algae id and removal

[slackcub]

Hello everyone. I have an algae that seems to be expanding on a regular basis in my tank, and I'd like to at least halt it's progress, preferably removing it or greatly reducing its footprint. Here's a picture of it:

 

[aquarium]

Looks like caulpera macro algae. You can probably keep it, but if you want to, manual removal is best.

[GHill762]

Codium? are we looking at the same picture? Definitely not Codium.

 

Looks like some variety of caulerpa, possibly fern caulerpa. Any way to get a better pic? Removal is going to be tough, manual is obviously quickest,but you need to get every piece and every runner (like roots).. Stuff just grows and grows. Get out taken care of now or it can overrun your tank. Fine for a refugium but it'll take over a display rather quick.

[aquarium]

Codium? are we looking at the same picture? Definitely not Codium.

 

Looks like some variety of caulerpa, possibly fern caulerpa. Any way to get a better pic? Removal is going to be tough, manual is obviously quickest,but you need to get every piece and every runner (like roots).. Stuff just grows and grows. Get out taken care of now or it can overrun your tank. Fine for a refugium but it'll take over a display rather quick.

I mean caulpera!! Did I really say codium? Oops

[slackcub]

grr... of course for some reason I didn't see these replies at first :{

 

 

I'm thinking it may be time to replace some of the live rock. I'd like to get some more colorful pieces, as well. I had a period where a lot of my coraline algae died off. I've seen it start to come back, and I'd like to give it a kick start. Any recommendations for a good place to get some live rock? I'm not going to replace all of it, just some as I don't want to risk losing all my bacteria in the tank.

[Partially Submerged]

If you are seeing coraline come back, it's probably best to leave your tank alone. Changing LR is a major disruption, which may well cause further growth of undesired algae and coraline growth to stop.

 

FWIW, I had much better coraline growth when I had a lot of macroalgae (halimeda in my case) in my tank. I removed most of it and have since had more issues with nuisance algae and have seen little to no coraline growth. Space is at a premium in my tank, but I decided to give the halimeda some room to grow.

[slackcub]

I am concerned that it will over take my tank, though. The Cualerpa is spreading pretty fast.

[Partially Submerged]

Yup, and pulling all the bad stuff out of your water in the process. But yeah, it does take over if not managed. The trick seems to be to let in stand in a few relatively large strands and not to let it colonize other places. I have been successful killing pieces for good with the help of a jet lighter during water changes..