algae attach!

[xKEIGOx]

I have some serious problem with this algae. I don't know the name but it look like bushes of hair. Most of them are about an inch long some are longer. Green in color. Hermit crab doesn't feed on them as I saw them pull it out put it in the mouth and then split it out back. They cover everything including the corals. I have now remove all the corals and leave the aquarium without lights. Will this kill them off? What should i do? I have tried resetup everything using new gravel and life rocks but it came back. Putting in hermits and tang but doesn't stop them.

 

[Len]

It could be Bryposis. Best way to control bryoposis is to control nutrients. There's very few critters that eat this stuff, one being the Lettuce nudibranch Tridachia crispata

 

[klingsa]

I've had a similar problem, as I'm sure we all have, and the solution for me was to replace my lights (MH 250's). They wear out after about a year, and as they get old, they emmit different wavelengths of light. So, it's less helpful to corals and better for algae. Of course, the most important factor is nutrients, as Len said. I also have lots of hermits, snails, an algae blenny and a yellow tang. They don't tend to eat it when it gets really long. And if it is Bryopsis, then there are even fewer things that will eat it.

I'd do some water testing, maybe some water changes, and check on your lights. In my opinion, turning off the lights does the tank more harm than good. It may encourage the growth of algae that needs less light, such as blue greens or diatoms, and if the nutrients are in the water, I don't think a dark period will make it go away. I think keeping the tank conditions as close to natural reefs as possible is always the best way to get around such problems. That includes lots of light. Just my opinion, so get some more on the light issue!

Good luck!
Sara

 

[xKEIGOx]

well, everything started when the PO4 went high. But after that I did a restart. I change all the water, liferocks and gravel and til now the PO4 remain undetactable and 5ppm of NO3 if I have to say there is any but somehow the algae came back. real fast. It is runing under 4 150watts 20,000K MHbulb. Is it really closing the lights wouldn't help? I should change the bulb? I'm worried you know, this is not my tank i'm scare that if i change the bulb it got more worst then i don't know what to tell my friend. The tank have 160gal. Will 4 150watts MHbulb be too much?