What's the best way to get rid of turf algae?

[Daniel@R2R]

I'm dealing with a bit of turf algae in the tank. What are the best solutions you guys have found?

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

I just call mine 'Green Star Polyps' and call it a day.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Hermits and pincushion urchins. Assuming it is not byropsis.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Hermits and pincushion urchins. Assuming it is not byropsis.

Definitely not bryopsis or gha. It's turf for sure. Easy enough to pull off, but figured something would probably be happy to eat it. I'm a little worried about hermits because I've got some tiny fish in there (barnacle blennies and eviota gobies).

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I did just buy a chaeto reactor that I still need to put online.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Flucanazole may work too. But it will wipe out all your macro algae.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I might add a pincushion urchin to help clean it up.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I might add a pincushion urchin to help clean it up.

I have 4 of them in my 75gal, and they keep it pretty clean. But you know what they like to do with loose frags, so be wary of that!

 

[SPS2020]

Tuxedo Urchins do a fantastic job for me (five in my 100g). I also have a Turbo Aquatics ATS which is amazing!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I might add a pincushion urchin to help clean it up.

I use tux in my macro display fuge. Great at mowing down turf and GHA. they do eat a little macro and coralinne, but not much.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Tuxedo Urchins do a fantastic job for me (five in my 100g). I also have a Turbo Aquatics ATS which is amazing!

Yup, tuxedos are even better.

 

[Reefer Matt]

.

 

[Crustaceon]

I had turf algae on the entire back panel while simultaneously growing a basketball's worth of chaeto every two weeks in my sump. IMO, physical removal, either by you or the appropriate clean up crew is the way to go.

 

[preerecord]

I have that dark green algae on rocks that don’t come off, even when scrubbing with a brush. What gets rid of that?

 

[kbnh]

I have that dark green algae on rocks that don’t come off, even when scrubbing with a brush. What gets rid of that?

I have that all over my rocks, the only thing that has removed it down to the rock is the pincushion urchins, they do small patches throughout the day so it won’t be an overnight fix, turbo snails and a conch help along with the fish but the urchin is the heavy machinery for my tank

 

[A Young Reefer]

Tuxedo urchins are the key to success, I literally tried everything to eradicate red turf algae. added one of them to my 60 gallon and worked like a charm.

 

[i cant think]

Pincushions are alright but be weary that anything small may be on the menus if they need something to feed on (These are opportunistic hunters and I’ve witnessed a couple eating small fish).

 

[Johnz]

For spot treatment I've put h2o2 in a 10ml medicine squirter. Turn off all the pumps and slowly saturate the clump with the hydrogen peroxide. That is really only practical if it is small isolated areas. If the rock is easy to pull out you can treat outside the tank which makes it really easy and effective.

I had luck with lettuce nudibranches once. They mowed it down and reproduced like crazy. Problem was as soon as one of the little guys was done cleaning an area, it would let go and float around the tank until a pump got him. After like a week there wasn't a spot of algae or a nudibranch to be seen.

In the past i have used algaefix marine. That stuff works amazing on turf algae, but it killed my snails which was odd. I haven't had any issues after installing my ATS, it stays in check now.

 

[b breef]

I have that dark green algae on rocks that don’t come off, even when scrubbing with a brush. What gets rid of that?

Me too…
following

 

[AydenLincoln]

Draining the tank and applying hydrogen peroxide and picking/scrubbing it off. It’ll slow it down at least/get rid of it in that spot. I’m definitely guilty of scrubbing it off underwater though I don’t recommend that especially since it’s basically super glued to the rock.