Algae problem?

[Dejan]

Hello all!

I need help!

Few months ago I get sample of strange red algae. My surgeon fish Zebrasoma xanthurum loves to eat so I leave small part in tank.
Later I found this algae start to grow everywhere in my tank. If I try to clean algae with hands or toothbrush parts of algae flow around and where parts come there algae start to grow.
this is macro shot of his algae:



Month ago I add also another fish - Zebrasoma desjardinii and both tangs eats this algae but only in small quantities. Then I add about 100 Hermit crabs to control this algae but seems they do not like this red algae. I also have one urchins in my tank.

I think water parameters are good - Nitrates and Phosphates are 0 measured with Salifert tests.
Main problem is when part of this algae came into some species of corals like this Caliendrum...



If I don't remove algae by hands it starts to grow and in month coral looks like this one on pic. Some species of acropora resist on algae growth others don't.

Is this algae asparagopsis taxiformis?

Can you suggest me how to fight against this algae?

I also have this algae:


Can you help me with identification?
This algae also grow on some places but slowly so I could remove it.

[wasp]

Yikes! Look like you have quite a problem. Will be an interesting thread.

[Aged Salt]

Hi Dejan, yes, this is "red-turf algae" & I think it's Asparagoposis taxiformis. Probably the most dreaded algae type for the aquarist to face, as it's near impossible to rid. If it's localized to specific rocks, it's probably best to sacrifice those rocks, & corals involved to remove the "mass-effect". I can honestly say since I used ZEOvit, I've only had one rock with this turf-algae that also came in on a coral base which I had to remove from my system. Thus far, I have not had a reocurrence. Sorry, I can't be more positive about this but this stuff is a bane for any of us. Bob

[Dejan]

yes, this is "red-turf algae" & I think it's Asparagoposis taxiformis.

Damm.. I was hoping it's not...


[QUOTE=Aged Salt]Probably the most dreaded algae type for the aquarist to face, as it's near impossible to rid. If it's localized to specific rocks, it's probably best to sacrifice those rocks, & corals involved to remove the "mass-effect". /QUOTE]

Uh... so I should thinking to total desifection of whole tank... using explosive?

Manual removing of this algae produce lots of swiming algae parts which flow to other stones, corals... and I'm helping algae to reproduce more and more...

I can honestly say since I used ZEOvit, I've only had one rock with this turf-algae that also came in on a coral base which I had to remove from my system. Thus far, I have not had a reocurrence. Sorry, I can't be more possible about this but this stuff is a bane for any of us. Bob

Hmmm.. This ZEOvit is magical medical to any trouble?

I have all components for ZEOvit at home but my first atempt with ZEO stuff end with bad result for few frags of my corals.

I know using ZEOxxx would lower my lo PO4 level and decrease speed of growth of this algae...

But... can you tell me ? will this algae dissapear from my tank in case I will using ZEO stuff?

[bluereef]

IMO your problem with that algae are related to dsb what you have in your aquarium,dsb are nutrient factory which fuel the grow of that algae and another problem is that due to dsb you cant have enough flow to remove detritus out of your system.Main problem with that algae is that she colect detritus and use him as a food to grow,that is the reason,IMO,why that algae mostly grow near the corals base.You should remove detritus as much you can from her(with ocasional storm,turkey baster,manualy with the hand...) and remove algae out of the system.
Do you try hermit crabs from Adriatic sea?

[wasp]

Something that worked for me, with a different turf algae, was boiling water.
Had to remove affected rock, pull all algae off, then pour boiling water over any residue of it on the rock.
Just one rock each few days as it also kills bacteria and done to much at once will cause an ammonia spike.
did do the job in the end, although I've just found a new little growth of it, but will deal to that in the next few days.

[Dejan]

Bluereef...

I am using Jeubert system not DSB.. however probably this could be the reason.. But I think my nutrients levels are really small. I feed fishes only each 3-4 days. And this algae is known to grow in aquariums with better water conditions with different light sources.. It grows even in almost dark places..
Problem is to remove all even small particles of algae and of course even parts which grows into holes in live stones..

[Aged Salt]

Damm.. I was hoping it's not...


.

But... can you tell me ? will this algae dissapear from my tank in case I will using ZEO stuff?

Hi Dejan, as Mirabel mentioned increased flow helps with detritus removal, especially in a bare-bottom tank. But this stuff actually grows into the LR crevices & is most difficult to remove--I couldn't get this stuff all off with a razor-blade& it thrives in low-light & high current. I can not tell you that ZEOvit will rid this plague but ZEOvit will eventually create oligotrophic conditions whereby it will not progress. To date once it takes a foothold in a reef, I have not found a cure. Bob

[keigo]

Hi Dejan,

There will always be algae even when your p04 reach zero. Result because some algae that will only grow in gd water envirnoment while those other pest algae grow in bad water condition.

[Dejan]

Hi Dejan, as Mirabel mentioned increased flow helps with detritus removal, especially in a bare-bottom tank.

I know that..

But this stuff actually grows into the LR crevices & is most difficult to remove--I couldn't get this stuff all off with a razor-blade& it thrives in low-light & high current.

Better solution for me would be to get some animal which loves to eat this algae, which have long tongue and could get in every hole and coral to eat this algae...
??? Anyone know such animal?

I can not tell you that ZEOvit will rid this plague but ZEOvit will eventually create oligotrophic conditions whereby it will not progress.

I also think so... Hmmm probably I should try this...

To date once it takes a foothold in a reef, I have not found a cure. Bob

Bad weather and storms in my tank.... Uh...

[prodman]

I have some of this too. but it has not grown or spread. Should I still ditch the rock?

[Dejan]

Something that worked for me, with a different turf algae, was boiling water.
Had to remove affected rock, pull all algae off, then pour boiling water over any residue of it on the rock.

Boiled water... sounds good... Until now I was removing few stones out of tank, manually remove algae as much as I can, then I use electric drill with small metal brush to remove remaining or algae from flat surfaces.. Of course I can not reach all algae parts in holes.. There I was thinking to use hi grade acid to burn algae in holes and places where I can reach.. In the end I would wash stones in old aquarium water.
At the end I would still have live stone with some dead spots burned by acid..

Did do the job in the end, although I've just found a new little growth of it, but will deal to that in the next few days.

Report me... how result will be in month after cleaning ends..

[Dejan]

I have some of this too. but it has not grown or spread. Should I still ditch the rock?

??? what is your water conditions? Better than mine or worse..

One of my friend have this type of algae.. when he was in vacances conditions in his tank becomes worse and worse at the end other algae start to grow on this algae and this kills it..

Should I try to produce Hi nutrients and with phospate reach tank? This would kill this algae..

[Dejan]

Do you try hermit crabs from Adriatic sea?

Yes I collect them in Adriatic sea... but they are not so hungry to eat this algae...

[Aged Salt]

I have some of this too. but it has not grown or spread. Should I still ditch the rock?

Hi Paul, I have no doubt that you should--just be lucky it's still isolated, Bob