a hair algae.

Tuxedo urchins are more coralline eaters than anything else but they will incidentally eat algae that's on the coralline. They're good lil critters for sure. Mine is a walking zoa colony and he's a personal favorite.

There are few fish that eat red turf, like the achilles tang and some rabbitfish. I've heard of people having luck with mexican turbo snails as well.

 

[FutureInterest]

If its ogo aka gracilliaria I want some for my fuge .

 

[wbholwell]

It kinda looks like this, except brownish red:

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/Green/turfalgae/Cladophoropsis1.htm">http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/Green/turfalgae/Cladophoropsis1.htm</a>

I can't find a good photo of red turf algae. It's definitely not lacy or pretty. It's more of a hairy, stringy mat. Very tough stuff.

 

[wbholwell]

FutureInterest;166088 wrote: If its ogo aka gracilliaria I want some for my fuge .

I don't know that it is, if this pic is a good representation:

>http://www.liveaquatix.com/pb/wp_78a4c2ae/images/img76704685a3e21c6d4.jpg</a>

This algae has multiple branches, whereas mine seems to be almost single strands of the stuff, or it might branch once or twice.

 

[wbholwell]

Barbara;166103 wrote: How 'bout these?

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=28&gps=86_8_1094_879&f=00&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.botany.hawaii.edu/ReefAlgae/Redskey.htm">http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=28&gps=86_8_1094_879&f=00&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.botany.hawaii.edu/ReefAlgae/Redskey.htm</a>

Go down to #40 and look at all those.[/QUOTE]

Nothing matches exactly. I'll post pics tonight.

 

[FutureInterest]

Do you have any tangs or rabbitfish in that tank? Typically red turf isn't a problem in most tanks that have the right grazer.

 

[linda lee]

wbholwell;166072 wrote: Do you think he would be able to climb up the tonga branch in the upper right corner of my tank?

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Ours climbed all the way up the Coralife temperature sensor wire in the tank. I think they can pretty much go anywhere they need to.

 

[wbholwell]

Linda Lee;166226 wrote: Ours climbed all the way up the Coralife temperature sensor wire in the tank. I think they can pretty much go anywhere they need to.

Thanks, Linda. I might have to give one of these cute guys a try (although Trihn would get the credit for the suggestion.) If it works, I'll gladly give you a frag, too :up:

FutureInterest;166178 wrote: Do you have any tangs or rabbitfish in that tank? Typically red turf isn't a problem in most tanks that have the right grazer.

Nope, no tangs or rabbitfish. I have a couple of clowns, a bicolor angel, a potters angel, a pseudochromis, and a yellow tail damsel. If the urchin doesn't work out, I'll look into a foxface.

Do you think the pseudochomis will beat up a foxface? He's a mean little sucker!

 

[FutureInterest]

Honestly, I have absolutely 0 experience with pseudochromis. I try to stay away from small fish with aggressive 'tude like the pseudos and damsels. I understand the draw though as they have a lot of color to add to a tank. I've seen tanks with well behaved pseudochromis though and they seem to be less belligerent to fish that are much larger.

I think Steve, oldsracer, was able to introduce a foxface into his tank that had a strawberry pseudochromis.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

wbholwell;166230 wrote: Thanks, Linda. I might have to give one of these cute guys a try (although Trihn would get the credit for the suggestion.) If it works, I'll gladly give you a frag, too :up:



Nope, no tangs or rabbitfish. I have a couple of clowns, a bicolor angel, a potters angel, a pseudochromis, and a yellow tail damsel. If the urchin doesn't work out, I'll look into a foxface.

Do you think the pseudochomis will beat up a foxface? He's a mean little sucker!

Im sure a pseudo would take on a shark. They suck.

 

[wbholwell]

Ok, I finally got around to uploading the photos. Hopefully someone can ID this algae. If it's the desirable gracilliaria, I will give some to anyone who wants it. If it's the dreaded red turf algae, I guess a tang is in my future.

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[FutureInterest]

That's not red turf algae either. I've never seen that particular weed before.

 

[wbholwell]

Yeah, I told you it was not pretty! I looked through all the photos of aglaes on multiple sites, and was never able to find an exact match.

So do you think an urchin might eat it? If not, I might go with the beloved foxface.