Turf algae help

[Hp1836]

Phosphate around .03 and nitrate around 3.5.
Have chaeto, sea lettuce, and mangroves.

Very little algae in tank other then coralline. clean up crew of
Astrea snails
Nerite snails
Turbo snails
Peppermint shrimp
4 different types of urchins
(Maybe) a few surviving emerald crabs

There are 3 spots where some sort of stubborn turf algae grows. It is definitely not GHA. It does not rip off easily and leaves big white roots wrapped around at the base of it all when I do. From these it just regrows. It is Along 1 base rock on the side, on the overflow, and along a lower down vent for the overflow.

For the most part this doesn't bother me and I can manage it. However along the top of the overflow if a pain. I am trying to clean it off daily at this point so it doesnt get clogged by it.Does anything at all eat this stuff? Nothing in my CUC will touch it. I also have a tomini flame fin that's supposed to eat algae like crazy but he won't touch it.

If nothing else then is it safe to drop the water and spray the edge of the overflow with peroxide then just raise the water back up? Or will that hurt the tank? I have used peroxide to dip corals in the past.

 

[KrisReef]

Picture of the weed :cool:

 

[Hp1836]

this is it on the lower part of the overflow.

 

[oliver1812]

Not sure if you are still looking for help. I have the same issue with algae growing and clogging my overflow. I just lowered my water and sprayed it with peroxide, let it sit, scrubbed, then raised the water.

It worked like a charm with no issues to the tank. I just need to figure out the larger issue of all the algae in the tank itself…it’s everywhere.

 

[Hp1836]

So I eventually found someone who recognized it as bryopsis. Went on a long hunt for a predator and I eventually discovered mithrix crabs do eat it but not fast enough to keep it in check. I would clean it all out and by the next day it was back with a vengeance. Im convinced this stuff can even grow in complete darkness. Peroxide does kill it so on the overflow I did exactly that and it worked great but for the rest of the tank no. I treated with fluconazale and as it started dying a few days later my tuxedo urchin started eating it. After about 10 days all of it just disapeared and I pulled the medication out of the water with heavy skimming and a lot of carbon I put in media bags in the sump. Now 6 months later I still have not seen any of it and the fluconazole did not harm anything in the tank. Highly recommend just treating with the fluconazole.

 

[oliver1812]

So I eventually found someone who recognized it as bryopsis. Went on a long hunt for a predator and I eventually discovered mithrix crabs do eat it but not fast enough to keep it in check. I would clean it all out and by the next day it was back with a vengeance. Im convinced this stuff can even grow in complete darkness. Peroxide does kill it so on the overflow I did exactly that and it worked great but for the rest of the tank no. I treated with fluconazale and as it started dying a few days later my tuxedo urchin started eating it. After about 10 days all of it just disapeared and I pulled the medication out of the water with heavy skimming and a lot of carbon I put in media bags in the sump. Now 6 months later I still have not seen any of it and the fluconazole did not harm anything in the tank. Highly recommend just treating with the fluconazole.

Thank you for the response and update. This is really gonna help me get this under control.

I was considering fluconazole…you just solidified that decision. I will post here with my results.
Thanks again

 

[SaltyBear]

Pick up a pin cushion urchin.
They will mow thru algae.
Mine cleaned it off to the bare rock. Coraline algae included if it was in its path.

 

[oliver1812]

I decided to skip the fluconazole and just try and push through naturally.
I am seeing some improvements by turning down my whites and added some HUGE Mexican Turbos/Trochus snails. I went to 3 LFS looking for urchins, no one had any available. My next step was to add a sea hare but I think I am on the back nine of it all and will not need its services…fingers crossed.!!

 

[SaltyBear]

Take a look at Reef Cleaners.