Growth Id

[newbie1981]

Ok, so my nano is cycling, (no CUC added yet) and i have had some growth, and wanted to get some help ID'ing them!

First one is on top on a piece of live rock:
View attachment 49308
It is very silky in appearance, any ideas on what it is, and whether it is ok to let it grow, its seems to be growing rapidly each day!

Next is growing direct from the substrate:
View attachment 49309
Again, growing very quickly!!

Lastly, this is similar to the top one, but is only in single strands, and is growing all over the galss:
View attachment 49310
again, fairly rapid growth!

Any help on id'ing would be great, and tips on whether they pose a threat!

 

[smithrc]

Get the 2nd one out asap - it can easily overpower a nano if left un checked

It hangs on really well to rock and gravel - I can lift live rock trying to pull it off ours

I don't know what it is - but I've got... um "plenty" in my nano - probably something to do with the high nitrates due to my lack of water changes

 

[SkiFletch]

Hair Algae
Culerpa
Diatom algae

 

[newbie1981]

OK, so if that is hair algae, whats the best way to treat it??

I thought it might be hair algae, but it didn't look like any other pictures I had seen, it looks more like a grass??

 

[BigC]

I have the exact same tufted hair algae growth, Skifletch suggested this. I used a length of 6mm airline. started a syphon into a some nylon mesh draped over a bucket. Gently manipulated the algae tuft from the rock into the syphon tube which inturn is trapped in the mesh. I then returned the water back into the tank. The tufts whilst not completly cleared are much shorter for the CUC to take advantage off and do their work.
Hope this was of some help to you
Regards
BigC

 

[steelhealr]

I agree with SkiFletch's ID's. The caulerpa has rhizomes which can be a pain as it grows thru the LR. As for hair algae, you can pull and scrape all you want. The best way to take care of it:
-water changes
-using RO water to make your SW
-phospate binder
-and the best thing...refugium.

SH

 

[newbie1981]

Thanks for the above all! Looks like I have some syphoning action ahead of me then!!

SH - with regard to the refugium, what do you think is the best approach - I am using live rubble as a means of filtration in chambers 1 & 2 (I have a 24g Nanocube, 1 being the left hand side!) also with some carbon in the bottom of chamber 2, what is involved in getting a refugium set up?? Any pointers??