Brown algae

[crox99]

I have this brown algae growing all over my rock and it's suffocating some of my zoas. Any idea of what it is? It's really hard to get rid of it off the rock.

 

[crox99]

Pic

 

[crox99]

Another one.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Crox
How long has this tank been up and running.
What kind of rock.
Have you changed your rodi filters and membrane (depending how old)
Have you checked your levels with a real deal hanna meter (not the pocket)
I would do some serious siphoning and water changes soon.

 

[lskywalker5]

Also, Do u use RODI? I think a small clean-up crew will eat this up :>)

 

[crox99]

It's some kind of calcareous algae and it doesn't peel off the rock easily.

 

[mshur]

I think you tank need serious cleaning. Rock looks terrible, definitely look into what Tony recommended.
What do you use for nutrient removal?
This is nasty algea, rabbit fish might eat it but its hit and miss

 

[crox99]

I was able to peel some off the rock but it's a pita.

 

[crox99]

Tony it will not come off with a siphon. The tank has been running for 6 months and I started with dead LR from BRS. Using Salifert tests I have the following readings: ammonia 0, nitrate 0, nitrite 0, magnesium 1410. Using the Hanna checker: calcium 460, alkalinity 9 and phosphate .06.

 

[proberok]

maybe you may need more light.

 

[crox99]

maybe you may need more light.

I doubt it. I am running radion pro's

 

[lnevo]

Phosphate seems high...are you running GFO?

 

[Moneymaks24]

If your phosphates read .06 you have to multiply that by 2 or 4 that's how much phosphates is hiding in your rocks n sand. If you can take the rocks out little by little and put them in a separate bucket and blast with a pump for like a day. Should help.

 

[crox99]

Phosphate seems high...are you running GFO?

Lee,

I have a fuge and I am running bio pellets.

 

[lnevo]

Surprisingly, at 0 nitrate you may have to raise your nitrates in order to bring down the phosphates with biopellets. Or you could try running some GFO to get them down to 0. Once you have them down to 0 the pellets will be enough. Look up the redfield ratio. If you want to bring some water by and we can cross check, I have RSP and another Hanna meter.

 

[prattreef]

That is some really strange algae and I'm not at all convinced PO4 is responsible for it.06 ppm is really not that high.

Let's see if we can get an ID on that stuff and then we might be able to figure out what makes it tick and then how to control it. The best ID guy I know is Boomer.....

 

[jackson6745]

Lobophora sp. I've heard of long spine urchins eating in.

 

[prattreef]

Jackson for the win! I'm told some tangs eat it as well--Naso in particular.

 

[Adamc1303]

What causes it? How'd he get it?

 

[jackson6745]

I had this in the past. It was introduced on my live rock. I didn't think it was a nuisance though. Occasionally I would rip some off and that would keep it at bay.