SPS - How to recover Algae growing SPS?

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How to recover Algae growing SPS?

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: SPS
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions SPS corals.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=76077
Printed Date: November 21 2024 at 3:47pm
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Topic: How to recover Algae growing SPS?

Posted By: aceofspadeskb
Subject: How to recover Algae growing SPS?
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 1:24pm

I have a piece of green slimer in my tank. It was my first piece of SPS coral...a tryout at the time I put it in my tank. The tryout didn't go the greatest. The piece lost some flesh and stopped extending it's polyps. Fast forward a couple years and now I have several pieces of SPS doing very well in my tank. However this particular piece keeps growing a bit of film algae on its bare skeletal areas where the tissue is gone and it still does not extend any polyps. What's the best way to help this piece recover?

Parameters(since I know someone will ask):

SG 1.026

Alk 8.4-9.0

Calcium ~430

Mag ~1400 (I question my test kit here as it has always read high, yet I don't dose mag and use regular IO for my salt mix)

Phos .03 - .05

Nitrate ~15ppm (working hard on this one, Building an ATS now)

Temp 76 degrees

Much thanks in advance!

Replies:

Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 1:52pm

What are you feeding your corals? Does it extend polyps after the lights go out? Have you tried areas with more and less flow or higher or lower light? What corals are upstream in the water flow that might be sending out chemical warfare? Those are the ones that com immediately to mind. Your Nitrates are high but not something I would think would effect green slimer.

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My ocean.
90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread:

Posted By: aceofspadeskb
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 1:58pm

I don't directly feed my corals. I feed the tank reef frenzy. The only coral within 6" is a piece of green birdsnest(which is doing great). Within a foot there is a large frogspawn, a small favia, and a large duncan colony. Too close? The slimer is in it's 3rd spot in the tank in an area with moderate-to-high light and high flow. Not sure about polyps after lights out. I'll have to have a look tonight.

Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 2:04pm

Nothing standing out so far. Have you tried any coral dips like revive? Sometimes those will bring a coral out of it's dormant state to start growing and coloring up. Baer doesn't help tissue but does get rid of lots of nasties.

-------------
My ocean.
90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread:

Posted By: aceofspadeskb
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 2:13pm

I haven't, but I do have revive on hand. I'll try that tonight. Is there any way to remove the algae without hurting the coral? Soft toothbrush?

Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 2:22pm

10% peroxide and water and just dip the parts covered in algae for about a minute. then put it back in the tank and the clean up crew should take care of the rest.

-------------
My ocean.
90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread:

Posted By: aceofspadeskb
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 2:30pm

Excellent! So should I do both dips then? 10% Hydrogen peroxide and then revive? Or vice-versa? Or should I spread them out over a couple of nights? Thanks so much for your help Krazie!

Posted By: aceofspadeskb
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 2:46pm

Also, on the hydrogen peroxide dip, do I use tank water or RO water? And how long?

Thanks!

Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: May 14 2015 at 2:48pm

Peroxide and RO water first, about 1 minute, then revive. Rinse in tank water and then back in tank.

-------------
My ocean.
90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: