Can't ID this one, a little help!

[Obsessed]

This is a new one for me, haven't come across it yet. CUC will eat it, it has a root structure as I can't just suck it out. What do you guys think?

 

[Sully]

Looks like hair algae.

 

[Salty1962]

Get a Lawnmower blenny, he'll clear it up..

 

[Obsessed]

I've never had a brown slimy hair algae before, just the standard green kind. I have a lawnmower but haven't actually seen him go to town on it. Have a few tangs in QT so hopefully they can help

 

[alyee5]

I think I have the same thing...are you still battling it?

 

[Esquire805]

Hair or diatoms

 

[WetWhistle]

This kind is a pain to get rid of as you typically have more then one sp of algae in play as diatoms will typically settle on the algae. It is not as palatable as some of the other algae so not much eats it. My fox face will not touch it at all and he will eat almost anything. I find daily scrubbing of your rocks with a stiff plastic brush works quite nicely. Add mechanical media like filter floss or filter sock to remove anything for the water column. Also add something like snails to eat the left over parts that are left attached to the rocks. They will eat this portion as the cell membrane is damaged and all the foul tasting stuff has leaked out.
Increase your water flow if you can during this time so you can keep the algae in the water column for removal. If you act in place of a herbivore and constantly damage the algae it will switch from growth phase to repair as you are constantly damaging the algae. It will use up its stored nutrients and energy budget in an attempt to repair itself so growth slows and new algae all but stop. Don't underestimate manual removal as a option. Is it a pain.. yes.. is it effective... big time yes.

 

[Tahoe61]

Urchins, Chitons, Certh and Astrea have worked for me.