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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 ID 23,
Marine Algae ID 24, Marine Algae ID,
25, & 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, | 
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 | 
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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