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Marc/Dave...actually...anyone who can! I need some help.

I'm not liking what I am seeing on my new alveopora coral that Marc so kindly gave me. I DO NOT want to loose this piece!

I'm pretty sure it's hair algae, but I want to know what I should do and if it will eventually cause problems for this coral. If I leave it alone.

Can I just take a brush of some sort to it and scrub it off? What is causing this?

Attached Images

	alveopora1.JPG (491.2 KB, 6 views)
	Alveopora2.jpg (533.0 KB, 6 views)

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120RR display with basement sump
Lots left to learn....

Doesnt look good. Since HA generally doesnt grow on coral tissue it means you have a bit of tissue recession, and since new tissue isnt usually very good at competeing and regrowing into algae covered areas it will probably continue to recede. Marc had that piece for quite awhile so something in its environment has changed.

What kind of lighting, how high is it mounted, how much flow, what and how much do you feed, and how often do you feed?

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(' )< David >( ')

"The world is headed for mutiny when all we want is unity" Scott Stapp, Creed

As far as my lighting goes...
I'm running an orbit system with
1 - 150w 10K MH
4 - 24w T5's

I have it placed right in the center under the MH and it's about a foot under the water's surface. I have been feeding almost daily rotifers and does DT's phyto three times a week.

__________________
120RR display with basement sump
Lots left to learn....

You could move it way up. Marc had it about 8 or 10 inches under 250 watt 14k Pheonix DE bulbs. If you do move it do it slowly so you dont shock it. I'd be feeding it larger sized food. Marc didnt target feed it but he did feed quite a bit and stuff like cyclopeeze and mysid shrimp. Phyto will do nothing for it and rotifiers may be too small. I'd also target feed it. Dont scrub away the algae carefully pluck it off with tweezers or something.

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(' )< David >( ')

"The world is headed for mutiny when all we want is unity" Scott Stapp, Creed

Dave...here's a quick update on the alveopora I'm trying to keep alive. I did take tweezers to it a couple of days ago and removed all of the hair algae that was growing on it. Since the first pic, I have moved it up over a week or so to the top of my rock formation. It's now about 5 inches from the top of the water. As you can see, more of the algae is growing but in less area now. I'll keep cleaning it and target feeding as suggested. This pic doesn't show full polyp extension because I just moved it to it's current location this morning.

Attached Images

IMG_2047.JPG (426.7 KB, 3 views)

__________________
120RR display with basement sump
Lots left to learn....