What is this algae and how do you get rid of it

[itsamyheff]

I've noticed this algae starting to grow near the top side of the tank. Tank has been set up for almost a year now with no issues. It is a mixed reef set up. The algae just started showing itself about a month ago. It grows very quickly and pulls off the rocks with little effort. It's not like you typical bubble algae. I replaced the t5 bulbs about 6 months ago. I have a kessil ap700 led that is a few years old. I run filter socks that probably need changing out sooner than what I do. I did reuse my rock from the old tank. It set dry for a year and I did stick it in a trash new trash can to cure with live rock before introducing it to the tank.

 

[civics14]

Looks like Ulva to me. What size tank is it? Tangs would usually destroy that stuff.

 

[itsamyheff]

120. I have a goldrim in there and he laughs at it. Trying to decide what tang to pull from the 300 fowler and put it with him.

 

[civics14]

120. I have a goldrim in there and he laughs at it. Trying to decide what tang to pull from the 300 fowler and put it with him.

Are you giving it seaweed? I use to have massive hair algae in my last 120 and one day I decided to stop giving all the tangs seaweed. About a week later, they went to town on all the hair algae.

 

[itsamyheff]

Maybe a third of a sheet every 7 days or so.

 

[itsamyheff]

The algae starts out kinda flat rounding form. I try not to let them stay in there to long before removing. I just pulled all the algae I could see last Monday. The pic is just one piece I pulled out today. They do seem to look like sea weed once they break.

 

[hzheng33]

My first impression was ulva as well but I don’t know why it’s brownish

 

[itsamyheff]

Ulva seems to be the consensus. I took some pieces around to local stores and they don’t see it being a bad thing as long as it’s not choking the corals out. They said it’s kinda like chaeto in the display and the tangs would eat it up. We will pull what we can and I beefed up the cleaning crew. Any other suggestions?