too much algae on GSP

kathywithbirds · 06-26-2007, 01:46 PM

I have a growth of algae, what I think is coralline?? and some grassy stuff, all green, that's vying with the hitchhiker GSP. The GSP is doing quite well from what I can gather except for the areas that the algae is coating it. In areas the polyps are still poking through the fine covering, but in some areas they're having a harder time. I have 3 nassarius and 3 other snails that are either turbos or trochus. Will they take care of it or is there something I can do to get it off? I turkey basted it and some finer particles did blow off but I think that was just "dust".

DrHank · 06-26-2007, 02:04 PM

Welcome to the world of nuisance algae. The key to getting it off is reduucing the nutrients in your tank (nitrate and phosphate) that it feeds on. Reduce feeding to a minimum, water changes, DI for make/up and top off, Phosban reacter & GFO, and time and patience. We all seem to get this in a new (6mos old or less) tank.

Coraline algae is purple.

Woodstock · 06-26-2007, 02:38 PM

Use your fingers or a toothbrush to gently pull/brush off the nusiance algae during a water change so at the same time you can use the siphon hose to suck the loose pieces out of the tank. I have done this before when needed. The GSP will pout for a day or two but then will be okay. I have a toothbrush specifically for tank cleaning that I use to clean my ASM skimmer cup every 2 days.

vdituri · 06-26-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrHank

...

Coraline algae is purple.

I have heard coraline algae comes in many different colors. Green, pink, purple, red and orange.
The main one being purple.

DrHank · 06-26-2007, 02:56 PM

Victor, I've seen all the colors you mention except green. I've never seen a green grassy coraline algae. I've had more HA than I care to think about. Based on Kathy's description and the fact that it is in a new tank I'd rate the chances of her algae being green coraline at less than .0001. JMHO.

kathywithbirds · 06-26-2007, 06:47 PM

OK, I wasn't sure if I should touch the GSP or not, I had to be real careful with the goniopora.

BTW, I have red and purple algae in there too, a tiny little bit of it.

vdituri · 06-26-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrHank

Victor, I've seen all the colors you mention except green. I've never seen a green grassy coraline algae. I've had more HA than I care to think about. Based on Kathy's description and the fact that it is in a new tank I'd rate the chances of her algae being green coraline at less than .0001. JMHO.

I just read it differently. Coraline algae & grassy stuff, all green.
On a new tank your odds of it being green coraline are probably right.

lcstorc · 07-03-2007, 07:16 AM

I have green corraline but it is definitely not grassy so I agree with the hair algae id. As for the gsp they can take an enormous amount of abuse and still come back. Mine was closed up one day and I saw a bunch of debris on it including some kind of black stuff that you can't see when it is open. I took the rock and rubbed everything off with my finger. I felt lots of squishy stuff and thought I had killed it for sure. Two days later it opened up even more than before and is obviously very happy. So the moral to the story is don't worry to much about handling it to get rid of the algae. It will open back up in a day or two. Many consider it a nuisance since it grows so well but I love it since it is so pretty.
Meanwhile I agree with the others. The way to eliminate it is to starve it out. Otherwise no matter what you do, it will come back. I would try to remove as much as you can by hand to give it a kick start but starving it is the way to get rid of it entirely.

06-26-2007, 01:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,749 View Gallery Karma Komment	too much algae on GSP I have a growth of algae, what I think is coralline?? and some grassy stuff, all green, that's vying with the hitchhiker GSP. The GSP is doing quite well from what I can gather except for the areas that the algae is coating it. In areas the polyps are still poking through the fine covering, but in some areas they're having a harder time. I have 3 nassarius and 3 other snails that are either turbos or trochus. Will they take care of it or is there something I can do to get it off? I turkey basted it and some finer particles did blow off but I think that was just "dust". __________________ (\_/) (\__/) ( . .) (^.^) (")(") (> <) Bunny and Bunnina have worked things out. Bunny was mistaken after all, Bunnina was not having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang

06-26-2007, 02:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,284 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: too much algae on GSP Welcome to the world of nuisance algae. The key to getting it off is reduucing the nutrients in your tank (nitrate and phosphate) that it feeds on. Reduce feeding to a minimum, water changes, DI for make/up and top off, Phosban reacter & GFO, and time and patience. We all seem to get this in a new (6mos old or less) tank. Coraline algae is purple. __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

06-26-2007, 02:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: too much algae on GSP Use your fingers or a toothbrush to gently pull/brush off the nusiance algae during a water change so at the same time you can use the siphon hose to suck the loose pieces out of the tank. I have done this before when needed. The GSP will pout for a day or two but then will be okay. I have a toothbrush specifically for tank cleaning that I use to clean my ASM skimmer cup every 2 days. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

06-26-2007, 02:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,284 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: too much algae on GSP Victor, I've seen all the colors you mention except green. I've never seen a green grassy coraline algae. I've had more HA than I care to think about. Based on Kathy's description and the fact that it is in a new tank I'd rate the chances of her algae being green coraline at less than .0001. JMHO. __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

06-26-2007, 06:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,749 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: too much algae on GSP OK, I wasn't sure if I should touch the GSP or not, I had to be real careful with the goniopora. BTW, I have red and purple algae in there too, a tiny little bit of it. __________________ (\_/) (\__/) ( . .) (^.^) (")(") (> <) Bunny and Bunnina have worked things out. Bunny was mistaken after all, Bunnina was not having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang

07-03-2007, 07:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,008 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: too much algae on GSP I have green corraline but it is definitely not grassy so I agree with the hair algae id. As for the gsp they can take an enormous amount of abuse and still come back. Mine was closed up one day and I saw a bunch of debris on it including some kind of black stuff that you can't see when it is open. I took the rock and rubbed everything off with my finger. I felt lots of squishy stuff and thought I had killed it for sure. Two days later it opened up even more than before and is obviously very happy. So the moral to the story is don't worry to much about handling it to get rid of the algae. It will open back up in a day or two. Many consider it a nuisance since it grows so well but I love it since it is so pretty. Meanwhile I agree with the others. The way to eliminate it is to starve it out. Otherwise no matter what you do, it will come back. I would try to remove as much as you can by hand to give it a kick start but starving it is the way to get rid of it entirely. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

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