Hair Algae, a Symptom Rather Than the Problem?

[Subsea]

A recent post by @Hans-Werner in Randy’s Tank and Learn thread inspired this thread.

Usually we see threads about how hair algae or cyano is killing coral but maybe they are a result of the coral already dying?

Could hair algae or cyano be showing up because something else in the tank is dying or breaking down, rather than being the cause of the problem in the first place?

Curious what others think and whether you’ve seen this happen in your own tanks.

In addressing the title of this thread, I can say that GHA is a REALITY that can be a Problem. I don’t think it’s a symptom any more than Cyanobacteria is a symptom. Both are normal in a healthy marine enviroment.

KNOW THIS: WILD REEFS WOULD BE ALGAE DOMINATED IF IT WERE NOT FOR HERBIVORES.

 

[Paul B]

I took that picture of those manatees in Key Largo at my friends marina.



Here is another shot. They are very fat, constantly swim and eat nothing but seaweed. It just goes to show you that swimming everywhere and eating salad all day will not make you skinny.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Here is another shot. They are very fat, constantly swim and eat nothing but seaweed. It just goes to show you that swimming everywhere and eating salad all day will not make you skinny.

Just like a hippo - though I wouldn't try to rub a hippo on his belly because I would become the meat topping on his salad. The only solace may be that he would tell his buddies "Hey, that idiot that tried to rub my belly tasted like bacon".

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Thread cleaned up. Enjoy the discussion!

 

[mcarroll]

Do you have access to any scientific literature demonstrating that established periphyton can actively prevent nuisance algae from colonising surfaces? I’d be very interested in reading it, particularly how they distinguish that effect from competition, grazing or just normal ecological succession.

I would start your research with these two and branch out from there:
"The settlement, attachment and establishment of marine algal spores"
https://doi.org/10.1080/00071619200650281

"Algae as marine fouling organisms: adhesion damage and prevention"
https://doi.org/10.1533/9781845696313.1.80
(throw that title to google scholar and you should be able to locate a PDF of the whole article)

There are also a few articles I've saved on my blog under "algae" that may be interesting as well:
https://reefsuccess.com/2017/04/25/airborne-microalgae-insights-opportunities-and-challenges/
https://reefsuccess.com/2017/02/10/...phic-nanoflagellates-to-re-oligotrophication/

There may be some others of interest too; the rest are here if you wanna look:
https://reefsuccess.com/tag/algae/