I have algae on my rocks that looks like dark green grass. Does anyone know how to get rid of it? I have been putting PhosBuster in the tank and it seems to help. It is a new tank & our rock is dead rock (mixed with a little live rock) that we're trying to bring alive again.
Help! Green Algae Attack...
- Thread starter Coralline_Reef
- Start date
It sounds like it's probaly hair algae. What sort of clean up crew do you have in your tank and how old is it? I'd guess a lot of it's just new tank syndrome and a lack of clean up critters
hth
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cleaning crew
My tank (10 gal.) is not even 2 mos. old. Our cleaning crew is hermits (6-8) and snails (4).
My tank (10 gal.) is not even 2 mos. old. Our cleaning crew is hermits (6-8) and snails (4).
reefrash
bartender another round of skimmate
Try a small water change (2 gal), IME a lovely little fish called a rainsford goby will take care of your algae. Beware of emerald crabs in a 10 gal they are far too agressive eaters, and will mac out on your corraline. Also agressive skimming helps too.
patience...
I have been running a 10 gallon for only 3 months, and ran into your problem last month, even though my cleanup crew is pretty good. I helped them by manually removing a lot of the hair algea. Now I am getting a lot of coralline algea, which keeps my rock from having surface for the hair algea, so it's under control. A matter of ageing the tank, I guess... I have gone through red algea (Chemi-Clean fixed that), brown algea (water changes), green hair algea (manual removal) and green bloom (3 days of total darkness). My tank is not totally clean, but I feel like it's getting better every day I fight... (plus my snails need something to eat!) Now, if I just find the balance of iodine, iron, trace elements and plankton that will keep my coral growing while not turning my water into a nutritious broth for algea, I will have won the battle!
I have been running a 10 gallon for only 3 months, and ran into your problem last month, even though my cleanup crew is pretty good. I helped them by manually removing a lot of the hair algea. Now I am getting a lot of coralline algea, which keeps my rock from having surface for the hair algea, so it's under control. A matter of ageing the tank, I guess... I have gone through red algea (Chemi-Clean fixed that), brown algea (water changes), green hair algea (manual removal) and green bloom (3 days of total darkness). My tank is not totally clean, but I feel like it's getting better every day I fight... (plus my snails need something to eat!) Now, if I just find the balance of iodine, iron, trace elements and plankton that will keep my coral growing while not turning my water into a nutritious broth for algea, I will have won the battle!
I have been using a toothbrush to scrub it off. It still grows back, though.
I am also seeing some purple (coralline) and some that looks really deep red.
What is green bloom?
I am also seeing some purple (coralline) and some that looks really deep red.
What is green bloom?
Algal Bloom
Green Bloom is what I called the algal bloom episode I had...too many nutrients in my water made the algal spores in the tapwater I use in water changes go "wild". I had cloudy green water! After trying two consecutive weekly 30% water changes that didn't work (I was introducing new spores!) and noticing that Kent Marine Pro-Clear and others didn't have any effect, I hit upon depriving the tank of all light for two and a half days (plan was for three, but I got concerned about my corals, fish and plants). This worked pretty well, although I notice that it has very slowly been creeping back the last three days. I have limited my use of plankton, iodine and iron and that probably has helped the bloom not to "explode" like before...live and learn...I hope to get a RO setup for Christmas which should eliminate my problem. The best is not to overfeed...still working on it.
Green Bloom is what I called the algal bloom episode I had...too many nutrients in my water made the algal spores in the tapwater I use in water changes go "wild". I had cloudy green water! After trying two consecutive weekly 30% water changes that didn't work (I was introducing new spores!) and noticing that Kent Marine Pro-Clear and others didn't have any effect, I hit upon depriving the tank of all light for two and a half days (plan was for three, but I got concerned about my corals, fish and plants). This worked pretty well, although I notice that it has very slowly been creeping back the last three days. I have limited my use of plankton, iodine and iron and that probably has helped the bloom not to "explode" like before...live and learn...I hope to get a RO setup for Christmas which should eliminate my problem. The best is not to overfeed...still working on it.
My husband says that algae is usually caused by overfeeding (nutrients left in tank), but I don't think that I overfeed - and it does seem to be common in new set-ups. What else causes algae?
It seems like the green algae is attached into the rock. I think this is why I'm having such a difficult time getting rid of it. How do you get the algae out of the rock so it can be gone for good?
It seems like the green algae is attached into the rock. I think this is why I'm having such a difficult time getting rid of it. How do you get the algae out of the rock so it can be gone for good?
The algae will keep growing as long as the conditions are right for it. Keeping nutrient levels low by feeding carefully, using a protein skimmer, regular water changes, is important. Grazers will help, but are only part of the equation.
My guess is that things decomposing on the dead rock are feeding the algae, and you will see the hair algae die off as the tank settles down.
My guess is that things decomposing on the dead rock are feeding the algae, and you will see the hair algae die off as the tank settles down.