Ulva problem

JoJosReef · Jun 14, 2022

John from ReefCleaners says I have ulva. It has been sticking to my nice rocks and absolutely smothering my Galaxaura. Also seems to like the skeleton of one of my hitchhiker corals:

This is after trimming off a huge chunk of ulva covered galaxaura.

In my 10g tank I have the following CUC:
2x emerald crabs
Variety of ceriths
~4 Astraeas
Variety of nerites
20+ dwarf ceriths
Tailspot blenny (participation ribbon)

Other macro/inhabitants:
Brotycladia
Pom pom gracilaria
Codium
Crocea clam
RFAs
Sexy shrimp
Porcelain crab
Anemone crab
Pom pom crab
Hammer
Octospawn
Torch
Potato chip
Favia
Zias/palys/cloves
Hitchhiker corals

All of the above under an AI prime 16HD running modified Saxby with AB+ spectrum peaking around 80%.

NO3: 1ppm (down from 2ppm Friday, which was down from ~3.5ppm the week before)
PO4: 0.5ppm
ALK: 8.5 maintained by AFR
Ca: 490
Mg: ~1560ish

Emeralds don't seem to care for the ulva. How would you tackle this? Very difficult to pick it all off manually.

Bfragale · Jun 14, 2022

In my experience: only way I knocked it down was with a tang- but that’s not an option in a 10g. I would research on nano algae eaters - I’m not sure there are any as good as a tang, but could help. Maybe even a small urchin?

JoJosReef · Jun 14, 2022

Bfragale said:
In my experience: only way I knocked it down was with a tang- but that’s not an option in a 10g. I would research on nano algae eaters - I’m not sure there are any as good as a tang, but could help. Maybe even a small urchin?

I'd love a tang, but I understand I could run into problems with the tang police. I think an urchin would likely do the trick, but would take out my good macro and my coraline.

Would a lettuce nudibranch go for ulva over my codium? And would it leave my red macro alone?