Dictyoka, way too much, need advice

[strauss]

I have this:
[http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Dictyota&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1824&bih=821&tbm=isch&tbnid=xw5rOwWAFra-AM:&imgrefurl=http://university.uog.edu/botany/474/hetero/dictyopt-vs-dictyota.htm&docid=-eHf1xaEcJNBIM&imgurl=http://university.uog.edu/botany/474/images/dictyota5041.jpg&w=450&h=301&ei=--ySUO_NLaixiQKXjICQAg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=381&sig=114124114979458985819&page=1&tbnh=131&tbnw=191&start=0&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,i:163&tx=127&ty=45

I have left it alone in one spot now it's taking over. Phosphate reactor with new media. Everything is doing awesome other than it's getting to the point were it's smothering coral. I understand a sea hare would help once I trim it all back. I am not opposed to algae, it's a reef tank, but it needs to be kept in check. Any advice or help would be awesome or if you know where to get a sea hare.
Thanks

Brandon

[reefermadness]

Naso tangs eat that....i know i had a problem with it years ago and that is what worked for me....not sure what size tank you have though.

[lastlight]

My naso tang devoured it mere hours after going into my display. He couldn't access it's roots so it would slowly grow back and he kept it pruned to almost nothing.

[ponokareefer]

How big is your system? A naso tang requires quite a large system.

[strauss]

It's 100 gallons. Naso hey, hmmm.

[ponokareefer]

Long term, that is way too small of a tank for a naso. If you know of someone that you can borrow one from, that would be your best bet.

[FitoPharmer]

I would invest in a smaller herbivore like a blenny if you do not already have one. Maybe even a urchin. The only tangs that work well for a tank that size IMO are bristol tooth tangs. This is not something a sea hare is likely to eat.

[blacknife]

My blennies ignore it and my scopas occasionally takes a nibble. One of the few emeralds I had would nibble to, but none I have had yet really like it.

I have had portions of it die off in ulns conditions but it never fully disappears. I was debating sumping the worst rock for a few months but put it in the low maintenance tank instead.

[daplatapus]

I've got quite a bit too. Pretty sure I've lost some zoa's to it taking over a rock. My bleeny won't touch it, emerald crabs don't touch it, Kole tang won't touch it. I have gotten rid of it on individual rocks by sticking it on the darkest spots of my sump. I believe the Naso is the only way to get rid of it without killing all your rock. But as was mentioned, tank size is an issue. Best of luck, I feel your pain. Fyi, I'm taking the bigger tank route and getting a Naso :)

[RuGlu6]

I have this:
[http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Dictyota&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1824&bih=821&tbm=isch&tbnid=xw5rOwWAFra-AM:&imgrefurl=http://university.uog.edu/botany/474/hetero/dictyopt-vs-dictyota.htm&docid=-eHf1xaEcJNBIM&imgurl=http://university.uog.edu/botany/474/images/dictyota5041.jpg&w=450&h=301&ei=--ySUO_NLaixiQKXjICQAg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=381&sig=114124114979458985819&page=1&tbnh=131&tbnw=191&start=0&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,i:163&tx=127&ty=45

I have left it alone in one spot now it's taking over. Phosphate reactor with new media. Everything is doing awesome other than it's getting to the point were it's smothering coral. I understand a sea hare would help once I trim it all back. I am not opposed to algae, it's a reef tank, but it needs to be kept in check. Any advice or help would be awesome or if you know where to get a sea hare.
Thanks

Brandon
Tuxedo urchin will scrape it even better than naso tang

[strauss]

Thanks for the replies. I borrowed a sea hare just to see if he'll do the job. If not ill be forced into a bigger tank so I can get Naso...sigh and I was doing so well not even dreaming about a big tank.

[reefermadness]

Thanks for the replies. I borrowed a sea hare just to see if he'll do the job. If not ill be forced into a bigger tank so I can get Naso...sigh and I was doing so well not even dreaming about a big tank. others may disagree but i think its safe for an experienced reefer to add a small naso with the expectation that he will out grow his home and need to be moved to a bigger tank in the future....

[kien]

others may disagree but i think its safe for an experienced reefer to add a small naso with the expectation that he will out grow his home and need to be moved to a bigger tank in the future....

That's what I did. I rented a Naso from a LFS to rid myself of this algae last year. He did the trick in just a few days. Then I sent him back to the LFS.

[strauss]

Thats an awesome idea. I'll look into it.

[strauss]

Klein

I see you're in Calgary. Do you mind me asking where you got him from?

[kien]

Klein

I see you're in Calgary. Do you mind me asking where you got him from?

First, appologies to Klein for answering this question that was clearly directed to him.

I got the Naso from Red Coral which sadly isn't around anymore :( Kevin was always very nice about this sort of thing. He rented out a Sea Hare often as well. Having said that, you could always just strike a deal with a LFS, like, buy the fish and return it at a lesser cost? Sorta like renting it right? But it protects the store in case something goes horribly wrong. You could also just post the fish on Canreef to rehome him later.

[reefermadness]

Naso's also eat valonia(bubble algae).....best tang for eating trouble algae IMO and the ones i have owned have not been aggressive all.

[strauss]

Many apologies kein. Typing quickly on the phone. Thanks for the advice everyone. I will be looking into a small naso for even a few months that I can get back to a larger tank as it needs.