downhill_biker Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I am unsure of what kind of algae this is, but I am having some issues with it. I need to figure out what it is, and why it is growing in this frag tank, and not the other, and why it isn't growing in the display or sump, since they are all connected on the same system. I set up this tank 2 weeks ago and it is getting out of hand. Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Looks like hair algae to me. And it *is* really taking over! Do you have any kind of cleaning crew in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Is it on the downhill side of the display? I.E. Does the display drain into this one? This looks identical to the stuff I was getting in my growout tank which I figured was a result of the detritus filtering into the growout from the display. I took a two step process to bring it under control. First I used a brush to knock as much as I could loose without taking the rack out and then I added a diamond goby to the tank. The diamond goby was the most effective and has most of it gone now. I do have another green algae growing in there on the egg crate now but it isn't the ugly brown garbage and there isn't nearly as much. I'm not going to worry about the green stuff as I figure it's exporting some nitrates and/or phosphates and it isn't effecting the sump or display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted December 5, 2009 Author Share Posted December 5, 2009 well it is in my frag tank, no sand bed, and not much of a cleaning crew. a few snails, a lawnmower blenny, a yellow tang, and a foxface rabbitfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted December 5, 2009 Author Share Posted December 5, 2009 it isn't draining from the display, it is on it's own line, and they meet in the sump. but...i do see detritus settling in the bottom, maybe i should add another powerhead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Mine did the same thing, I took the rack out once and cleaned it. I think its just kind of a cycle thing with the eggcrate since there is no sand or rock. mines pretty much gone now but may take a few weeks and a few brushings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaywood Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Welcome to the bryopsis world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 So we think its bryopsis? I thought bryopsis was green, this is brownish, and slimy, it melts away when i scrub at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaywood Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Maybe so, looks like bryopsis to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilmca Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Sorry, I don't know what it is but none of the fish you listed touch it? That's crazy how it's covering the frags. I get some detritus on the bottom of my frag tank that I suck out every other week when I do a water change. I have left it longer and do notice more algae growth when I don't stay on top of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nnewhouse Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I heard a "rumor" that white egg crate leaks phosphates. I don't know if its true or not, but everyone I have known that uses it in their tanks eventually gets that same type of algae. Clay just had it in his frag tank and I had it in mine. Weird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilmca Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I heard a "rumor" that white egg crate leaks phosphates. I don't know if its true or not' date=' but everyone I have known that uses it in their tanks eventually gets that same type of algae. Clay just had it in his frag tank and I had it in mine. Weird?[/quote'] I've also heard that the egg crate leaks phosphates before but I use it and only have coraline algae growing on it. Just my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Curtis, Are those air bubbles in the formation? You say it just "melts away" when you touch it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Curtis, do two things: First, take the eggcrate out and scub it. This kind of algae tends to grow on fresh eggcrate with good light above it. After you scrub it you shouldn't see too much pop back up. It may take a few times. Second, get a dozen Mexican Turbo Snails. They will consume every inch of that stuff. Trochus will also do a nice job as will Margaritas usually. Nassarius obselleta will not touch this variety of algae in my experience. They are mostly consume detritus and left over food but will hit up diatoms and some film algae. Should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Mine did the same thing' date=' I took the rack out once and cleaned it. I think its just kind of a cycle thing with the eggcrate since there is no sand or rock. mines pretty much gone now but may take a few weeks and a few brushings[/quote'] No sand may make a difference as well. I added an inch or so of sand to the bottom primarily because the junk was ugly and looked way different from what I was trying to accomplish. The goby spends about half his time sifting the sand (which is completely clean now) and the other half picking algae off the eggcrate. I doubt the eggcrate is leaching phosphates. If it did then I would think anything else made from the same material we used would as well (powerheads, screens, etc.). There may be something on the eggcrate that does though. I.E. Garrett's tip to wash it may help and would explain why it is a phase they go through rather than a persistent problem. I would have washed mine after the fact but it has a couple of frags growing directly on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 Thanks everyone. I will hit it a few times and keep the algae off. Franklin, the algae takes a good scrub or two before it melts away. I dont think it is a form of cyano, if that is what you were thinking. I will try some more snails and I will keep scrubbing till it quits leaking phosphates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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