Coarse and Wiry Green Algae

[autogolazzojr]

Hello,
I have been struggling with this algae for a while in both my 5g (1 year old) and my 28g (5 months old). My nutrients have bottomed out due to this algae. While it does keep my 5G stable due to lack of high phosphates/nitrates, I would still like to see my corals grow. A turbo snail initially controlled this algae in the 5G, but it has since seemed to stop eating much of it. Reef flux had no effect (it wiped out my bubble algae, so I am fairly certain I dosed correctly). What is this algae, and how can I control it?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Tahoe61]

Might be a turf algae which is hard to eradicate. Pitho or Emerald might eat it. You can try covering spots with underwater epoxy.

 

[mcarroll]

I can't ID it, but you might try spot treating with strong hydrogen peroxide (h202) as per:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/algae-cure-spot-treating-algae-with-peroxide.359887/

As for your corals, the ultra low nutrients are killing the deal.

Reduce filtration to just your protein skimmer and live rock and see if that helps things recover to normal levels.

For immediate relief to corals, you can consider dosing phosphates to a target level something liek ≥0.10 ppm until things normalize.

 

[autogolazzojr]

I can't ID it, but you might try spot treating with strong hydrogen peroxide (h202) as per:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/algae-cure-spot-treating-algae-with-peroxide.359887/

As for your corals, the ultra low nutrients are killing the deal.

Reduce filtration to just your protein skimmer and live rock and see if that helps things recover to normal levels.

For immediate relief to corals, you can consider dosing phosphates to a target level something liek ≥0.10 ppm until things normalize.

Thank you. Hydrogen peroxide will kill the algae, but it then grows back within days. Dosing nitrate or phosphate increases the growth and the nutrients bottom out again. Do you think an urchin would eat it?

 

[mcarroll]

Thank you. Hydrogen peroxide will kill the algae, but it then grows back within days. Dosing nitrate or phosphate increases the growth and the nutrients bottom out again. Do you think an urchin would eat it?

Manual removal should be enough. So should peroxide.

What does your algae-eating cleanup crew consist of right now?

 

[autogolazzojr]

With my 5 gallon, I was not able to keep up with manual removal or peroxide. The algae would simply grow back within days. It is extremely hardy and can tolerate pretty much any nutrient level, then it will consume all nutrients in the water. The only thing that worked was adding a turbo snail to the tank, who initially kept the algae under control and allowed nutrients to stay in the water. However, the turbo snail has since slowed down its consumption, which is why I ask about other invertebrates.

In my 28g, I have 3 red leg hermit crabs, 3 turbo snails, 3 margarita snails, and an emerald crab. The turbo snails are not enough to control the algae, which is why I am considering adding an urchin. Thank you

 

[kevgib67]

Seahares have a voracious appetite and will eat turf algae. My son got one for his 55g that was heavily infested with gha and in 10 days it was spotless. He now supplements or puts it in my tank every now and then for a couple weeks.