Macro Algae running wild

[gsedlack]

OK, mistakes were made.

 

Yes that felt good. Somehow a strain of feather Caulerpa got loose in my main tank and wants to grow everywhere. I would like this stuff gone but manual removal can only do so much since it breaks off in pieces and it grows everywhere including hard-to-reach places.

 

I have a 125 with a Yellow and a Kole tang along with 10 one inch fish. I use an ASM 3 skimmer and have a 30 gal fuge with more macro and a 5 inch sand bed. I feed my tank very little so I don't think a food reduction will help. Someone suggested a Naso tang might help. Any suggestions????

Thanks

[jamesbuf]

Get a rabbitfish. It'll knock out any macros in the tank in no time.

[MisterTang]

Do you have corals? Is light-starving it an option?

[gsedlack]

I have SPS and some soft coral plus a clam so cutting the light for an extended period is not a viable option.

Thanks in any case

/George

[Rascal]

I'm really surprised your tangs don't take care of it. I think a Naso is probably too big for your tank. I have had a hippo with a yellow and kole and found it to be a good combination, although I now fear the hippo is starting to get to big for my 150.

 

Maybe try to starve the tangs a bit more and see if they'll go for it out of desperation. An additional suggestion would be to set up a fuge with a different type of macro that might outcompete the caulerpa for nutrients. Cut down the light in the display for a while and through some chaeto in a fuge with a ton of light on it 24/7.

[capsfan]

Count your blessings. At least your tank doesn't look like mine. The deadly Hair algae and Macro combo.

 

[gsedlack]

What can out compete Calupera? Will this stuff die off if I continue to low-feed the tank and keep on skimming?

Or is it likely that I am stuck with this?

Thanks

[Grav]

I would:

 

1. Try to aquire a known Macro eating tang. For example, QT a tang and feed it lots of the specific macro untill it was chowing on the stuff.

 

2. Cut the photo durration. 2 hrs of white 4 of antinic

 

3. Increase filtration

 

4. Reduce feeding

 

5. Water change & syphon out macro.

 

6. What is the condition of the sand bed? If dirty, I'd try to clean that too.

[sen5241b]

I had hair algae grow but it did not get that bad. I did arrest the growth of my hair algae.

 

Getting rid of algae requires a multi-pronged approach!

 

Algae needs light, nitrates, and phosphates. Filter water passively thru Chemipure and some phosphate absorber like Rowaphos. Also get a good clean up crew with at least three types of cleaners. After I did this my hair algae did not grow back.

[gmubeach]

I have the same problem only its worse for me as I have a 24 gallon nano I just added a algee blenny and as soon as I can afford it I'm going to replace most of my cleaning crew. Anyway I've already tried reducing feeding "something ate my crocea" after 8 months of not adding anything new! the stuff is chocking out most of my softies luckly the hard lps stuff can battle back against it. I've tried everything from manuel removal to reducing light anyway If anyone comes up with a good system I'd like to hear it:) I was thinking about scrubing the rock and starting fresh, but I'm worried it would just grow back.