Some Algae Help Please

[sschafer]

Hi all,

I seem to be having an algae problem (at least I think it is algae) and am in need of some help. I have a brown film growing on my live rocks that is very difficult to remove. It has brown to transluscent filaments that are maybe a mm or two long. It also seems to like growing on the plastic overflows, but not on the glass or sand. It is not Cyano, does not seem to be Diatom based (way to difficult to remove), and does not have the bubbles etc. of Dinoflagellates. Any idea what this stuff is? Suggestions on what to do to get rid of it? Water parameters all seem to be in normal ranges and the skimmer seems to be working as usual. I have to scrub the heck out of it with a stiff toothbrush to get it off of the overflows, and the rocks are even more difficult. Your thoughts on this matter are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[aquarist=broke]

Does your tank look anything like this?

That's diatom hell!!

 

[Panagiotakis]

Hi.
Do you do water changes?
How old are your lights?These may be reasons that this film is enveloping your rocks.Water circulation, is yours adequate?Is it growing in a dead zone as far as water movement is concerned?Go back and make more observations .

 

[Mikef1]

What type of top off water are you using? And are you running a phosphate remover? If not I would do are good size water change with RO/DI water and then run a phosphate remover, I prefer RowaPhos. To me it sounds like a diatom bloom caused by high phosphates or silicates.

 

[sschafer]

Nope, doesn't look like "Diatom Hell" is not nearly as dense and very spotty. I have been doing a few water changes in the past couple of weeks since I am setting up a quarantine tank. Bulbs are aproximately 4 months old (250watt 10K MH) and I have around 1200gph running through my 120 from two overflow returns and a SeaSwirl. There are very few "dead zones" and the algae seems to be growing in some of the highest flow zones. All of my replacement water is run through a High-S RO/DI system. I am not using any addition phosphate remover. I did not test for Phosphates, but I believe I do have a test kit for that around here somewhere. I will test today and post my results.

Thanks for the help,

Steve

 

[sschafer]

Here is the best photo I could get of the algae. I was trying to zoom in very close so the filaments can be seen, but unfortunately it didn't turn out so well.

-Steve

 

[Mikef1]

To me it looks like red slime, but I could be wrong.

 

[Will C1]

yes it does resemble red slime, are you running any carbon? if so change it, if not go buy some good quality carbon, i haven bought any in years but aqua-theil used to sell some really good stuf made from coconut's i believe.

 

[sschafer]

Will C,

When you say "red slime" are you refering to cyano? This is not Cyano as it is dark brown and astoundingly hard to remove. My experiences with Cyano are that it is much more red and very easy to remove from the rocks. I do have a small amount of Cyano in between some yellow polyps, but it is very minor and is not proliferating. I am using 1/2 a cup of Matrix carbon (replacing it each week). The very small filaments almos make me think this is something else.

Thanks for the help,

-Steve

yes it does resemble red slime, are you running any carbon? if so change it, if not go buy some good quality carbon, i haven bought any in years but aqua-theil used to sell some really good stuf made from coconut's i believe.

 

[THEFishHead]

Dear Steve,

That's Pseudolithoderma, which used to be known as Ralfsia. See page 54 in my book Algae: A Problem Solver Guide. It is a brown seaweed that adheres tightly to rock and other solid surfaces. The filaments are a sign that it is growning and healthy. This is, in my opinion, as desirable alga, quite like various coralline algae. A strong growth of it usually indicates good water quality. I can't imagine why you would want to remove it!

If you wanted to curb its growth and encourage more diversity of corallines, you might try adding one Diadema urchin. Otherwise leave it alone.

Sincerely,

Julian Sprung

 

[THEFishHead]

I forgot to add that there is a nearly non-calcifying red coralline alga that looks similar to this, called Peyssonnelia. It is also a desirable plant, in my opinion.

Sincerely,

Julian Sprung[/quote]

 

[sschafer]

Thanks very much for the response Julian. I am pleased that it is a beneficial algae. I did skim through your book at one of the stores last week, but I was in a hurry. I'll make sure to pick it up the next time I am there.

Thanks again,

Steve

Dear Steve,

That's Pseudolithoderma, which used to be known as Ralfsia. See page 54 in my book Algae: A Problem Solver Guide. It is a brown seaweed that adheres tightly to rock and other solid surfaces. The filaments are a sign that it is growning and healthy. This is, in my opinion, as desirable alga, quite like various coralline algae. A strong growth of it usually indicates good water quality. I can't imagine why you would want to remove it!

If you wanted to curb its growth and encourage more diversity of corallines, you might try adding one Diadema urchin. Otherwise leave it alone.

Sincerely,

Julian Sprung

 

[S2minute]

i could not see those pics...here is what i`m currently dealing with. What is it plz? Is there anything known that eats it?

 

[Saltlick]

Personally I LIKE your problem algae. Wish I had that kind of outbreak.
I imagine a tang or surgeon would eat it. To the completely untrained
and overly verbose eye, I say it looks like some kind of sargassum or kelp,
even though it is not either of those, too many physical differences. But
I like it. Is it THIS?

http://www.algaebase.org/search/images/ ... g_id=36008

http://www.algaebase.org/search/images/ ... g_id=34186

 

[S2minute]

Hi, thanks for the reply. It looks very much like the second pic. I find that if i don`t syphon it out (like mowing a lawn), it spreads everywhere. I`m afraid it`s going to choke out my clams and corals. That`s why i wanted to find a natural predator to control it. Any ideas?

 

[Ben1]

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/algae/faq_dictyota.jpg/view

Ive had this stuff at one point. Just picked it off and the rest died off on its own, never saw it again. Ive read reports rabbit fish and certain urchins will eat it, I dunno though.

 

[S2minute]

I did some research and came up with this: http://www.uni-giessen.de/~gf1307/breeding.htm ....and this...http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=130417 The algae in that pic looks like just what i have and from what i`m reading, this worm eats it.

 

[Anonymous]

i could not see those pics...here is what i`m currently dealing with. What is it plz? Is there anything known that eats it?

Looks like Dictyota.

 

[S2minute]

i could not see those pics...here is what i`m currently dealing with. What is it plz? Is there anything known that eats it?

After some reaserch i came up with this; the Algae in question is called Dictyota dichotoma. The WORM that eats it is called Platynereis dumerilii.
Here are two interesting links on this and other worms. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=130417
http://www.uni-giessen.de/~gf1307/breeding.htm