HELP I.D. ALGAE

[RICKY81]

ok a friend of mine Mabel, has a tank its a biocube 29gal. and has been having some issues with some green algae growing on her rocks and all over the tank. her tank has been cycling for about 8 months already, and we are debating on wether if it is just a simple Green Hair Algae or Bryopsis...here are some pictures that she took and sent them to me, but can't really tell on what it is.....i'm sure she can help answer any other questions as far as parameters, etc....

how can u tell the difference between the two of them.....

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/RICK81_bucket/NikonP80Algae.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/RICK81_bucket/CanonSD900Algae2.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/RICK81_bucket/CanonSD900Algae.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/RICK81_bucket/Canon5DAlgae2.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/RICK81_bucket/Canon5DAlgae.jpg

[RICKY81]

ANYONE????..........any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[recoiljpr]

I'm not an algae expert but i've had both bryopsis and normal hair type algae. It doesn't look like the bryopsis I had. The bryopsis I had was more feathery. The pics you show look more stringy, like the normal hair algae i've seen. PM Bill (bstreep) he's pretty good with bryopsis ID.

[millerdog]

Take a look at this thread may be a lot of help was for mine.
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49716

But it looks like its Byropsis sp. the fourth one down on the list.

[mabel_photo6]

From far away, it does look like it. But I'm trying to make sure. I'm actually convinced it's hair algae. Close up, it doesn't look fuzzy or feathery. If it is, I need to up my snails. But what's the best algae eater?

I don't believe I'd consider a Lawnmower Blenny... he annoyed the crap out of my fish. lol

[recoiljpr]

From far away, it does look like it. But I'm trying to make sure. I'm actually convinced it's hair algae. Close up, it doesn't look fuzzy or feathery. If it is, I need to up my snails. But what's the best algae eater?

I don't believe I'd consider a Lawnmower Blenny... he annoyed the crap out of my fish. lol

Honestly I'm personally not real huge at using animals as a primary source of control. You have algae due to something being out of whack (usually phosphates).

The first line of defense is manual removal (using fingers, forceps, etc) and then let your clean up crew get the rest. But it will keep coming back unless you figure out the source of the problems.

The issue you are going to have now is unless your system is totally out of wack, you will probably NOT show anything on tests right now. That would be because of the algae is using all of the extras in your tank.

What % of your rock would you say is covered?

[JoshOdphi]

looks like hair algea to me...

[mabel_photo6]

Man, sucks to say but it's about 60% of my rock.
It spread really fast.
I even got some growing on the back wall. :(

[Big_Pun]

looks like hair algae, i had that problem till i got a tds meter to check my water from my filters, changed filters, after one month of water changes with ro/di water(0tds) almost all gone

[JoshOdphi]

pull as much as u can with ur fingers....thas wut i did in my tank....

[Big_Pun]

do it out side your tank if you can, it can spread

[JoshOdphi]

oh yea...forgot to mention that...but yea...my hermits go to town on it...but it still grows on me....not to a drastic amount tho...

[millerdog]

I have small pencil urchin that loves everything but my first cynao algae out break I had on a FOWLR don't think they are that great for reefs. I also put a pair of phosphate reactors on my biggest tank change one out each month or so and they have keep everything out of that tank.

[RICKY81]

looks like hair algae, i had that problem till i got a tds meter to check my water from my filters, changed filters, after one month of water changes with ro/di water(0tds) almost all gone

could one of the main problems be that she is using regular tap water to do her water changes??? I tell her it could be and needs to mean while use distilled water till she gets a RO unit

and could lights play a major role? she likes keeping her lights on all at times i mean 24/7, but told her to drastically decrease the time of the lights being on to about 4hr per day for the next 2-3 weeks...

[JoshOdphi]

yea gotta turn the lights off....n she can use purified water from like watermill express....thas wut i do ...cuz kingsville water is ...well les jus say its not the best....

[mabel_photo6]

Yeah, I try to get as much as I can and dip my hands in water before sticking my hands in again.

[mabel_photo6]

lol 24/7?!? Are you nuts, I keep the lights on from noon to midnight. 12 hours. lol That's not 24/7.

But any who, I feel weird about cutting the lights more 'cause of my corals. I'm about to do a water change now (for the last time with tap water) and putting in a phosphate remover filter pad. I didn't want to waste the mix I already made.

I'm happy to report I will be buying filtered water today. lol

[RICKY81]

I'm happy to report I will be buying filtered water today. lol

:applause:

[mabel_photo6]

Thank you, thank you! I'll be going to HEB after I do this water change. lol
What do you guys use to stabilize your PH?

[JoshOdphi]

wut kinda lighting do u run? an at what intervals?...........i use a ph buffer...u can find it at any lfs store....pretty straight forward....user friendly...

[MKCindy]

I don't like distilled water, it doesn't have oxygen in the water, so make sure to put an air stone in it for a few hour first. No tap water, (Water Mill Express is fine) and keep your calcium up.
8 months is still having mini-cycles. Looks like simple hair algae to me. Try reducing your lights by 2-4 hours a day and see what happens. I saw some air bubbles under some of the algae, which can be caused by too much light/ not enough flow. The red velvety stuff can be corrected with more flow too.

Some people do the lights off thing for 3 days. I don't recommend it unless you have already removed most of the algae, as you don't want a die off cycle. (no lights for 3 days, feed fish lightly if at all)

The easiest, fastest way is to use a bamboo skewer. Place the tip in the hair until it hits a crevices in the rock. Twist in one direction as the hairs get caught, they will catch more hairs until you have a hair ball... Remove the skewer, wipe on a paper towel and go back for more.
The best time is before or just as your lights come on, because the hairs are weak from no light. This really works amazingly.
For long term, I really love my Sea Hare. He may not look graceful, but he can eat algae from around anything without disturbing it. Mine is amazing. I switch him between tanks as needed and leave some extra sea weed on the clip at night when the tank is almost clean. He cleans my clip too.

The phosphate filter is good, but remember to only leave it in for maybe 5 days to a week, rinse it and let it dry. Wait a week and put it back in, so it won't leach back into the water.

[mabel_photo6]

Well I have a BioCube 29 and it comes with the lights. I'm not totally sure what the output of them are though. I'll be sure to use a buffer I have then. I had it but too scared to try it... fear of bumping the PH too much too fast. But I'll try it the way it instructs to do so.

I'll cut down the lights around 2 - 4 hours like MKCindy has suggested.
As for water flow, I thought I had a good amount. lol I have the built in filter that's creating flow on one side of the tank and on the other side I have a Koralia 1 powerhead, plus a hang on refugium that is also creating a flow. I could try pointing the Koralia downward a little more.

I've been told to get a sea hare too! But I'll shop around for one next time I drive up to S.A. :) I was just a little concerned about knocking things over.

Will do! I'll be sure to remove the phosphate filter the next water change.

Mixing the water... would it be better to do an air stone plus a power head??
I usually put a heater and a powerhead in the container that holds my new saltwater.

P.S. You guys have been much help. :)

[JoshOdphi]

we usually mix it in a container...using a return pump for flow...let it sit for a bit...while it mixes....then of course check salinity n stuff...then good to go...

[JoshOdphi]

well wut if....since ur getting flow from ur filter and refugium....wut if u try to point your Koralia 1 toward tha back...mayber create like some whirpool motion.....mmmm....could also help get some flow through your live rock.....

[uriah]

I think both... The water companies add phosphates to the tap to reduce heavy metals in the water, so she is essentially adding phosphates directly into the tank... Lighting speaks for itself, more light, more photocynthesis... Probably a culmination of many different factors...


could one of the main problems be that she is using regular tap water to do her water changes??? I tell her it could be and needs to mean while use distilled water till she gets a RO unit

and could lights play a major role? she likes keeping her lights on all at times i mean 24/7, but told her to drastically decrease the time of the lights being on to about 4hr per day for the next 2-3 weeks...

[Big_Pun]

no ph buffers, just what my salt mix(reef crystals makes and ro/di water, but the machine outside heb is ok i used to use it but ro/di is the best route. i only have 10-12 hours of light

[mabel_photo6]

Hmmm well then I shouldn't put any PH buffers then. I did a water change today for the last time with tap water. Next water change will be with filtered water. I'll test the water again to see how the PH is.

I usually have my light on for 12 hours. I'm gonna cut it to 10 probably and see how that works.

[ocean17]

I just won my battle with GHA after a two month fight. I have a 339 tall if you will and ran lights 12 hours per day and was over feeding. Since it was a new tank GHA completely took over and my rock structure looked like "Cousin IT". Here is what I did to completely defeat it. And yes to many posters its due to lack of phosphate removal. I first got a phosphate reactor up and running, did 3 whole days lights off whereby I darked out the room to even cut back on ambient light. Cut back on feeding by half or more, did a closed loop vacuum with a ladies stocking on the end in the sump and basically exported all this hair algae before it had a chance to migrate. Or at least all that was willing to turn loose of the rock at that time. I thought scrubbing with a tooth brush would help but until I did those other things it would always grow back. I also doubled my water changes as I was doing about 10% changes and started doing 20% every two weeks. After my GHA had completely left my tank I had spotty briopsis so I did another 3 full days lights off and it is completely gone now. Now if you do the 3 days lights off it's recommended that you ease back in on day 4 with actinics only for about 60% of normal time then full blast with both on day 5. I read some very long forum threads about this lights off routine before doing such. It has a bigger impact on other algae as the GHA and briopsis are probably the most resistant to this type condition. What it does those is to get those nutrients out of your water column so what's left has less to feed on. You also won't believe how clear your water will be after this routine.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

James H. Davis

[mabel_photo6]

Ah well I've already cut down on some of the light but I'm scared to full blown stop the light. I would also be starving my coral of light. :( I just have to find the courage to do it.

[JoshOdphi]

do it at intervals if u want...or turn on your light later than normal and turn em off earlier than u usually would...oh n i didnt mean to use ph buffers while making water changes...i only use mine if for some reason my ph drops or is too high....which is not an often occurance....

[mabel_photo6]

Heyyy I got a Sea Hare to help me out. lol It's a trippy looking creature!
My water change will be coming up soon and with filtered water. :)

[brewercm]

I agree after having briopsys myself (really bad) that at that size you would most likely see the feathering effect. Consider a bullet dodged since I think that may be the only thing that could kill it (next to a pool chlorine tablet over a month). Not great for the rest of anything living on the rock though.