Problem please HELP.....

sapgranth25

sapgranth25

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May 25, 2006
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Sheffield uk
I`ve always had a kinda red sea weed growing off bits of my live rock not that much of a problem until now where i`ve now got a kinda green sea weed too ( NOT HAIR ALGAE ) & now there both taking over my tank its growing spreading over every rock within the tank & in/on the sand & on my corals also its on all the equipment power heads etc...

just wondering how i can cut back a little or even get rid completely is there any fish that eat this sea weed?

would a emerald crab eat it?

any fish that would/will eat it needs to be reef safe....
thanks
 
Having problems uploading pictures for you all to see i`ll keep at it but any advice would be great thanks
 
i`ve googled it & its RED Gracilaria algae not sure what the green stuff is tho..
a list of fish that`l eat this would be great or even better a shrimp or crab..
 
Not that I personally recommend them but urchins are very good at getting rid of algae. Unfortunately they will also get rid of your coraline as well. How well do you get on with your LFS. Can you "borrow" one from him. I took mine back and swapped it for something else when he'd totally stripped my tank. I only had it so my cardinals could use it for their fry!! You could also try an emerald crab (mythrax crab).
 
I had a couple of small rocks in my tank that sound like what you are describing. I added a powder blue tang, and ALL of the reddish algae was gone within one day. A tang should clean it up nicely.
 
Thanks for your advice regarding this problem after reading your replies i backed them up on Google & it seems that this sort of algae sea weed is a tangs favorite food so i`m off to the lfs on Sunday & i`ll bring some sort of tang back...................Yes i know my tank is on the small side for a tang but i`ll buy a small one & either up grade my tank or trade it back at the lfs at a later date..........It would be great if a lemon peel would eat this as i`ve always wanted a lemon peel BUT i also have another dwarf angel CORAL BEAUTY but i`ve heard seen people keeping theses two dwarf angels together without a problem so i may give that ago but i`l most likely pick a tang as there almost guaranteed to eat this stuff....
THANKS
 
I'm just going to chuck in a word of warning if you go for a Tang. I have a Yellow Tang in a 53 (UK) gal tank and a few months ago I decided to trade her in as she was starting to peck at my feather dusters and reversing into my other fish and I was putting it down to needing more space. Luckily enough I am now in the process of cycling a much larger tank. However over the last few days I've noticed she's become really aggressive towards my maroon clown (my next biggest fish). So much so I watched her reverse into the clown and stab it. My clown is now in my QT with a swollen eye and I'm hoping my Tang will be happy with that extra space fo a couple of weeks until I can move them all.

Obviously I can't comment on all Tangs (I've only ever had this one) but just thought I'd share my experience as I'm pretty sure it's all down to the fact my fish are growing and are needing more space and therefore getting really agitated.
 
Why don't you just pull out some of the algae by hand?

I would not recommend getting a tang just to control this algae - it will most likely eat all the algae in a few weeks, and then you will have to feed the tang, as they are herbivores (vegetarians), and MUST be able to browse on algae every day.

Hennie
 
New Reefer said:
Why don't you just pull out some of the algae by hand?

I would not recommend getting a tang just to control this algae - it will most likely eat all the algae in a few weeks, and then you will have to feed the tang, as they are herbivores (vegetarians), and MUST be able to browse on algae every day.

Hennie
Click to expand...

I agree with this but would recommend feeding them seaweed/nori simultaneously. I also wouldn't suggest a lemonpeel as it might conflict with your Coral Beauty.

Oh I just noticed you have a 55G. I wouldn't add a Tang at all. What kind of water are you using? Are you running your skimmer full-time?
 
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