Brown algae on the fake plant in saltwater tank?

Question

I noticed it on the fake plants and it seems the piece of coral that's attached to the live rock has turned a murky shade of brown. We have 2 clown fish and a cleaner shrimp. What I am wondering is.. if the cleaner shrimp enough to keep it under control? Will it even eat the brown algae? Should we just get a snail or will the snail and the shrimp have problems with each other? And also, will the brownish color of the previously white coral fade or are we stuck with that? Thanks!

Answer 1

Is this a new tank?  If not, how long has it been established? I suspect you are seeing diatoms.  The cleaner shrimp isn't going to eat diatoms.  You probably should get some snails that are known to eat diatoms such as astraea, nerite, chestnut cowrie or top crown snails.  However, if your tank is still in the early stages of maturing you are going to see a lot of diatoms and they will cover everything.  Don't worry too much about it; it will pass on it's own but will be followed by other algae blooms which in turn will pass.  Most coral isn't white unless it is dead.  If this is an old dead piece of coral the diatoms are no problem.  If the coral is alive the diatoms could kill them.  Healthy coral doesn't get covered with algae.