Please help me id and get rid of this brown algae

pammy · 08-21-2007, 07:43 PM

Hello. I have some dark brown algae growing in circular patterns on my rock. Below are 3 pictures of the same algae. What concerns me, is how much it has grown in 6 weeks. I looked at an old picture, and 6 weeks ago, there were a couple spots on one rock that were about the size of the tip of my pinky finger, and now they've grown into one spot about 2" in diameter. I thought this algae wouldn't be removable because it looks fused to the rock, but with some work, I completely was able to remove one circle about 1.5" in diameter. Came off in very small pieces. I thought it was slimey, but when I started pulling off pieces, it actually looks and feels like seaweed / kelp.

My tank is pretty new....has been up and running for 4 months.
My parameters are good, and I feed once a day and try to only give enough food that the fish can consume within 5 minutes.
I use RO/DI water (Spectrapure MaxCap) with 0 TDS, and faithfully do bi-weekly waterchanges (10%). The sandbed looks good. It's just some good size patches of brown algae on the rock. No hair algae or any other type of nusiance algae. I had a small spot of bubble algae and turned the lights off for 3 days about a month ago and it disappeared and hasn't come back, but turning off the lights didn't do anything with this algae. Any idea what this algae is and what is the best option to get rid of it? If I work on pulling it out manually, or using a toothbrush, will little pieces of it that might not make it to the skimmer, create an even bigger problem by spreading it around the tank?

Just FYI.... I recently added a second powerhead to add some flow. (25x turnover now).

I run my T5's for 10 hours a day, and the 150w MH only runs for 4 hours a day (only softies right now). All bulbs are only 4 months old.

My parameters:
Nitrates, Nitrites and Ammonia are all 0.
Phosphates are .1
PH 8.1
Alk 2.9
Temp 82 going up close to 84 when MH's are lit
Calcium 330

5 small fish in 53g tank (2 perculas, 1 tailspot blenny, 1 purple firefish, 1 pygmy possum wrasse)

Thanks!
Pam

**CarmieJo** · 08-21-2007, 09:09 PM

I have never seen anything like this. I'll poke around the internet and follow this thread with interest.

pammy · 08-21-2007, 09:39 PM

Thanks Carmie. One thing I just noticed, is whatever this is, it's only on the top surfaces of the rocks facing the light. I don't see any on the lower parts or sides of the rockwork.
Pam

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarmieJo

I have never seen anything like this. I'll poke around the internet and follow this thread with interest.

**CarmieJo** · 08-21-2007, 10:02 PM

That makes sense since it would need light to photosynthesize. I've gone through several pages on WetWebMedia and haven't found anything that looks like it.

pammy · 08-21-2007, 10:08 PM

I believe the algae I have is called Lobophora. Just found a picture that looks like it at: Melev's Reef - Visual Identification
Seems Urchins are iffy at eradicating it and best way is manual removal like I did tonight. So I think every time I do a water change, I'll work on remove some. Luckily, it's not too bad yet. Sure would have been easier to deal with a month ago though!
Pam

**CarmieJo** · 08-21-2007, 10:21 PM

WetWeb also suggests foxfaces as a natural control. I forget if your tank is big enough for one though.

pearsonhurst · 08-21-2007, 10:58 PM

Ugh, I've got a bit of that as well. It grows fast, but it's easy to pull out.

pammy · 08-22-2007, 06:18 AM

Thanks Pearsonhurst. How have you found it easiest to pull it out.
I didn't have the easiest time. It was only pulling out very small pieces at a time. Thanks. Pam

Quote:

Originally Posted by pearsonhurst

Ugh, I've got a bit of that as well. It grows fast, but it's easy to pull out.

pammy · 08-22-2007, 06:18 AM

Thanks Carmie. My tanks not quite big enough for a foxface. It's 53 gallons.
Have a good day!
Pam

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarmieJo

WetWeb also suggests foxfaces as a natural control. I forget if your tank is big enough for one though.

pearsonhurst · 08-22-2007, 08:00 AM

Mine peels right off the rock. I can pull it right off by hand, or I can even siphon it out usualy.

tim · 08-24-2007, 11:02 PM

what about a sea hare ?

emora · 08-25-2007, 01:18 AM

Sea hares are seriuos grazers of filamentous algae. I dont think they will touch what you have.

Another note on sea hares. They will eat away a plague of hair algae in no time flat. The only problem is that they die shortly after eating all the algae. I dont suggest getting one unless you can "share" it with a group of aquarists or simply give it to someone else who needs it when its done with your tank.

tim · 08-26-2007, 12:31 AM

having 15 tanks with seahorses and hair algae is no problem with food

pammy · 08-27-2007, 07:33 AM

Just FYI in case anyone else is reasearching this algae, Bob Fenner said this algae isn't Lobophora. He said it's
Peyssonnelia sp, An encrusting Red. Class
Rhodophyceae, Subclass Florideophycidae, Order Gigartinales, Family Peyssonneliaceae. I asked him why he was able to rule out Lobophora and he said the following:

"A few things... one is that this and most browns don't do well in captive systems unless they are administered iodine/ide/ate... in quantity, regularly... Another, that it does not look "soft" as this genus almost always appear in aquariums... and lastly, the very distinctive "ring-like" growth of Peyssonniella. "

Pam

**CarmieJo** · 08-27-2007, 07:53 PM

Good info. Isn't it wonderful that you can get a personal answer from Bob Fenner!

pammy · 08-27-2007, 08:33 PM

YES....VERY cool !!! Now...to get rid of this stuff!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarmieJo

Good info. Isn't it wonderful that you can get a personal answer from Bob Fenner!