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alexknight
07/05/2010, 03:23 PM
I started out the tank over a year ago, it is a 75 gallon tank with around 30-45 gallon sump. with 8 t-5 48" lighting.

Everything was going great with the tank for the first 8 months, then I added in some new stuff from a friend who was breaking down her tank.

Then the nightmare started ever since the the tank has been over run by this plant/ micro algae, I have spent hours and hours pulling it off of rocks, the sand my clams glass and still it just grows back in a week or two, I am bout to throw my hands up and give up. I am going to give it one more go,
does any one have a idea what this is? I myself think it is ( grapevine algae ) have not found anything that likes it or wants to eat it.

its to the point I pulled everything out of the tank and set it up in two smaller cubes to try to save my nems fish. other corals

It seems I am fighting a losing battle with this plant. ( i have not cleaned the glass so it more hazy then it really is. )

I am started this thread to show my progress in fighting what ever this is.
please leave your input


when my tank was healthy and wonderful
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/DSC03812.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/DSC03825.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/DSC03810.jpg

To this




http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/2010-07-05145252.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/2010-07-05144022.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/2010-07-05144001.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/2010-07-05143952.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c313/marianna42/2010-07-05143944.jpg


I will have new pictures up in a day or two after I massively attack the tank to attempt to remove most of it.

fatrip
07/05/2010, 07:53 PM
well first off I would say at first glance there is to much nitrates in the water. I would suggest to measure nitrates, phophates, and Mag. bring mag up to 1500-1600ppm i have always had really good luck with raising the mag in the tank to slow algea growth without hurting corals or fish. What are you doing for filtration?

geo
07/06/2010, 05:48 AM
[moved]...

sslak
07/06/2010, 06:34 AM
1. Dose Calcium to appropriate level (420)
2. Dose Magnesium to appropriate level (1300-1350)
3. Reduce your light cycle duration temporarily (6-7hrs)
4. Make sure your bulbs have been changed appropriately

Most likely your Ca and Mg have dropped to lower levels allowing the algae to take off.

In a few weeks you should see a huge reduction in the macro growth in your display, especially if you have some chaeto growing in the fuge opposite your light cycle.

I've also had good luck with my emerald crabs eating that calurpa, crabs alone will not help you.

Toddrtrex
07/06/2010, 09:52 AM
I have some of that stuff in my 58, but not nearly as bad. I have found it fairly easy to control, and leave it in a few spots -- like the looks.

I would think that with some manual removal, and getting your parameters in check you should be able to clear it up -- a nice weekend project.

Are you using RO/DI water? If so, what is the TDS?

sunil6784
07/06/2010, 03:23 PM
How about bringing some to the LFS and seeing if a rabbitfish would eat it? That's how I cleared up my caulerpa problem... found a foxface lo that ate it...

BunkerCA
07/06/2010, 03:34 PM
Looks like a strain of grapevine caulerpa. Buy a tang! If you were closer to Cali I would ask for a bag of it =).