Keep On Trimming...

adamsky27 · #1 01/07/2006, 06:57 PM

So this stuff grows to be about this big in a matter of about 4 days. Will it hurt the coral that it is on? Last week we just used an exacto knife and cut it all off, but I'd like to get rid of it for good. Any suggestions?

If this is in the wrong forum I apologize in advance.

Mrs.kbmdale · #2 01/07/2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adamsky27
Will it hurt the coral that it is on?

yes, it will crowd out it's light and slowly it will die, which it looks like it may be suffering already on the bottom right of it....

Brianna

adamsky27 · #3 01/07/2006, 07:06 PM

Ok, so do you have any idea what it is and how to get rid of it? This is the only place in the tank that this stuff grows, and I'd like to keep it that way! lol

Mrs.kbmdale · #4 01/07/2006, 07:36 PM

adam, as much as I would like to help you out, I really do not have any idea what it is other than obviously it is some type of algae. What is the coral that it is growing on? Obviously it is rooted to the coral. Any way of CHIPPING it off without hurting the coral? If that IS possible, then that would be your best bet since it isn't growing elsewhere in the tank and the roots need to be removed.

Hope This Helps,
Brianna

AZDesertRat · #5 01/07/2006, 07:39 PM

Looks like bryopsis to me and you want to get it out of there. The only thing I have found that will eat it is a lettuce nudibranch and they are hit and miss. I would remove the rock or coral its on and scrub the daylights out of it. It may take several times to wipe it out.

Rikko · #6 01/07/2006, 08:30 PM

If it's really on there you've got your work cut out for you..

Try making up a bucket (like ice cream bucket, or popcorn bowl size) of tank water and removing the coral to it. Those Caulastraea corals can be out of water for quite a while (I've pushed 10 mins of air exposure during major water changes, though I don't have halides), but I find the algae is extremely difficult to manage when it's not fully underwater.

Pick up the firmest bristle toothbrush you can (the smallest head would obviously make life the easiest for you) and scrub the skeleton of the coral where the algae is attached. The algae won't touch the flesh of the coral so you don't have to actually damage the coral - but be a little ruthless and don't give up until you have every last little bit off.

If you see some resurgence in a few days, give it a repeat treatment right away while the algae's grip has been weakened.

peregrine3751 · #7 01/07/2006, 10:36 PM

Looks like some stuff that I had in my old 50 gal. Feather algae. Get it out now ! Took over my tank in no time at all. Pulling it off will not work. Get rid of any rocks it's on. If you want to keep the coral it's on, scrub, scape and scrub some more. Lettuce Nudibranch will eat it but it can grow faster than one can eat it.
Hope this helps.
Dave

atticusfinch · #8 01/07/2006, 10:37 PM

feather caulerpa .. either a tang or rabbitfish should take care of it ..
a sea hare also

143gadgets · #9 01/08/2006, 06:23 AM

atticusfinch

I don't think that it is father caulerpa. Looks more like bryopis to me. I had a rock with some on it and my two tangs didn't go near it. As the others suggested... scrub, scrub, and scrub some more.

deansreef · #10 01/08/2006, 07:12 AM

yes, a form of bryopsis

wjhuie · #11 01/08/2006, 07:17 AM

Yep it's bryopris

dustin Combs · #12 01/08/2006, 07:25 AM

I concur with the bryopsis. Lettuce nudi will attack but it proliferates so quickly it probably won't be able to keep up. I would remove from tank. If a piece dislodges it will find another place to grow. Then the true race is on.