Is this some sort of MacroAlgae??

Netspawn · 07/13/2011, 01:51 PM

Hi there, This is becoming a ugly sight taking over all my LR. can some one please help me ID this and tell me how to rid my tank of it??

skabooya · 07/13/2011, 02:38 PM

It looks like purple spikes, kinda like dragon scales. Am I right in what Im seeing? I will see what I can dig up

skabooya · 07/13/2011, 02:47 PM

?Botryocladia skottsbergii
?Colpomenia sinuosa

??

BTW how old is this tank? Did this recently pop up? Do you notice pieces getting bigger or are they generally the same size all over.

Netspawn · 07/13/2011, 03:14 PM

this tank is a 3 year old tank. I moved it 4 months ago and rescaped it. This has just taken a huge hold on the tank in about 6 weeks. Its generally a uniform coverage all on my LR. This was my tank 2 months after the move.

And THIS is what it looks like now.

skabooya · 07/13/2011, 03:27 PM

oh wow. From a distance it looks like some kind of a turf algae, but up close I cant really tell.
Have you added anything new as in Livestock to the tank? What are your params like. Something caused this to happen. If nitrates are above 5ppm that can cause algae to bloom. Nitrate is part of their food like gas for a car, but its not the only thing they need to survive. Just like a car they need the battery and certain fluids (break, transmission, etc). Macro is the same way, so Im wondering what your parameters are. Also what do you use for top off?

Do you have a CUC? what are they? What is the other livestock in your tank.
Have you tried pulling it off, scrubbing it? What does it feel like? does it come easily off the rock?
What kind of flow do you have on your tank? Some macros like strong flow and will spread because of it and some dont like it so they will die, and vise versa.

skabooya · 07/13/2011, 03:32 PM

I should also mention that I notice it growing mainly on the tops of the rock and more towards the top of the tank which tells me that it likes the light. If you can, try a blackout for 3 days just as an experiment to see if it lets up a bit. If it does then you know light is a major factor in this stuff and its 1 tool you can use in helping to get rid of it.

Netspawn · 07/13/2011, 03:43 PM

ty so much Skabooya! I will recheck all my params tonight after work and post them. I will also try the blackout method and see if that helps things. I have 3 maxi 1200"s and a overflow return for flow. so I dont think flow is the problem. only new livestock that was introduced was a small devils hand and some Xenia. thats it. My CuC could be alot stronger I suppose. I have 4-6 turbos, 6 ness snails, 3 emeralds, 2 sand sifting snails, 2 peppermint shrimp, 1 fire shrimp, and 1 blue leg hermit.

MarcoPolo · 07/13/2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netspawn

ty so much Skabooya! I will recheck all my params tonight after work and post them. I will also try the blackout method and see if that helps things. I have 3 maxi 1200"s and a overflow return for flow. so I dont think flow is the problem. only new livestock that was introduced was a small devils hand and some Xenia. thats it. My CuC could be alot stronger I suppose. I have 4-6 turbos, 6 ness snails, 3 emeralds, 2 sand sifting snails, 2 peppermint shrimp, 1 fire shrimp, and 1 blue leg hermit.

Checking parameters is key. Once you establish those, it becomes easier to understand what may be causing your algae spread. Personally, I would be cautious with the blackout method. I know a lot of people on RC suggest / use this as a way to "cure" algae problems, but there are two drawbacks to the method IMO: unless you are very effective in extracting the dead algae from the tank, you risk polluting the water column with high concentrations of dead organic material, and -- unless you understand/fix the route cause-- after a while the algae will come back, ie the blackout method is not addressing the route cause, it just gives a temporary fix. The other consideration is that the black out method is not only going to impact the undesired algae, it may well impact adversely other organism in your tank which may get stressed due to absence of light. But this is just my opinion...

If I were you, I would first check parameters, and spend time to understand the root cause of problem, and try to fix that.

Let us know your parameters and let's see how we can help you

07/13/2011, 01:51 PM	#1
Netspawn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 60	Is this some sort of MacroAlgae?? Hi there, This is becoming a ugly sight taking over all my LR. can some one please help me ID this and tell me how to rid my tank of it??

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07/13/2011, 02:38 PM	#2
skabooya Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 195	It looks like purple spikes, kinda like dragon scales. Am I right in what Im seeing? I will see what I can dig up

07/13/2011, 02:47 PM	#3
skabooya Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 195	?Botryocladia skottsbergii ?Colpomenia sinuosa ?? BTW how old is this tank? Did this recently pop up? Do you notice pieces getting bigger or are they generally the same size all over.

07/13/2011, 03:14 PM	#4
Netspawn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 60	this tank is a 3 year old tank. I moved it 4 months ago and rescaped it. This has just taken a huge hold on the tank in about 6 weeks. Its generally a uniform coverage all on my LR. This was my tank 2 months after the move. And THIS is what it looks like now.

07/13/2011, 03:27 PM	#5
skabooya Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 195	oh wow. From a distance it looks like some kind of a turf algae, but up close I cant really tell. Have you added anything new as in Livestock to the tank? What are your params like. Something caused this to happen. If nitrates are above 5ppm that can cause algae to bloom. Nitrate is part of their food like gas for a car, but its not the only thing they need to survive. Just like a car they need the battery and certain fluids (break, transmission, etc). Macro is the same way, so Im wondering what your parameters are. Also what do you use for top off? Do you have a CUC? what are they? What is the other livestock in your tank. Have you tried pulling it off, scrubbing it? What does it feel like? does it come easily off the rock? What kind of flow do you have on your tank? Some macros like strong flow and will spread because of it and some dont like it so they will die, and vise versa.

07/13/2011, 03:32 PM	#6
skabooya Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 195	I should also mention that I notice it growing mainly on the tops of the rock and more towards the top of the tank which tells me that it likes the light. If you can, try a blackout for 3 days just as an experiment to see if it lets up a bit. If it does then you know light is a major factor in this stuff and its 1 tool you can use in helping to get rid of it.

07/13/2011, 03:43 PM	#7
Netspawn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 60	ty so much Skabooya! I will recheck all my params tonight after work and post them. I will also try the blackout method and see if that helps things. I have 3 maxi 1200"s and a overflow return for flow. so I dont think flow is the problem. only new livestock that was introduced was a small devils hand and some Xenia. thats it. My CuC could be alot stronger I suppose. I have 4-6 turbos, 6 ness snails, 3 emeralds, 2 sand sifting snails, 2 peppermint shrimp, 1 fire shrimp, and 1 blue leg hermit.