New Print and eBook on Amazon Marine Aquarium Algae Control by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Aragonite Sand Turning Green - 12/31/05 Good afternoon, <<Hello>> I have a 75gal setup, Coralife 2X65 power compact lights, 1200 gph Mag pump, protein skimmer, wet-dry filter, and the tank has been set up for about 6 months.  Now I noticed that my sand/substrate  has been turning into a shade of green towards the bottom, near the  glass. <<Tis normal>> The surface of the sand seems nice and but the bottom about 1"  thick is like a green color. <<This is algae growing next to the glass where light can penetrate.>> Is this normal? <<Very much so.>> Should I move the sand around to get the green color out of the sand or should I not worry about it since it might be beneficial bacteria. <<Best to leave it be.>> It doesn't look stringy or anything so I don't think it's algae but I'm not sure. <<It is a form of algae...>> Thanks in  advance. <<You're welcome, EricR>>

Algae ID  12/17/05 Hi Bob,          Thanks for the swift reply. How privileged I am to get a reply from the man himself! (I'm a big fan of your book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist") It was very readable (apart from all those scientific names! I don't think my brain has got the patience to absorb all those complicated names, let alone try and pronounce them correctly!) but a fantastic book none the less. <Much good help with its production> I have some algae growing in my tank that I'm struggling to identify and was hoping that you guys at WWM could help. Algae1 is quite slow growing (from nothing to about the size of a tennis ball in 3 to 4 months) and under actinic lights it takes on a bright fluorescent orange appearance. It looks quite rigid but is very soft to the touch. <A Red/Rhodophyte of some sort, perhaps one of the many Gracilaria species> Algae2 (the brown one in the picture) is quite rigid and it sprouted a whole new 'plant' over about one week but is also quite slow growing. (sorry about the poor picture but it's in quite a shaded spot) <Looks like another Red, jointed... maybe a Jania species> Algae3 and Algae4 (the same type) is extremely invasive and grows like wildfire. It covers my substrate if I don't keep it thinned back. I suspect it is some kind of Caulerpa as it has 'roots' of a white/transparent appearance that anchor it to the rocks and substrate. You may also notice some of what I believe to be grape Caulerpa in the background in the pictures titled Algae3 + Algae4. This started growing at about the same time as the invasive one but has not been growing quite as quickly. <Thought it was all some aberrant Caulerpa racemosa! Don't know what these are exactly, but would endeavour to keep the greens especially trimmed back> They are all growing under 3 x 25watt T8 Fluorescents (2 daylight + one actinic) in a 30 gallon tropical marine setup. If you can help identify these algae it would be much appreciated. Many thanks. Leif Hinks <Actual "to-genera" identification would/will require microscopic examination... but favoring the reds is the route to go practically. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Coralline algae  11/19/05 Dear Bob, I have a bit of a stupid question. I have live rock in my tank that has been there for approx 2-3 mos. I have a 180g FOWLR. The rock is growing pink and red encrusting algae. There are areas on the rock where there is green algae growing and I am having a hard time determining if this is coralline algae. The green algae doesn't look like it is "encrusting" but when it grows on the walls of the tank it feels like fine sandpaper. On the rock, the porosity of the rock that is covered by the green is evident. Unlike the encrusting pinks where the rock is "plated" I had a piece of dead fire coral in the tank that first grew pink, then green algae. This algae is not removed very easily and it is not slimy to touch. I have noted that it is now growing in the gravel of the tank. Is this likely to be coralline ? Jimmy <Well... encrusting is a descriptive term... usually associated with given species of red, brown and green algae... if it's hard, rough to the touch... is "encrusting"... but coralline refers to Reds/Rhodophytes of algae species... and these do look red, unless bleached (then white). Bob Fenner> 

Seaclone, algae and Flying Peppermint Shrimp Good day.  Know you are awful busy and will be as concise as possible. <Appreciate this> 1:    Seaclone 100.  Not bad, not good. <Bad enough... just suitable for small systems that are otherwise well-maintained> Have not been able to produce foam yet.  Not all of us are handy with tools and I should not be trusted with sharp objects.  Most of us can't afford an Aqua C.  There are lots of posts with mods and partial success stories but let's face it, you all are the ones we are asking, not the posters.  So, I would appreciate seeing you and the WWMedia crew really dive it here, buy or beg a dozen and come up with an authoritative advisory on how to make it at least function for 30-40 gallon tanks. <Good idea> Then you won't have to answer so many questions. <I wish... but not for the foreseeable future> Personally, I do find it hard to believe that a company with a good rep like Marineland or AqSystems would produce a product that simply doesn't work right.  That is why I am trying one (and partly because I have no other means or options) <The re-do of this gimmicky product is no better than its predecessors... Agree with your opinion/speculation re the maker/s> 2:    One day, small amounts of algae and growth.  18 hours later, a veritable carpet of brown green algae on the substrate. <Happens... likely a good deal of BGA involvement> Vacuumed fully.  6 hours later, splotches on about 2/3s covering the substrate (with the lights OFF).  Light spectrum is ok and it is not slime algae (at least to me).  I have lots of nutrients in the medium and that's why I bought the SeaClone I could afford (and return if a problem).  What the heck is this algae and is it a mutant to grow that fast and pervasively? <A mix of organisms, and though not slimy, as you state, very likely a good deal of Cyano> 3:    While watching a movie with the lights off, turned on the lights after the show and found a tiny, curled cocktail shrimp on the carpet.  It was Peppy the shrimp, who evidently committed suicide and leapt out of the tank.  I just need to know if this is something you have seen - everyone else appears fine for the past week or so, aside from his buddy the Domino <Not his buddy if this is a Dascyllus trimaculatus> who still looks around for him.  Only thing I can think of is that he liked to cruise around the top of the tank and another fish might have bumped or startled him into jet propulsion tail action mode and he went out of the tank, since he cruised the rim a lot searching and exploring. <Maybe. Rare they launch themselves out, but does happen>   He never allowed himself to breach the water before even during maint. when exploring my hand while I was doing something, he was very friendly.  I also don't think he was trying to get my popcorn although I am sure he was inquisitive enough to have given it a shot. Thanks and take good care. Bill  
<Bob Fenner>

New Print and eBook on Amazon Marine Aquarium Algae Control by Robert (Bob) Fenner