Macro Algae problem

[gwongis]

Hi,

Can someone please help me to control my macro algae problem? The type of macro algae I have, I believe the common name is something like cup macroalgae. I have a reef system and it is starting to over grow my coral. I like to have something that will eat them, to control the growth.
I have Yellow tang which only eat the film type algae. I brought a Algae Mower Blenny, no luck either. I try to harvest out of the tank by hand. But it break off and struck on the live rock too. And now the fragment is all over the tank and growing everywhere. I am thinking about some small angel like flame Angel and Coral Beauty Angel. But I am not sure if they will eat them for sure, and I am risking them to cause problem for my calm and coral.

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

A small angel will not help unfortunately.

Have you been pulling it out by hand? You have my sympathy, I suffered from the same problem. How big is your tank? I have used a figi foxface with great success to eat macroalgae, but they need a larger tank, especially with a yellow tang already in there.

 

[gwongis]

I have the 120 Gallons (tall version), My coral are packed, this system has been running over 3 years with no problem. I have two clowns, one yellow tang, two gobies, one lawnmower blenny, one Mandarin.

Those one near the top and on the pump, I try to pull them out. But now some of them on the live rock and in between coral. If I pull them out, I may end up pulling the live rock and moving the rock. :-(

I am not familiar with foxface, Will it fight with my yellow tang?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

I am not familiar with foxface, Will it fight with my yellow tang?

Thanks,

Greg

I don't know if it will fight, I don't think so, but I don't know, maybe someone with a yellow tang and foxface will chime in. I have mine in with a sailfin tang and in a 120 he is fine. My foxface is very docile. Here is a picture of mine. He is the figi foxface, the scientific name is Siganus uspi

There are actually several kinds of foxface available, but I can only speak for this one. He has eaten every kind of macro algea I have offered him, I bought him to cure my own macro algae problem and he did. I had stuff my sailfin and hippo tang would not touch and he ate it all.

 

[gwongis]

I just read about the Foxface, the info tells me that it may nip on Large ploy stony Coral. Did it cause any problem on any of your coral and clam?

And do you know if emerald crab eat the macroalgae?

Thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

My foxface has never nipped a coral, he is better behaved in a tank than my tangs! I have never met anyone who had troubles with thier foxface, but I know it is on some websites that they can nip LPS.

But then again, all fish are individuals. My blue hippo tang for instance, he eats LPS corals, and they are not supposed to do that.


I do not think an emerald crab will help. They do eat macro algae I believe, but they are so small and slow eating you would need an army to make a small dent.


Sorry you are having a hard time with this, I had the same thing going on and we were actually thinking of throwing out all of our rock it was so bad.

 

[ChrisRD]

Can you post a pic of the problem macro?

 

[gwongis]

I took a picture. But I don't know how to post a picture here, sorry. I don't have a site to do that. May be I can send it to an e-mail address if you can provide.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

You can attach it to your reply. When you hit the reply button below, underneath where you type the post there is a "browse" button, that lets you upload the photo to your post. Then click "add attachment" below the browse button.

I would like to see what kind of algae you have there.

 

[gwongis]

Oh thanks you.. Here is the pictures...

 

[gwongis]

Sorry, let try it again. I hope this time work and no one mad at me. Sorry guys...

 

[gwongis]

Will the foxface eat those marcoalgae ? Will Powder Brown Tang or any other eat those?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[dadstank]

what is the core difference between macro and micro algae? can anyone post a picture of micro for me?

Is it safe to assume the macro algae in question is the vine looking growth?

 

[m-fine]

Macro is "large" plant like algae such as the "vine like" stuff in the picture or the hairy tufts that look like moss, etc.

Mirco algae is tiny individual cells that are not easy to see until there is a mass of them. These are the algaes that form a film on the glass or can grow into thick mats of slime.

Overly simplified but I hope you get the idea.

m-fine

 

[gwongis]

I believe those algae on your tank glass for example, is microalgae.
( I am not technical in this field at all ). I would guess if we can't see the plant structure, it may consider as microalgae.

 

[Anonymous]

See if your fish store will let you take a piece in and offer it to a fish to see if he eats it before you buy him.

My foxface would eat that in no time, but I don't want to make any garauntees because sometimes fish are different.

If you get really good about pulling all of it out by hand every day you might be able to get it under control.

 

[gwongis]

Good idea. I will bring some free food to my local store. :wink:
I located a one dot foxface yesterday, but just waiting for more opinion. I will go pick it up today and try to eat it first.

 

[ChrisRD]

The macro in that pic is Caulerpa sp..

 

[Anonymous]

Yes it is. I believe its Caulerpa peltata

another pic

 

[Anonymous]

I would also treat the underlying causes for algae growth, i.e. the nutrient contect of your water.

At a minimum, I'd check phosphate and if there is any detectable, I'd use a phosphate absorber until it is undetectable.

If you're using a highly nutrient rich food, like flake or liquid supplements, I'd switch to something less polluting/natural.

If you are using a skimmer, good, keep it clean and working at max potential. If you don't have one, now might be a good time to get one.

Bottom line however, is Caulerpa, in all its forms is rarely so invasive as to kill surrounding corals, as long as your nutrient level is under control. I think some macro in the display can actually add to the overall natural appearance...