Turf Algae

[DYIguy]

It seems like I have some turf algae in my DT. It's only on the coral skeletons which are large, I was hoping that a mexican turbo would eat it, but no. I have a healthy batch of chaeto in the sump thanks to @Salted , so I don't want to treat the tank with any chemicals . Any suggestions, all parameters are good

 

[nightmarepl]

It seems like I have some turf algae in my DT. It's only on the coral skeletons which are large, I was hoping that a mexican turbo would eat it, but no. I have a healthy batch of chaeto in the sump thanks to @Salted , so I don't want to treat the tank with any chemicals . Any suggestions, all parameters are good

emerald crabs and urchans do work on turf algae pretty well i had alot of success with urchans

 

[MadReefer]

Can you remove coral skeletons and clean manually?

 

[DYIguy]

Can you remove coral skeletons and clean manually?

I have a couple of emerald crabs in the tank, but they haven't gone near it, it's near the top of the tank. I can take the coral out- I don't glue my rocks, but would rather not, but I probably should before it spreads. Scrape and treat with peroxide?

 

[MadReefer]

I have a couple of emerald crabs in the tank, but they haven't gone near it, it's near the top of the tank. I can take the coral out- I don't glue my rocks, but would rather not, but I probably should before it spreads. Scrape and treat with peroxide?

I would do that. Peroxide will eat it up.

 

[NanoJoe]

I went through a real bad turf algae outbreak last year. Took me a few months to really beat it. I used urchins and bacteria to beat it. Microbacter Clean i feel was a big help in defeating it.

 

[Mark_C]

Emeralds will pick at the turf but are actually picking caught food out of it in my experience.
Urchins are phenomenal at cleaning gha (as are sally lightfoots*) but 50/50 at best with turf.

If you can pull the rock, drop it in a bucket and squirt undiluted peroxide directly on it, then let it soak for a few minutes. This is safe for local zoas/palys.
If there’s sps nearby dilute with 50% water.
If theres shrooms nearby dip a firm toothbrush in pure peroxide and do some precision work (wouldnt hurt to do this as a last phase of the above as well).

I seem to get it occasionally and wonder if its a direct relation to local water hardness. The peroxide method seems the only way to really get it under control outside of dumping the rock into a dark sump for a couple weeks.

Once it gets to that really thick base with firm fuzzies you can usually use needlenose pliers or a leatherman to pull off the main clumps then do the peroxide bit of choice from above and fonish with the toothbrush trick.

JMH(experienced)O

* FYI, Sally lightfoor crabs are now residents in each of my tanks and always will be. These guys seem to hit up just about any type of algae and leave any corals alone. Arguably the most underestimated member of a cuc (in an established tank).