Taking over my rock please help!

[lil.guppy]

This stuff is soft but grows flush to the rock and can only be removed by scraping it off with a knife or a finger nail. It sometimes creates these flakes that can be removed but it grows over coral killing it or suficating it and coral wont grow over it. HELP!
If a piece falls off or I dont get all of it and floats away, it will attach to another spot and spread in that new spot. You can see in the upper right hand side of the photo its starting to creep over my green spotted mushroom.

 

[slice]

When I look at the pic, I think one thing, when I read the text, I think another thing.
Integrating the two is beyond my competence.
Perhaps a bump will bring this to meaningful attention.

 

[flower]

I don't know what it is, but if it is ONLY on that one rock...I would remove my mushroom off of it and scrub the rock or bleach it..It will reseed from the rest of the rock in the tank and be sure to kill whatever it is..After you discribe how it will grow elswhere..I would think it is an algae.

 

[lil.guppy]

The only problem is that its on a couple rocks and they are rocks that are at the bottom of the tank

 

[flower]

Like all agae it feeds on nutrients and light. Try treating it like Cyano, because it really sounds like what it is..except for the "flaking" instead of a blanket

 

[lil.guppy]

Figured it out!
Its called Lobophora and the only thing that will get rid of it is Naso Tangs and possibly long spine urchins. So far the Naso Tang seems to be the winner.
This algae kills coral and takes over your rock. Something you DO NOT want in your tank UGH
So I ordered the Naso and it should be here Tuesday....

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by lil.guppy http:///forum/thread/381401/taking-over-my-rock-please-help#post_3325877
Figured it out!
Its called Lobophora and the only thing that will get rid of it is Naso Tangs and possibly long spine urchins. So far the Naso Tang seems to be the winner.
This algae kills coral and takes over your rock. Something you DO NOT want in your tank UGH
So I ordered the Naso and it should be here Tuesday....

Lil Guppy, how big is your tank? A naso needs a minimum 135g according to my book. Adult size is 18 inches

 

[lil.guppy]

Yes I know but a 1'' fish in a 46 temporarily is not going to hurt the thing. Its like im 'renting' the fish

 

[smartorl]

That's not the point. It's a open water swimming fish. Putting them in a small environment stresses them out. Stress can bring about ich and your whole tank could easily be taken over.
A 1" Naso is a very delicate fish, experienced aquarists struggle with the smaller tangs and that is with careful preparations for their arrival. You have not taken into account that a 4" Naso will eat your algae, a 1" Naso will need a special diet.
By not addressing the cause of the algae, you are putting a band aid (and not a good one, I would like to add) on a bullet wound.

 

[btldreef]

I have never seen a 1" Naso available in the hobby, they usually don't survive. They're very delicate fish, and keeping it in a small tank will only make things worse. They're are far better suited fish that will eat algae for your tank than a Naso Tang.

 

[lil.guppy]

I love how people like to hound on others about fish and their sizes and completely change the subject......this is the exact same thing that happened on another board to other people and it gets way out of hand.
I dont want any comments on the Tang im here to help others wit this issue.
This is an algea that KILLS coral and takes over your rock. Its a hitch hiker that is not like any other algae. There are only 2 animals that will eat it the urchin which have had bad results and the Tang which EVERYONE says eats it and does just fine. People have put these tangs in smaller tanks to get rid of it then sell the fish with no issues.
This point of this is I have this in my tank...I know how scarry and annoying it is...this thread is to help anyone that might have this little demon in their tank and 1 good way to get rid of it. Yes this fish is a larger species and delicate as you say. My copperband was supposed to be a 'delicate' species but that had to be the easiest fish I ever had....
Everyone takes risks in their own hands but this is a risk that works and I am looking forward to taking care of it

 

[spanko]

I had 5 different One Spot Foxfaces in my 29 biocube to deal with a Caulerpa outbreak. Bought them really small and took them back for store credit at about 3.5 inches. Guppster if you want to do it, know the risks going in, and have an exit plan I say go for it. You have enough knowledge and experience to take some risks IMO.

 

[btldreef]

Just curious as to why you wouldn't try the urchin or other smaller algae eater first? From the five minutes I spent researching this species of algae just now, far more people have success with urchins than with fish. It seems than ANY algae eating fish has the same effect on this algae, not just tangs, either they eat it, or they don't.
The people that have had the best luck with controlling this algae have used an urchin to rid as much as they can, and then manually remove the rest. Those that don't go that route and still have similar success take apart the reef and remove those rocks to clean them.
You're being attacked because you chose a fish that really wasn't the best choice do to multiple things 1) a tang doesn't belong in a 46G, 2) there is never a guarantee that a fish will eat as much algae as you need it to eat, and some fish only eat certain types of algae, 3) you bought a small fish that is far more delicate, etc.
I know you want nothing more than for this algae to go away, but it is very manageable, it's not a death sentence to the tank.

 

[lil.guppy]

THANK YOU SPANKO (my buddy)
We must have been looking at different websites because alot of people said that the urchins would only eat around their home or if they just happened to crawl across it.

 

[scott t]

I have to ask this because I think it was your video that I watch of your 46 gal bowfront. The 2 tangs that you currently have in this tank are not eating the algae? I would assume since they are algae eaters they would also do the same things as the Naso tang. Maybe I am wrong, but I am asking for future ref.

 

[lil.guppy]

Well I feed mussel on the half shell, sheets, 3 different kinds of pellets and 2 different kinds of Instant Ocean Soft Gel so I assumed they wouldnt want it. I stopped feeding them for a few days and all they did was give me sad puppy dog eyes at the front of the tank lolololo

 

[scott t]

Emerald Crabs (best bet here), Sea Hares, some Turbos, Chitons, Limpets, Tangs, Urchins, will pick at it, but it is likely to persist, but at least it will be controlled.
Use a phosban reactor or a macro like chaeto to take down phosphate. If you have a nitrate problem too, you can add more live rock or rubble to the tank, do some more wcs, add macro, add dsb
This is what I have come up with about the algae that you are talking about..

 

[luvmyreef]

Ha! I recently had an outbreak of this crap in my 75. It is a plague! I had to remove all my rock and scrub it off, and some of it returned. I have no Phos or Nitrates in my tank, mult snails, crabs, and a yellow tang....Nothing ate it!!! Manual removal has been working for me so far.....this stuff is nasty!!! And I have no idea where it came from. Nothing new has been added to this tank in atleast 6mths to a year!

 

[scott t]

Here is another that says about the same thing:
Description- Brown semi rigid but slippery macro algae. Often confused with plating coralline, the slippery rubbery feel is a give away if you don't want to use scientific methods to determine the id.
Manual Removal - Difficult. Qting the rock in an extended dark cycle is the best way. Good thing it doesn't spread rock to rock too fast. A chisel or a flexible knife like a putty blade works, but you got to get it all, and take some of the rock just to be sure.
Clean Up Crew- Emerald Crabs (best bet here), Sea Hares, some Turbos, Chitons, Limpets, Tangs, Urchins, will pick at it, but it is likely to persist, but at least it will be controlled.
Why it happened - You didn't quarantine, and you have available nutrients for it.
Starving it out - Use a phosban reactor or a macro like chaeto to take down phosphate. If you have a nitrate problem too, you can add more live rock or rubble to the tank, do some more wcs, add macro, add dsb, etc..

 

[lil.guppy]

Yea mine came from a rock of Zoanthids a year ago from my LFS
I have an emerald crab but I guess he doesnt touch it hahahaha