algae taking over two of my zoa colonies

[stoneroller]

I have two small colonies that are getting overgrown with algae. Some polyps are not opening so I know that's not good. What's the best way to take care of this problem? Trim it? and then what? Any dips?

Thanks.

[JimD]

Need more info to help.... What kind of colonies, whats the algae look like, have you ID'd the algae yet, tank specs, age, ro/di, pics? The more info you supply, the better we'll be able to help.

[stoneroller]

Zoanthid and paly colonies (one of each in close proximity)

Looks hairy to me; I don't know what it is but I'd guess a hair algae, Bryopsis?
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r10/stoneroller/zoasandalgae.jpg

Specs
75 G, 4 40W NO bulbs (2 10K and 2 act., 2 mo. old), sump with bioballs, 75# of live rock, a friend's well established tank (years) but had to be relocated to my house about 10 weeks ago. plenty of current but not directly tuned in to those colonies, RO water for topoff and changes

250 DE pendant waiting for installation (I've heard to expect more algae when it goes online - another thread soon)

ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all reading zero with dipstick, No phosphates as of about three weeks ago (LFS test). wouldn't say I am a heavy feeder.

Gotta start snipping. After that, just put em back in?

[safeuerwehr]

yeah, it looks like Bryopsis

[Richard]

Looks like bryospsis too me. Take them out of the tank and manually remove all that you can. Then do it again every time you see it start to grow back even a little. You don't want it to get a good foothold in your tank, trust me.

[stoneroller]

Thanks, all. Removed what I could with tweezers and returned to tank. Doesn't seem like I'd ever get it all even with a microscope. Any better tools out there besides tweezers (I didn't grab my wife's finest!). I'll get water tested tomorrow to make sure phosphates are still zero to minimal and no others are out of line. Next?

[brewercm]

I'd hate to say this but if you only have it on the two colonies either do like Richard said or sacrifice the two small colonies of Zoa's (possibly frag a little piece if you can) and get it out. I've been batteling briopsys for about six months or more now because I got some in with a small zoa frag and now my tank has it bad.

[Richard]

If you constantly pick every piece you can see (like daily) and keep your params in check it will crash. That's how I got it under control in my tank.

[prof]

This is not a sure fire cure but raising your calcium levels will help fight algae.

Adding the new light will also help. I have found that as bulbs get older and the spectrum reduces the algae is still getting what it needs to grow but your corals don't. The corals won't die but they won't flourish and the algae overgrows them.

Pulling out what you can by hand will give you a leg up as the tank tries to fight the algae.