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FAQs on Marine Algae Identification 15
Related Articles: Avoiding
Algae Problems in Marine System,
Algae Control, Marine
Maintenance, Nutrient Control and Export,
Marine Scavengers, Snails,
Hermit Crabs,
Mithrax/Emerald
Green Crabs, Sea Urchins, Blennies,
Algae Filters, Ctenochaetus/Bristle
Mouth Tangs, Zebrasoma/Sailfin Tangs, Skimmers,
Skimmer Selection, Marine
Algae, Coralline
Algae, Green Algae, Brown
Algae, Blue-Green
"Algae"/(Cyanobacteria), Diatoms,
Brown Algae,
Related FAQs: Marine Algae ID 1, Marine
Algae ID 2, Marine Algae ID 3,
Marine Algae ID 4,
Marine Algae ID 5,
Marine Algae ID 6, Marine
Algae ID 7, Marine
Algae ID 8, Marine Algae ID 9,
Marine Algae ID 10,
Marine Algae ID 11,
Marine Algae ID 12,
Marine Algae ID 13,
Marine Algae ID 14,
Marine Algae ID 16,
Marine Algae ID 17,
Marine Algae ID 18,
Marine Algae ID 19,
Marine Algae ID 20,
Marine Algae ID 21,
Marine Algae ID 22, &
Marine Algae Control FAQs
2,
Marine Algaecide Use, Nutrient
Limitation, Marine Algae Eaters, Culturing
Macro-Algae; Controlling: BGA/Cyano,
Red/Encrusting Algae, Green
Algae, Brown/Diatom Algae,
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You got the "Bots" man. |
Spreading red bubble algae! At my wits end!
4/15/07
I am currently struggling with red bubble algae in my 14 gallon
BioCube. My tank is 6 1/2 months old. I have been battling this red
bubble algae for the last two months. It is spreading and getting worse,
as you will see in the attached photos.
<Can see this... does look like a Botryocladia infestation... of epic
proportions>
It started off with what looked like red/burgundy or even blood
spattered looking stuff over the top of one of my rocks. Then it turned
into red bubbles. Hard, solid bubbles. Now it has spread to the next
rock. I was told not to pop any of the bubbles because it will release
spores into my tank and cause it to spread more. I was told not to
remove the rocks and scrub it off and then rinse and return the rock to
my tank because it will continue to come back. I was told that putting a
small Foxface in my tank will take care of the problem,
<Mmm, not likely>
but as soon as I took the Foxface out after it ate all the bubble algae,
it would come right back. I cannot even think about this option because
my tank is too small for a Foxface, and I already have 3 small fish in
my tank that I am quite attached to. I was then told that my only option
would be to totally tear my tank down; siphon all water, remove the
sand, rocks, etc... and start all over again with everything new, after
scrubbing my tank and equipment clean. Is this the only way to get rid
of the red bubble algae?
<Mmm, no... there are a few other approaches worth considering>
I am very frustrated with it at this point and it breaks my heart if I
have to start all over again. What do I do with my current tank
inhabitants and corals?
<Mmm, depends...>
My tank inhabitants are a percula, sixline wrasse, midas blenny, fire
shrimp, 10 tiny blue legged hermits, pom pom crab, 4 Astrea snails, 2
Nassarius snails, and electric blue legged hermit crab. Coral-wise, I
have a pagoda cup, star polyps, button polyps/zoos, mushrooms, finger
leather, xenia and Octobubble coral. What causes this bubble algae
<Like crimes... access, motive...>
and if I have to break everything down and start all over again, how do
I make sure that it doesn't come back? Also, how harmful is it if
"nothing" is done?
<Might cause a collapse... cascade event if something becomes rate
limiting...>
I do 20% water changes every other Saturday using Nutri-Seawater, I top
off using RO/DI water. My parameters have all been consistent for the
last 4 months. Temp: 80.9, Ammonia: 0, PH: 8.2, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 0,
Calcium: 450, Salinity: 0.126. I feed my fish twice a day during the
week with frozen brine, mysis, emerald entree, marine cuisine, (mixing
it up from day to day) and on the weekends, I just feed once a day. I
have my lights on a timer; actinics on from 7am-6pm, regular lights on
from 8am-5pm, and then the moonlights on from 6pm-7am. Is there anything
that I can do/try before having to tear down my whole tank?
<All sorts...>
I was told to send you an e-mail because if anyone would be able to
properly advise me and help, it would be you. I am looking forward to
your response.
Thanks,
Kim
P.S. The first pic shows what the bubble algae looked like 2 months ago,
the second and third, from 1 month ago, and then the rest are from
today.
<Mmm, there are a few places I would read before settling on a course of
trials, changes here...
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcj/feature/index.php
and:
http://wetwebmedia.com/redalgcompfaqs.htm
and the linked files above, where you lead yourself... A multiple
"front" approach is advised... nutrient limitation, macrophyte
competition... perhaps adding a purposeful refugium, DSB... Bob Fenner>
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Macroalgae? Looks to be.
– 4/10/07
Anyone know what the heck this is? It's in our 30 gallon QT
(currently propagating hair algae) ;-)
<Heeeeheee!!! I guess so!!!
There are two colonies, this one is the size of a nickel and rubbery to
touch.
<I suspect it is an alga of some sort. I'm not sure too much beyond
that. It is very pretty and the color is striking. Keep growing it and
share it! There are types of Coralline algae that grow in this petal
like formation, some even look like flowers!
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/redalgae.htm
You've got quite a beauty! Any comment from RMF?>
Thanks Again,
<Welcome! -Mich>
Jim |
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Worm Identification Algae ID: Neomeris, Red
Slime and NNR 4/10/07
Hi, again!~
<Hi Vicki, Mich with you again!>
I have a new one for you!
<Alrighty!>
This time I have a picture~
<YAY!!!!>
I am sorely disappointed in my |Nano Cube....
<Quite small.>
We have been in ALGAE BLOOM since setting it up in January....Will it
ever end?
<A challenge with such a small system. More info below.>
I am attaching two photos of our tank...one with a close up of the
"finger" I am trying to identify,
<Your "finger" is an alga, commonly called a Fuzzy Tip Algae (Neomeris
sp.) If you like it, keep it. Nothing to be concerned about. Enjoy
it! More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm
>
and the other is one of what I have been told is red slime....It is
UGLY...
<Yes it is ugly and it can be a big headache!>
what are these things and what can we do to get our tank in good
condition?
<Something in the way of NNR (Natural Nitrate Reduction) would
help. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
and related links in blue.>
Vicki
<Cheers! -Mich> |
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Cyano or Algae? 4/8/07
Hi Crew,
<Tom>
Our 135G reef has some sort of pink algae bloom going on for the past
2-3 weeks, and after reading through the FAQs and pictures I'm still not
sure what it is. Does this look like Cyano?
<Likely so... or a filamentous Red...>
It's not slimy, it's sort of like cotton and holds together well. This
bloom first started about a week after removing all the fish from this
tank due to a Crypt outbreak.
<Mmm, more evidence that this is likely BGA>
May have had some overfeeding going on for a couple of weeks prior to
the bloom due to repeatedly baiting the fish traps, but nothing the
shrimp and snails didn't clean up. The inverts seem healthy and the
corals, including several Acropora colonies, are still in fine health
with normal polyp extension.
We have a 1" aragonite sand bed. Also a 35G sump with a 15G Chaeto fuge
section, EV-180 skimmer, Phosban reactor. Good water circulation in the
display using three Mak4 pumps (two 1" SeaSwirls and a chiller return),
actual flow in the display through these three outputs is a good 3000
GPH.
Water: Temperature 81-82F; SpGr 1.026; pH 8.3; dKH 9.9; Ca 355; NH3/4,
NO2, NO3 all 0; Mg 1260; PO4 0.
This tank is fairly new but the contents of this tank (live rock, water,
livestock) were moved from a 3 year old, 110G reef about 4 months
ago. I did add about 30lbs new live rock about 6-7 weeks ago...it
seemed to be well cured/aged at the LFS, but now I'm not so sure.
<Could be...>
That's all the relevant information I can think of. Would appreciate
any thoughts on what this stuff is, and what else I can do to get rid of
it.
I'd like to avoid disturbing the corals by removing rocks for scrubbing,
unless it's necessary. Attachments are sized to 253K and 276K, hope
that's not too big.
Thanks,
Tom
<Well... likely will just "go" with time, your listed gear,
maintenance... I might try the "Kalk" trick, elevating pH with same for
a short while... but otherwise would take a/the long-haul view here in
terms of control. Much re this posted... on WWM. Bob Fenner> |
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Invader - 4/7/07
<Hi Bob, Mich here.>
My reef tank, already overrun by Aiptasia I have been ineffective at
combating, is now invaded by this aggressive purple-pink fuzzy (I guess)
algae.
<You guessed correctly.>
Can you ID it for me,
<Does look like Red Hair algae (Asparagopsis) in the sporophyte stage.>
and hopefully give me a clue as to how to fight it?
<ID the source of your excess nutrients to treat the cause. Band-Aids
might include a Diadema urchin, sea slugs such as Aplysia and Hermaea,
and manual removal...oh, so much fun!>
As annoying as it is, I thought it would be the oft mentioned "hair
algae", but it doesn't look like the pictures of that I found.
<Exactly the same, but different.>
All water parameters I can measure are pristine,
<Mmm, doubtful, as you described you tank. Specific are helpful,
generalities not so much.>
the animal load is low and all healthy (1 yellow tang, 1 mandarin, 2
clowns, 1 small chromis,1 cleaner shrimp) in a 90 DSB show with
55-gallon downstream DSB refugium, and I feed sparsely in an attempt to
combat the Aiptasia.
<You are light on livestock. Something is amiss. Are you using RO/DI
water?>
432W of T-5 lighting 12 hours a day (actinic only for 2 of those
hours). Downstream fuge is lit 20 hours and has Chaeto in it but that
is reducing rapidly, possibly due to low nutrient load.
<Your lighting period on the refugium is too long, 12 hours would be
better.>
I can give you more specs if it helps.
<Nitrates? Phosphates?>
Your help, as always, is deeply appreciated by me and all those you
provide guidance to.
<Thank you for the kind words.>
Picture attached.
<Got it!>
Thanks again!
<You're welcome! -Mich>
Bob Lee |
Re: Invader - 04/07/07
I certainly understand your skepticism; I have to believe there is a
nutrient based cause too. But, here are readings from today:
Salifert PH: 8.3-8.4
Salifert Ammonia: <0.025 <Is this the lowest possible reading?>
Salifert Nitrite: 0
Salifert Nitrate: 0
Red Sea Alk: Normal
Nutrafin (Hagen) PO4 Mixed Water: 0
Nutrafin (Hagen) PO4 Tank Water: 0
Salinity 1.022
Temp 79.8
<Thank you for the data. It is helpful. It is possible that the algae
may be using all the available nutrients and may account for the zero
readings. I still suspect some kind of excess nutrient is at work
here.>
I have a 90G show tank spilling over through a custom acrylic top to a
full-flow 55G refugium with a DSB in the center section. There is a DSB
in the show too, with around 50 LB of live rock (last LR added around a
10 months ago). I have a Red Sea Prizm Pro skimmer (yeah I know it
isn't the best but it is removing gunk as long as I stay on top of
it).
<Stay on top of it!>
Water change and top off water is filtered with a GE Merlin RO system
and put through a DI cartridge too. TDS meter on the DI cartridge is
happy so far. I would be happy to check ANYTHING else I can to resolve
this issue!
<More info here and related links in blue: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm >
Thanks...
<Welcome... -Mich>
Bob Lee |
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Mmm, looks like a BGA to RMF |
Unidentified Algae/Sponge on Live Rock
3/31/07
First, let me say thank you to the team for making this a wonderful
resource for people interested in this hobby.
<Thank you. Brandon here tonight.>
It has helped me (and stopped the panic) many times of the last 4-5
years and I recommend it to all I know interested in this hobby.
<Good to know, and again thank you.>
Now to the question, I have a marine tank which I started about 3 years
ago, FOWLR, 110gal, marine tank. About 9 months ago I noticed that some
of the rocks appeared fuzzy and upon intense gazing noticed this stringy
growth, (same color as the actual rock) on some of the rockwork. After
researching on the web for hours and hours I could not find a picture
that helped to identify it and clear up the mystery. It has spread over
much of the rockwork now, and is somewhat unsightly.
<I am seeing what looks to be Coralline algae, and Green Algae, and A
LOT of detritus. You should consider increasing the flow in your
tank. I am willing to bet that if you just wave your hand over the rock
work this “algae” will come off.>
During this time, I did have a nitrate surge, which has since been
rectified, but even though the growth has slowed, I cannot seem to
eradicate it.
<If this was algae, I would say that the NO3 surge fed it, but I think
that it is just detritus.>
I have tried brushing it off, which has resulted in additional spreading
over time.
<Looks like wasted food, and well waste..>
I also use RO, water and change regularly. I can attest water
parameters are all within range
<This tells us nothing. You need to send numbers with your queries.>
and have been for at least 6 months (since the nitrate issue). Salinity
.20,
<This is kind of low, but with fish only, semi-acceptable.>
temp 76 degrees. The residents don't eat it and are otherwise
unaffected by it, which has lead me to believe this is not a filamentous
algae. Residents include a Sailfin Tang, Dusty Wrasse, Clownfish,
Damsel and a Niger Trigger. Any assistance in identification or
eradication would be wonderful. Pic attached, notice the edges of the
rock, I tried to do my best with the camera work.
<See above Re: detritus. Consider increasing your flow rate, and this
should help keep these particles suspended long enough for the filter
that you have to suck them up.>
Thanks again,
<You are welcome. Brandon.>
Mike |
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Black Slime/Cyano 3/19/07
Hey Crew,
<Hello>
Hope you all are doing great. <Good as possible on a Monday.> I am
requesting your help with an issue I know very little about. I actually
have never seen this before. <Let's see if I can help.> I provide
maintenance for a fish only system that I am migrating to a
reef. However, before doing this I would like to figure out how to
remove this black slime that keeps growing all over the rocks and sand.
I've attached pics of it.
The tank is a 55 Gal FOWLR. It has a working CoraLife skimmer, and plain
fluorescent lighting. Parameters are all good. I've tried siphoning
out the black sludge but it just keeps coming back. I don't know how to
get rid of it. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
David
<Looks like Cyano to me. Fueled by high nutrients and phosphate
mostly. Best bet is to try to eliminate the fuel by frequent water
changes and manual removal (siphoning). Increasing water movement will
help some too. Please see here for more details. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm
.>
<Chris> |
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