green grape claupera- how to get rid of this thing

[reefgazer]

This green grape like algae is taking over my bro's tank. Please help with any method beside prunning by hand. I know to keep light on 24/7 to prevent it from going sexual ( turn white and produce more). It is good for nitrate remover but it is over spreanding in the display tank.

 

[Ashlar]

Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do short of manual removal or curing it in the dark. You can try a foxface, maybe an urchin. There's a reason this species is so invasive- because of the toxins it produces, it's unpalatable to most herbovores.

 

[Serk]

If it gets hold in a display, hand pruning, removing the rocks and individually scrubbing them, plus if the tank's big enough adding a/some large herbivores (Tangs, FoxFace, and the like) are your best bets... But none of those are guaranteed even...


It is excellent at nutrient export, but as you've noted, it can be extremely invasive if it gets in a display tank...

 

[washingtond]

@reefgazer wrote:

Be sure to cut not tear as that could release toxins into the tank or as Brian says remove the rock and scrub. It is not practical to keep the lights in the main display on 24/7 but a refuge would be the best place to keep the claupera where you can keep the light on 24/7. I would not recommend putting claupera in the main display as it is too hard to control. It is great for removing nitrates but only in a fuge.

 

[Prairie Kat]

Emerald Mithrax Crabs eat that stuff too!!


HTH

Kathy

 

[reefgazer]

Thanks guy. I didn't realize the problem until my bro called me when it is already covered 50% of his 240 gal tank. The tank is in wall built in and it will be a pain and impossible to remove rocks. My bro has tried tangs but no work. Foxface is still an iffy solution. What do you think if we keep the light off for 1 week? Will it die off and resolve? Will keep up with daily water change as knowning the bioload will build up from this algae dying off.

What do you guys think?

 

[fperkins]

I cleared two tanks of it with a Scribled Rabbitfish.

[edit]
Each was pretty much over-run with the stuff but they weren't quite as large as you are dealing with.

Not a very attractive fish but it did the deed:
http://www.petsolutions.com/Scribbled-Rabbitfish+I134950L+C40001984.aspx

 

[Guest]

I've got a good-sized foxface for sale. He loves claupera and I feed it to him ocasionaly. http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=39050

 

[washingtond]

@fperkins wrote:

I would try the Rabbitfish killing all that algae by leaving the lights off would leave a heavily polluted tank.

 

[reefgazer]

thanks guys. Is that scribbled rabbit fish reef safe? I heard one person on here got problem with it eating his corals. Zoo i think.

 

[fperkins]

Did not ever notice the Rabbit nibbling zoas or any other corals.

I did keep a seaweed sheet clipped to the front glass almost all the time (for it and a yellow tang) and it had plenty of algeas to eat.


Just fyi, He did jump out of the tank - after about 3 years - but I had a glass cover on the tank until the day before he leaped so I have no idea if he had tried before. Don't even remember why I took the conver off, but apparently in the one uncovered night / next day he end up on the sofa. A bit dried out before I found him.