Clean algae from zoa frag

[kien]

Your problem is that you hate yellow tangs :-). Such nuisance algaes would have no chance in hell of surviving in the same tank as my yellow tang

[BigAl07]

Keep in mind that the "Algae" is possibly only the symptom and may not be the actual root (pun intended) problem. This isn't always the case as some algae are super efficient and will thrive in a fairly low nutrient system but usually algae is the symptom and not the cause.

I'd continue the dipping but also address the tank as a whole with:

• a) As mentioned above boost your Clean Up Crew greatly
• b) evaluate type of foods being used
• c) evaluate amount and frequency of feeding
• d) evaluate fish load
• e) evaluate water change amount & frequency
• f) evaluate over-all tank bio-filtration and manual filtration methods

Algae is best attacked from several points all at the same time. I've often found that my "Dips" work best immediately following some type manual removal (scrubbing, picking, cutting, pulling LOL). I just dipped some new frags over the weekend and I scrubbed them with a metal brush (looks like a tooth brush but it's metal bristles) immediately before a 5 minute dip in 50/50 solution (and this was SPS ). That night both SPS have great polyp extension and last night looked better than ever. I build a "Rack" to elevate as much of the SPS out of the solution as possible but some always gets ON the coral itself. To date I've had no ill effects of this process.

[lastlight]

Thanks I agree the fact that an algae can grow indicates it has what it needs in the tank to do so. That's not my concern (a lot of my new rock is leaching nutrients and has some algae on it whereas all my established rock looks clean) and I know I have to wait it out as I did not cook the new rock.

This is a very specific type of algae found nowhere else in the tank... literally. It is on 2 frags and nowhere else. It's also where it keeps re-appearing. I'm looking for the dip to kill it in these two locations and regardless of nutrients in the water if something can kill this algae where it exists mission complete =)

I will maybe try a stronger dip and update this thread later. I'll try and take a pic of this algae as well. Thanks!

[BigAl07]

Keep us posted. Just remember this algae is a VERY old organism surviving ICE, Fire, Floods and everything else yet still thrives. It's a battle that may have a long time-line for you

[mseepman]

So Brett, did you every beat this algae?

[kdpuffer]

My question is what peroxide do you use? Food grade stuff or the stuff in the brown bottle from the pharmacy?

[lastlight]

I was never able to beat the algae and it choked the zoas. I tossed the frag but as luck would have it there was some on another rock I didn't see. It's now weaving it's way into a few rocks. I've beat my hair algae and 95% of the anullata just to have other types take off. Fun

I will add that I tried a 100% peroxide dip before giving up and the algae and zoas both lived. I have a yellow and naso now and they do a great job on a variety of algaes but not this stuff yet.

[Mike-fish]

I used the stuff from the pharmacy. This trick works like a charm