Jestersix

Algae Identification

B the Nano Reefer

B the Nano Reefer

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Have these two algae’s growing in my tank. No idea where they came from other than possibly from the live rock in my tank which is OG live rock imported 15ish years ago and was acquired from a tank shut down a while ago. I scrubbed the rock pretty well before putting into my tank so this wasn’t there (at least not visible) when the rock went into the tank.

I’m don't hate the algae, seems pretty neat and slow growing, but identification would be helpful. Thanks
 

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Alright, so every rock that I can visibly see any ulva on has been removed and will be tossed. One of my rocks has my torch garden. I pulled it, hit all spots with the ulva with some peroxide and let sit for a couple minutes. Should I be in pretty decent shape? Don’t think there is much else I can do unless there are inverts that will eat this crap
 
I have ulva growing wherever my herbivores can't get to that light can get to. The top water line and tops of high up pumps/return line. I am not sure which herbivore is best or eats the most ulva but here is what I have:

tang
2 urchin
2 emerald crab
5 trochus snails
gagillion asterina starfish
gazillion micro brittle stars
 
My tank is small, so limited options as to what I can add. I have plenty of torches and brittle stars. I’ll have to consider what else to add if this peroxide rinse doesn’t help.

I’ve already tossed the two smaller rocks that had the majority of it that I saw in the tank
 
I’ve only ever had small amounts of ulva, but I dont mind it that much. I feel like it rips out pretty easily. I like it more than hair algae, thats for sure lol
 
Sea hares will eat the red and green stuff pretty quickly in your small tank so be prepared to pass it along once done unless you get it trained to eat algae pellets or nori..Yes they will eat but not solve the issue…The longest Ive had one is about a year which is their average life cycle so try and get a small one if you can..Sometimes if you get a large one and it layes eggs it will die after like salmon which is normal..The more they eat they do poop piles fyi
 
PjFish said:
Sea hares will eat the red and green stuff pretty quickly in your small tank so be prepared to pass it along once done unless you get it trained to eat algae pellets or nori..Yes they will eat but not solve the issue…The longest Ive had one is about a year which is their average life cycle so try and get a small one if you can..Sometimes if you get a large one and it layes eggs it will die after like salmon which is normal..The more they eat they do poop piles fyi
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Some odd things can happen when they're on the end of the life cycle. Matt from Exotics had one that was on its way out, and a bristle worm moved into its anus. Lived there for a month or two IIRC.
 
BAYMAC said:
Some odd things can happen when they're on the end of the life cycle. Matt from Exotics had one that was on its way out, and a bristle worm moved into its anus. Lived there for a month or two IIRC.
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Ive heard of small fish doing that in larger specimens but a bristle worm !!! That would be irritating to say the least
 
Srt4eric said:
That ulva will take over. Stuffs nasty
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I have it. It's such a pain.

No herbivores that fit in my tank eat it, I can't pull the big rocks to peroxide, etc. All I can do is try to keep it off my nicer corals, and replace/scrub the heck out of outgoing frag plugs so I don't spread it to others

Some people suggested fluconazole to kill it, but I have suspicions
 
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