Green Digi developing algae on tips

[soreefed]

I have a small digi colony that has been growing nicely. I recently noticed brown algae growing on the branches at the skeletal portion of the polyp tips. Debating if I should leave it as is or frag the branches that are showing algae growth.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Paramters
7.7dkh
410ca
1350mag
1.026 sg
5ppm nitrate
.02 phosphate

 

[KrisReef]

If it is growing then leave it alone. The picture I see doesn't look terrible, (but my eyes are, so?)

If you have algae issues, deal with the nutrients and the corals will be fine.

 

[soreefed]

If it is growing then leave it alone. The picture I see doesn't look terrible, (but my eyes are, so?)

If you have algae issues, deal with the nutrients and the corals will be fine.

Thanks for the advice! No major algae issues in the tank atm. I’ve been dosing neo nitro and neophos for a couple of months now after nutrients zeroed out.

I zoomed in on the picture and circled the area in question.

 

[KrisReef]

I noticed that spot, it is mid arm vs tip(s) or base where issues (RTN, STN, burn tips) with algae and/or other common problems usually manifest. It doesn't look right but I don't think it is algae, ?? Wondering if it got bumped or attacked by sweepers? Still, those issues usually appear with whitish flesh so the dark spot is curious.

--- Maybe someone else has seen this before?

 

[soreefed]

I noticed that spot, it is mid arm vs tip(s) or base where issues (RTN, STN, burn tips) with algae and/or other common problems usually manifest. It doesn't look right but I don't think it is algae, ?? Wondering if it got bumped or attacked by sweepers? Still, those issues usually appear with whitish flesh so the dark spot is curious.

--- Maybe someone else has seen this before?

Yeah I was struggling with the right description. It’s the spikey tips of the branch and not the actual tip/end of it.

I tried blowing it off with a baster but it’s proper attached. I believe it to be algae because it seems to get more stringy when the lights come on.

This picture is from about a month ago.

 

[Pod_01]

Out of curiosity, how long has your PO4 been in the 0.02 range? Also are you using any PO4 removers like GFO?

I had something similar happen to my digi when I kept PO4 below the 0.04 range and used GFO and Al based PO4 removers.

Best picture I have. It didn’t make it.

Bottom line is the coral was starting and slowly perished.

I managed to kill quite few corals before I clued in low/no PO4 is bad especially in a new tank started with dead rock.
The only good thing was I had no algae either. On a second thought maybe not a good thing.

The Favia on the left was on its way out as well. Today the same Favia.

 

[Uncle99]

I’m not sure why your keeping phosphate that low 0.02ppm
Testing error could mean it’s also zero, bad number for corals, good number for Dino’s, maybe cyanos.
I maintain no less than .1ppm to ensure, even with testing error, theirs phosphate in my waters.

 

[soreefed]

Out of curiosity, how long has your PO4 been in the 0.02 range? Also are you using any PO4 removers like GFO?

I had something similar happen to my digi when I kept PO4 below the 0.04 range and used GFO and Al based PO4 removers.

Best picture I have. It didn’t make it.

Bottom line is the coral was starting and slowly perished.

I managed to kill quite few corals before I clued in low/no PO4 is bad especially in a new tank started with dead rock.
The only good thing was I had no algae either. On a second thought maybe not a good thing.

The Favia on the left was on its way out as well. Today the same Favia.

Phos bottomed out pretty early on for me. I’ve been dosing neophos every day and feeding reef roids to get it back up. Having issues stabilizing nitrate as well, but the tank has thrived in the same period of time. I do believe the intake from the tank is just higher than I’m dosing.

This has been a months long nutrient battle for me as mine are always low despite changing feeding habits, but the corals continue to thrive and it only became an issue when I saw Dino’s pop up.

 

[soreefed]

I’m not sure why your keeping phosphate that low 0.02ppm
Testing error could mean it’s also zero, bad number for corals, good number for Dino’s, maybe cyanos.
I maintain no less than .1ppm to ensure, even with testing error, theirs phosphate in my waters.

Trust me I am aware of that. I’ve been dosing neophos and neonitro daily to try and balance nutrients. As soon as I stop dosing the numbers will slam down. Dino’s did pop up and that’s when I started dosing. It’s been a months long battle to keep nutrients from bottoming out.

 

[Uncle99]

Trust me I am aware of that. I’ve been dosing neophos and neonitro daily to try and balance nutrients. As soon as I stop dosing the numbers will slam down. Dino’s did pop up and that’s when I started dosing. It’s been a months long battle to keep nutrients from bottoming out.

Keep up the fight, at one point she’ll settle out.

 

[soreefed]

Keep up the fight, at one point she’ll settle out.

Thanks Uncle, my morale is restored!

 

[Pod_01]

Phos bottomed out pretty early on for me. I’ve been dosing neophos every day and feeding reef roids to get it back up. Having issues stabilizing nitrate as well, but the tank has thrived in the same period of time. I do believe the intake from the tank is just higher than I’m dosing.

This has been a months long nutrient battle for me as mine are always low despite changing feeding habits, but the corals continue to thrive and it only became an issue when I saw Dino’s pop up.

From my experience PO4, going from 0.05 to 0.01 or sinking PO4 in this range is detrimental.
On the hand going from 0.1 to 0.05 is not so bad.
To stabilize your PO4 you can consider PlusNP from Tropic Marin. The phosphate in this product does not bind to the rock or substrate so it is available to biofilm and corals and will not fuel algae. Unfortunately you will not be able to measure it with test kit.

Also more fish is another option so they produce the ideal food for corals.

Good luck,

 

[soreefed]

From my experience PO4, going from 0.05 to 0.01 or sinking PO4 in this range is detrimental.
On the hand going from 0.1 to 0.05 is not so bad.
To stabilize your PO4 you can consider PlusNP from Tropic Marin. The phosphate in this product does not bind to the rock or substrate so it is available to biofilm and corals and will not fuel algae. Unfortunately you will not be able to measure it with test kit.

Also more fish is another option so they produce the ideal food for corals.

Good luck,

Thanks for the advice. Shortly after this post I chose to brush the algae off lightly with a tooth brush. I continued to dose phos/nitrate and it hasn’t grown any algae since brushing it off and the polyps where the algae was are now coming out.

 

[soreefed]

The algae came back in the same spots as before. It’s strange because there is no dead coral where the algae grows, the skeleton is normal looking and the polyps will come out when it’s brushed away. The algae itself is too stubborn to be blasted off and has to be brushed.

Has anyone seen this type of growth on sps and have any opinions?

 

[vetteguy53081]

The algae came back in the same spots as before. It’s strange because there is no dead coral where the algae grows, the skeleton is normal looking and the polyps will come out when it’s brushed away. The algae itself is too stubborn to be blasted off and has to be brushed.

Has anyone seen this type of growth on sps and have any opinions?

Its likely an area of low/lower flow why youre getting algae. My digita is at upper part of tank

 

[soreefed]

Its likely an area of low/lower flow why youre getting algae. My digita is at upper part of tank

That would make sense, but this Digi is at the top of the tank with a power head very close to the branch with algae… maybe too much direct flow?

It looks shaded as I was using a porthole to take this pic

 

[Lavey29]

The algae came back in the same spots as before. It’s strange because there is no dead coral where the algae grows, the skeleton is normal looking and the polyps will come out when it’s brushed away. The algae itself is too stubborn to be blasted off and has to be brushed.

Has anyone seen this type of growth on sps and have any opinions?

I had some on branches on an orange digi. I just let it be and the coral figured out how to deal with it.

 

[soreefed]

I had some on branches on an orange digi. I just let it be and the coral figured out how to deal with it

So far I’ve just brushed it off a couple times but it does seem to be getting more now and some other branches have some growing as well

 

[vetteguy53081]

That would make sense, but this Digi is at the top of the tank with a power head very close to the branch with algae… maybe too much direct flow?

It looks shaded as I was using a porthole to take this pic

That too may have effect but you can reduce it slightly to see if any positive change- dont make drastic changes as coral does not look bad

 

[soreefed]

That too may have effect but you can reduce it slightly to see if any positive change- dont make drastic changes as coral does not look bad

Thanks for the advice. I was considering fragging that branch but I think I will leave it be for now