What algae is this from Gulf Live Rock

[SirSaltyNutz]

Is this going to be a problem, live is in observation tank now.

 

[Acrononomus]

Looks like bryopsis alge to me. I used reeflux to get rid of mine when I got my rock from them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is this going to be a problem, live is in observation tank now.

I cant get video to play. Please post a you tube version video of at least 10 seconds

 

[vlangel]

I am not sure about that algae. I would keep a close eye on it, and I love macroalgae. It might be ok but it might not be.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Is this going to be a problem, live is in observation tank now.

I cant get video to play. Please post a you tube version video of at least 10 seconds

Here are few pics. Hope it is clear enough.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

I am not sure about that algae. I would keep a close eye on it, and I love macroalgae. It might be ok but it might not be.

Agree, I have fresh planted tanks for 20 years and love to do the same with this salt water build. I was reading about Marco algae and came across warnings about the trouble ones and how hard to get rid it.

 

[UncommonSense]

It looks suspiciously like biopsies to me, too…

A local reefing buddy go this in his new tank from fresh live rock, too… it blanketed the whole back wall before he added his fish to the tank, and his tangs eradicated within an hour!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here are few pics. Hope it is clear enough.

This is Derbesia, similar to bryopsis. This is one of the more challenging of algae due to need of its complete removal. Derbesia algae is a fast-growing, invasive algae species notorious for its resistance to conventional algae management methods. Once established, Derbesia can quickly overtake rockwork and corals, creating a challenging problem. Removal is best accomplished by taking the rock out of tank and placing in a container of tank water. Then you will want to pull as much as you can by hand and discard. With a dental pick or small crochet needle, pull the roots off the rock. YOU MUST GET EVERY ROOT OR IT WILL SIMPLY RETURN !!
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys will consume derbesia but not as fast as derbesia can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Here are few pics. Hope it is clear enough.

This is Derbesia, similar to bryopsis. This is one of the more challenging of algae due to need of its complete removal. Derbesia algae is a fast-growing, invasive algae species notorious for its resistance to conventional algae management methods. Once established, Derbesia can quickly overtake rockwork and corals, creating a challenging problem. Removal is best accomplished by taking the rock out of tank and placing in a container of tank water. Then you will want to pull as much as you can by hand and discard. With a dental pick or small crochet needle, pull the roots off the rock. YOU MUST GET EVERY ROOT OR IT WILL SIMPLY RETURN !!
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys will consume derbesia but not as fast as derbesia can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

Thank you! I do just as you mentioned here. So appreciate the information as I was going to add this to my new display tank but these look strange. I have GHA growning too that chestnut turbo snails are eating, but not this one. So again appreciate the knowledge. Few more questions please - would treating the area of the roots will H2O2 for ~1 min help? I will try to dig out the roots for sure. Also if I place live in darkness, how long to ensure to kill off derbesia? Lastly, I will get more CUC asap.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Looks like bryopsis alge to me. I used reeflux to get rid of mine when I got my rock from them.

Ugh, I am on it. Another mentioned Derbesia which is just as bad. How did you use reeflux?

 

[Privateye]

This looks like bryopsis to me. Definitely not derbesia. derbesia is the loose, fluffy, clumpy hair algae that is easily removed from rocks. bryopsis holds on pretty tight, grows shorter, and is harder to remove. derbesia is easily addressed with herbivores, but bryopsis is not.

The way it branches near the tips is pretty indicative of bryopsis, and there are a bunch of species out there.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

It looks suspiciously like biopsies to me, too…

A local reefing buddy go this in his new tank from fresh live rock, too… it blanketed the whole back wall before he added his fish to the tank, and his tangs eradicated within an hour!

Haha, my wife does like Tangs! So probably need to stick with macro algae in the sump tank. I have nice 55 gal tank for this.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This looks like bryopsis to me. Definitely not derbesia. derbesia is the loose, fluffy, clumpy hair algae that is easily removed from rocks. bryopsis holds on pretty tight, grows shorter, and is harder to remove. derbesia is easily addressed with herbivores, but bryopsis is not.

The way it branches near the tips is pretty indicative of bryopsis, and there are a bunch of species out there.

Bryopsis is bushier and thicker and even more challenging for removal

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

This looks like bryopsis to me. Definitely not derbesia. derbesia is the loose, fluffy, clumpy hair algae that is easily removed from rocks. bryopsis holds on pretty tight, grows shorter, and is harder to remove. derbesia is easily addressed with herbivores, but bryopsis is not.

The way it branches near the tips is pretty indicative of bryopsis, and there are a bunch of species out there.

Any suggestion on how to remove? The live rock is in the QT/observation tank right now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any suggestion on how to remove? The live rock is in the QT/observation tank right now.

I mentioned above

 

[Privateye]

Bryopsis is bushier and thicker and even more challenging for removal

Definitely more challenging for removal, but I don't think I'd describe one as "thicker" than the other. Bryopsis has thicker filaments, but both can be quite bushy or sparse. You'll often see tiny bits of bryopsis on frag plugs. Just a few pieces sticking up, as opposed to a thick clump.

Here are the photos for each in Julian Sprung's book (note the bottom photo on the bryopsis page):

 

[Privateye]

Any suggestion on how to remove? The live rock is in the QT/observation tank right now.

Reef Flux is a product known to eliminate it, but I'd read up on it before proceeding with that route. It's a bit more involved than a typical algaecide treatment, and not all organisms handle it well.

If it's an isolated patch, I'd try to remove it. If it's on sand I'd just remove that patch of sand and toss it in the trash. If it's on a large rock, then manual removal is tougher. Little fragments that break apart while pulling it can establish new patches. You could try to target it with some hydrogen peroxide over time, but it isn't a surefire way to remove it.

I'd try spot removal first. If it seems to get worse, then I'd look into Reef Flux. I haven't used it myself so I'd defer to someone else for a method. The handful of times I've tangled with bryopsis it just went away on its own eventually. I'm not 100% sure why, but algae can be that way. One thing changes about the tank, and your algal community changes. I guess it was the butterfly effect.

There was one time I used Kent Tech M to boost the magnesium to 1700 ppm, which eliminated the bryopsis. However, I'm told that was due to an additive that was removed from the formula. So the Kent Tech M method no longer works to my knowledge.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Bryopsis is bushier and thicker and even more challenging for removal

Definitely more challenging for removal, but I don't think I'd describe one as "thicker" than the other. Bryopsis has thicker filaments, but both can be quite bushy or sparse. You'll often see tiny bits of bryopsis on frag plugs. Just a few pieces sticking up, as opposed to a thick clump.

Here are the photos for each in Julian Sprung's book (note the bottom photo on the bryopsis page):

Oh I see, thanks. Since I still have it "contained" would treating with fluconazole be smart step? I will remove the red grape algae and codium that where nice hitchhikers to get.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh I see, thanks. Since I still have it "contained" would treating with fluconazole be smart step? I will remove the red grape algae and codium that were nice hitchhikers to get.

Flux is an alternative and not a solution

 

[Privateye]

Oh I see, thanks. Since I still have it "contained" would treating with fluconazole be smart step? I will remove the red grape algae and codium that where nice hitchhikers to get.

I'd say that if it's contained enough to remove, just start with removal. If it is left in the tank it will either proliferate, creating a larger issue, or it will die-back and you have nothing to worry about. Chances are that if it started out smaller, it will continue to grow and spread. The closest analog in freshwater would be black beard algae (BBA) in my opinion. Holds on tight, and the environmental conditions are more important than manual removal.

I can't really weigh-in on the fluconazole. It's something I've read about but I haven't tried it myself fortunately/unfortunately. Personally I'd use it as a last-resort, but part of that is I haven't needed it before.

What do your water chemistry parameters look like? How long has the tank been set up? Perhaps we can find some alternative options. If you're carbon dosing to reduce nitrate (pardon the pun) that may contribute according to Mr. Sprung. Anaerobic denitrification will reduce some nitrate to nitrite.