Reinforcements are here!

[peteyboyny]

So, after doing battle with the dreaded Bryopsis (and won by the way...thank you Tech M), I have found an enemy that is IMO much harder to get rid of...TURF ALGAE. I have been losing this battle for quite a while now. I have lost all my SPS, a good portion of my zoos and palys, and now it has come to a head...my 50+/p Duncan colony is at risk.
After lots of thought, I am acclimating a Sea Hare at this very moment. HOPEFULLY this works.
I have removed all of my Koralia powerheads (they need cleaning and I don't wanna lose the sea hare in one of them). I am keeping some flow going with a MJ900 setup as a powerhead (I don't think he'll get into that small screen).

Any tips about Sea Hare's? Other than don't let it die?

If this works, he'll be passed along so he doesn't starve.

 

[peteyboyny]

Also, I've changed out GFO, R/O filters, and removed filter socks. And will be doing a large water change over the weekend. Anything else?

 

[NL146]

Where did you get the sea hare?

 

[peteyboyny]

Aqua Hut

 

[reefman]

good luck, you'll need it.

 

[peteyboyny]

Acclimation is done. He's in the tank and has started eating algae. God speed young Sea Hare..

 

[Fasthackem]

Peteboy

I had bulletproof red turf. After multiple doses of Brightwell Mactbacter7 and Chemiclean barely put a dent in the problem I added 16 Nassarius Snails and a couple of Emerald crabs.
I have to tell you it was the snails that really solved the problem.
That aside, you have to figure out the underlying issue. Mine was phosphate. Once I got that under control all was good.

 

[peteyboyny]

I've been through dozens of ceriths, Astraea, turbos...
My elegance likes to eat them all! Lol. As far as emerald crabs, i dont trust any crabs.
My underlying issue is excess nutrients, that I know. That's why I started changing all filter media, RO filters, RO storage is getting a vinegar bath, etc.
I also started dosing vinegar a few mos back.

 

[Fasthackem]

The Nassarius snails I put in killed my turf in 10 days.
I traced my problem back to depleted RO filter and over zealous spot feeding..
My red turf was so strong I couldn't get it off with even the stiffest nylon brush I could find. It was basically like the fuzz on a tennis ball.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes in a week.

 

[peteyboyny]

Are you sure they were Nassarius snails? Nassarius snails are carnivores.

 

[Fasthackem]

I've lost my mind. They were Turbos.

 

[peteyboyny]

So, after working all night...
I start checking to see if the sea hare is doing good...NOT!
It seems he has now become the latest victim of my elegance. This was a last ditch effort. Don't know what I'm going to do now. I've already lost too much, and more is on it's way. Don't know if I can keep this going at this point.

 

[peteyboyny]

I think I feel an anxiety attack coming on...

 

[Fasthackem]

Can you post pics of your situation?

 

[fireshark02]

You can try short spine sea urchins. They love algae

 

[peteyboyny]

Situation is pretty bad.

 

[peteyboyny]

...it's not posting pics.

 

[acolaojr]

Tuxedo sea urchins, and a kole tang

 

[peteyboyny]

Urchins sound like a good idea.

 

[peteyboyny]

.cant post pics.