Garrett Huegin Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I just purchased an established biocube reef tank with a pretty bad green algae problem. Does anyone have any suggestions for a cure for this? It is in need of some help. It is only on the rocks and starting to get on some of the corals. Thank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Manual removal, water changes, only use RODI for making SW. Check the age of the bulbs if you can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I would make sure you're dealing with GHA and not bryopsis. Completely different treatment options with the exception of get your nitrates and phosphates down. Bryopsis is a plague... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 How do you tell the difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 If it has a fern/feathery appearance it's bryposis. If it's just fur, it's most likely GHA. Bryopsis will also grow very long, like 9"+. Bryopsis closeup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cMidd Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Get a tang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Get a tang In a biocube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzobob Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Manual removal, water changes, only use RODI for making SW. Check the age of the bulbs if you can. Yup, Robb's got it. These steps will not only get you in good shape reletively quickly but are great advice for keeping the problem at bay once you have it under control. Last point would be to monitor your feedings both in quantity and method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cMidd Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Didn't read that part haha! My tang destroys my hair algae. In that case I would remove manually, and do the rest of the things Robb said. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Ok, bryopsis it is. Guess it came in on a rock. Don't really feed the tank yet, so not sure what it's thriving on. Maybe the lack of a cuc that eats it. Hope the millions of snails and crabs I've got coming today will help it. My lawnmower is slowly working on it. Tangs eat it too? Been wanting one of those, was just waiting...maybe I need to quit waiting, lol! And thanks, Garrett, for letting me half hijack your thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cMidd Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Stacy- my sailfin tang literally destroys any green on my sandbed! He loves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 If it has a fern/feathery appearance it's bryposis. If it's just fur, it's most likely GHA. Bryopsis will also grow very long, like 9"+. Bryopsis closeup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Rodriguez Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 For a small Biocube, you can use a small army of Mexican turbo snails to keep mowing it down once you trim it manually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Huegin Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Looks like I have green hair algae. I will try to do some water changes and remove as much by hand as possible. The previous owner told me his wife would feed the fish too much when he would go out of town for a few weeks at a time. I think a little time and effort will go a long way on this one. I will probably put a few more snails and crabs in the tank, as there is a fairly limited number currently. Thanks for all the advice. I only use RODI water for the tank. The previous owner had his own RODI, now I need to get one for myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 This looks like a type of feathr Caulerpa. Are you sure this is a picture of Bryposis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Ooo, sailfin or yellow...which is better in a 90? And I'll wait on the final verdict of the pic I'd since what I have looks a lot like it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cMidd Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 About the same! Depends on taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Hydro Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Get a tang Biocube is too small for a tang. A really small algae blenny, lots of hermit crabs, marine SAT, raise the Mg, and you can try 3 days of darkness which I personally have never tried. Marine SAT is awesome and you can get it at Fishy Business, make sure to follow instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Rodriguez Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Get a Kole Tang. They have the smallest tank rating out of any tangs that I have seen. Ooo, sailfin or yellow...which is better in a 90? And I'll wait on the final verdict of the pic I'd since what I have looks a lot like it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Ok, bryopsis it is. Guess it came in on a rock. Don't really feed the tank yet, so not sure what it's thriving on. Maybe the lack of a cuc that eats it. Hope the millions of snails and crabs I've got coming today will help it. My lawnmower is slowly working on it. Tangs eat it too? Been wanting one of those, was just waiting...maybe I need to quit waiting, lol! And thanks, Garrett, for letting me half hijack your thread If it is byropsis NOTHING will eat it. I have been battling it for several months both in the 58 and the 150 show tank. I finally got a foothold and have turn the tide in the battle by raising mg to 1800 (using TECH-M by the gallons). The stuff is turning white and melting. If it isn't I would follow the suggestions above. Also remember if you pull it by hand be careful. I usually syphon around the area I'm pulling to help keep it from spreading. I hope it isn't byrobsis. As stated above it is a plague! Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I've got my Mg at near 2200 using Tech-m, and it is keeping it at bay, but nothing more. Finally moved my tank so I can setup my fuge. Hopefully I can get my nitrates down which should help a lot. Also, it looks almost identical to feather Caulerpa. From what I understand the only sure way to tell is how aggressive it is and what eats it. There are several hundred species of bryopsis so identifying exactly what you're dealing with is nearly impossible even if you have a microscope and you know what you're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 And I am totally hijacking now. When yall brought up a tang, I know garret has a biocube which is too small for one. I'm looking at the best fit in a 90 with a sump so that's where the tang suggestions are coming from. I like them all, so want to know which are the hardiest and will eat the most algae AND be happy in that size tank. -Garret, Mexican turbo snails do rock at normal algae, just be sure to glue your corals down. Mine used to knock things over in my nano all the time. Looks very small in the big tank though, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+lewk Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Marine SAT will knock out hair algae if that's what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cMidd Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I've ha great luck with my sailfin-nursed him back from Ich(had it when I bought him, and I usually stay away from that but yeah). He is by far the most aggressive eater in my tank and will eat anything you put in there so be careful . Sorry because now I am helping her hijack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I have a Scopas and a Twinspot Bristletooth Tang in my 75g. While not the brightess of the tangs, they are neat. My Scopas has gone ulta-shy recently, but my bristletooth is very nice. A pale browny-blue. And thusly, I have no algae eating snails in the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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