Id help please

K

kelipalmer

Premium Member
Hi there,
Could someone please help identify this gray-green stuff growing on our rocks? My guess is hair algae, but I'm not sure. How do we get rid of it? Here are some specifics:
100 gal reef tank w/ 30 gal refugium
sal - 1.024
phos - 0
nitrate - 0
ph - 8.1
ho bulbs are at least 9 mos old - we bought the lights used last May
We have a bunch of hermit crabs, but it's hard to tell how many. My understanding is that they help control hair algae.


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Doesn't look like green hair algae, I would blast it with a turkey baster to see if it will blow off. If not try a toothbrush.
 
I should also add that it is growing on most of the rocks now, but it tends to grow in the shade. For the most part, it does not seem to be growing where the rocks are in direct light.
 
In my experience, I believe it is a bacteria that grows in the shade. Haven't found a way to get it off the rocks other than scrubbing. We have it and it has never caused an issue.
 
It is definitely attached and will not just blow off. I haven't tried scrubbing yet, but I'd really like to know what it is first before I do that.
 
It does tend to collect detritus, but it's not harmful. As franklypre said, blast it with a turkey baster every so often. As your tank matures, other sponges, foraminiferans, worms, and various critters will colonize the undersides of your rock.

Celebrate the biodiversity :)
 
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