pollups being taken over, help

powdertoastman · 11-11-2003, 04:25 PM

ok, starting to have a problem with a frag of yellow pollups we have, the rock is getting covered with 2 different types of micro algea. its starting to take over the pollups and they dont really all come out much anymore, the stuff is to small to just pull it all of, and it grows very fast, any ideas on how to get rid of this stuff and save the pollups?

Alice · 11-12-2003, 03:39 PM

Unless your tank is big enough to support an herbivore like a tang, manual removal of the macro is still your best bet. I used to get this horrible viney macro I called "the green menace." I was reduced to using tweezers and a toothbrush on it to remove it from the rocks until I put a rabbit fish in the tank. He didn't leave a speck of green in the tank.

Important tip: Do NOT use your spouse's toothbrush for this, buy a new one just for the tank

Alice

powdertoastman · 11-12-2003, 03:51 PM

i would put some kind of fish in there, but we had a small ich outbreak alittle bit ago, all the fish are in hypo, had a coral beauty, but he died durring the hypo

so ill try a toothbrush i guess, thanks for advice

Alice · 11-12-2003, 03:52 PM

You are more than welcome; thanks for being so active in the forum

powdertoastman · 11-12-2003, 03:53 PM

np, i want to learn as much as i can and this seems to be one of the best places to do that

jfly · 11-12-2003, 05:31 PM

Yeah, I second that toothbrush idea. I have on dedicated to my reef just for such emergencies (and for cleaning my HOB). Turbo snails sure help me keep algae under control as well, but I've had to resort to the old yank it off and scrub it method on certain pieces myself.

...and can we please call them "polyps"