dark algae

[Nano_Steve]

ive begun to be overun by a dark dark algae on most of my live rock. it is mottled and seems to be an extremely dark green color. it has a mottled effect on my live rock that makes the tank look a little dingy and it has a very fine layer of white hair on the top of it(looks like mold on an orange) my hermits dont seem to be doing anything and have even begun to sport the new look themselves as some of the algae has begun to grow on their shells.

first off, does anyone know what type of algae it is and whether it is bad or not and secondly what creature of the deep would you recommend in controlling the problem. i thought a very small lawnmower blenny would do the trick but that idea was quickly squashed when i asked up at aquatek about it, rather the kid told me that i should get an urchin instead(i hesitate to this idea being i only have a ten gallon and the rock work is very delicate, i would rather not have to deal with gettin my hands in the tank everyday again like i had to with my turbo snails before i got rid of them)

thanks in advance, steve

[newtosa]

Cyanobacteria. Some people call this "blue-green algae." For obvious reasons, as you're learning. This stuff is not exactly like Schizothrax (which is the red "cyano" in low-flow areas of everyone's tanks); pounding it with current does not always eliminate it.

When I see this in my tank, I do 2 things:
1. Get out a turkey baster and pull this stuff off (it's easier to get out than red slime "cyanobacteria," because it stays in sheets better);
2. Increase my KW drip. This is my continuous soapbox topic, as you've probably noticed: If coralline algaes are covering your rockwork, it is very hard for anything else to grow there.

Look back over the last 3 months on this site for algae, KW, and calcium additions. There's more detail....

Thanks,
Dean