Need help with macro algae

Pico1 · 08/02/2015, 02:47 PM

I have some hitch hiker marco algae that is starting to get out of hand. Looking for some suggestions on how to control or eliminate it. Majority of it is lettuce algae- but also some jagged leaf caulerpa, bryopsis, hair algae, bubble algae, etc.

Can't add any fish as I'm already overstocked. Tried a sea hare and that disappeared. Tried a bunch of $2.99 larger scarlet hermits and they aren't cutting it.

What else can I do? Chemical? Maybe fauna marin alage-x?
Urichin? Lettuce Nudi?

cichlid9 · 08/02/2015, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pico1

I have some hitch hiker marco algae that is starting to get out of hand. Looking for some suggestions on how to control or eliminate it. Majority of it is lettuce algae- but also some jagged leaf caulerpa, bryopsis, hair algae, bubble algae, etc.

Can't add any fish as I'm already overstocked. Tried a sea hare and that disappeared. Tried a bunch of $2.99 larger scarlet hermits and they aren't cutting it.

What else can I do? Chemical? Maybe fauna marin alage-x?
Urichin? Lettuce Nudi?

I believe emerald crabs will eat bubble algae and probably the other macro

79chopperdr · 08/02/2015, 03:58 PM

My frag tank looked like a sod farm a few months ago. I got a turf scrubber up and running and it's all gone. It's made my skimmer pretty useless too.

I know you said no fish, but Orange shoulder and vlamingi tangs are great mowers too. I've seen them eat bryopsis too.

E_shaw90 · 08/02/2015, 04:00 PM

I had a similar problem not too long ago. A foxface rabbit fish was recommended and solved the problem in short order. I was at Aquarium Depot yesterday and they had several to choose from.

Pico1 · 08/02/2015, 04:16 PM

I repeat, no fish

Pico1 · 08/02/2015, 04:20 PM

The display is a turf scrubber :P But really wanna eliminate all algae at this point. No micro algae - sand is white, glass is clean...just this dang macro

Saltwaternooby · 08/02/2015, 06:21 PM

Algaefix i have used for some macro before.

79chopperdr · 08/02/2015, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pico1

The display is a turf scrubber :P But really wanna eliminate all algae at this point. No micro algae - sand is white, glass is clean...just this dang macro

Micro or Macro, it all runs on fish poop. Pull the fish or outcompete it...

Or just advertise worlds largest turf scrubber! Good luck Jordan

Timmy03 · 08/02/2015, 09:41 PM

I too had the bryopsis and bubble algae issue. More frequent water changes, less feeding and dry skimming did the trick. Tried the Kent Marine Mag trick but that only seemed to kill corals.

lynchmob3000 · 08/04/2015, 12:11 PM

Did you say kent mag killed corals? Musta been a bad bottle

cause my sps love it

generaltoaster · 08/04/2015, 01:33 PM

My urchin chowed right through macros

vietboy209 · 08/04/2015, 02:24 PM

Cucumber snail?

Timmy03 · 08/04/2015, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynchmob3000

Did you say kent mag killed corals? Musta been a bad bottle

cause my sps love it

Yeah killed one of my acan colonies. Didn't like the Mag being at 1800ppm.

greenhead · 08/04/2015, 03:55 PM

The Kent mag trick only works for bryopsis and you have to bring it up to the 1600 to 1700 range over like 2 weeks or it will definitely **** of corals. But 14 days later there will be no bryopsis in sight. But it won't help with the other algae.

I like Jeff's plan. A turf scrubber ran on a 16 to 18 hour cycle with red spectrum and lots of air will out compete the algae in the DT very quickly. You could even use the hog up flow unit from Santa Monica as it takes up next to no space in sump and is super easy to install.

My last bet would be a bunch of emerald crabs as they eat just about every algae but bryopsis.

Turf scrubber = 100% gone now and for future

Crabs and Tech M = %99 gone maybe forever but maybe not.

_divad · 08/06/2015, 08:37 PM

If you want all algae gone, I agree 100% with 79chopperdr.

Out competing is how you get rid of it all.

How big is your tank?

What type of fish and other CUC do you have in the tank?

08/02/2015, 02:47 PM	#1
Pico1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 1,627	Need help with macro algae I have some hitch hiker marco algae that is starting to get out of hand. Looking for some suggestions on how to control or eliminate it. Majority of it is lettuce algae- but also some jagged leaf caulerpa, bryopsis, hair algae, bubble algae, etc. Can't add any fish as I'm already overstocked. Tried a sea hare and that disappeared. Tried a bunch of $2.99 larger scarlet hermits and they aren't cutting it. What else can I do? Chemical? Maybe fauna marin alage-x? Urichin? Lettuce Nudi? __________________ Jordan Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170

08/02/2015, 04:16 PM	#5
Pico1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 1,627	I repeat, no fish __________________ Jordan Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170

08/02/2015, 04:20 PM	#6
Pico1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 1,627	The display is a turf scrubber :P But really wanna eliminate all algae at this point. No micro algae - sand is white, glass is clean...just this dang macro __________________ Jordan Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170

08/02/2015, 06:21 PM	#7
Saltwaternooby SPS junkie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orangevale ca Posts: 3,915	Algaefix i have used for some macro before. __________________ Anthony, MARS President 225g Starfire w/sump room 24g cube for ORA Picasso

08/04/2015, 01:33 PM	#11
generaltoaster no. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 304	My urchin chowed right through macros __________________ Hannah Dokter 2017 MARS Board --- CURE HD. Current Tank Info: 100gal salt with 34gal display refugium, 70gal planted freshwater

08/02/2015, 03:58 PM	#3
79chopperdr I killed ALL that Coral! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Antelope, CA Posts: 1,509	My frag tank looked like a sod farm a few months ago. I got a turf scrubber up and running and it's all gone. It's made my skimmer pretty useless too. I know you said no fish, but Orange shoulder and vlamingi tangs are great mowers too. I've seen them eat bryopsis too.

08/02/2015, 04:00 PM	#4
E_shaw90 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sacramento County Posts: 79	I had a similar problem not too long ago. A foxface rabbit fish was recommended and solved the problem in short order. I was at Aquarium Depot yesterday and they had several to choose from.

08/02/2015, 09:41 PM	#9
Timmy03 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 96	I too had the bryopsis and bubble algae issue. More frequent water changes, less feeding and dry skimming did the trick. Tried the Kent Marine Mag trick but that only seemed to kill corals.

08/04/2015, 12:11 PM	#10
lynchmob3000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Elverta Posts: 635	Did you say kent mag killed corals? Musta been a bad bottle cause my sps love it

08/04/2015, 02:24 PM	#12
vietboy209 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 206	Cucumber snail?

08/04/2015, 03:55 PM	#14
greenhead Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 796	The Kent mag trick only works for bryopsis and you have to bring it up to the 1600 to 1700 range over like 2 weeks or it will definitely **** of corals. But 14 days later there will be no bryopsis in sight. But it won't help with the other algae. I like Jeff's plan. A turf scrubber ran on a 16 to 18 hour cycle with red spectrum and lots of air will out compete the algae in the DT very quickly. You could even use the hog up flow unit from Santa Monica as it takes up next to no space in sump and is super easy to install. My last bet would be a bunch of emerald crabs as they eat just about every algae but bryopsis. Turf scrubber = 100% gone now and for future Crabs and Tech M = %99 gone maybe forever but maybe not.

08/06/2015, 08:37 PM	#15
_divad Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 224	If you want all algae gone, I agree 100% with 79chopperdr. Out competing is how you get rid of it all. How big is your tank? What type of fish and other CUC do you have in the tank?