Film on Glass Best snail??

[thebkramer]

Hello to all
I am getting ready to go to my LFS to pick up a starry, blue chromis and 2 peppermints. My tank has some ugly green film that I have to scrap off every other day. Who would be the best fit to help me with the cleaning??? I already have some ceriths, but they seem to like everything else but the glass. (LFS told me they would be the best fit for the film) I know margaritas are good to have, but would like to know if there is another good fit??
Thanks!

[WharfRat]

Use a hand powered algae removal device. I don't know of anyone who doesn't need to clean their glass at least weekly. Its the nature of the beast. There are ways to lessen it, but it'll almost always be there.

[cubsFAN]

Originally Posted by WharfRat

Use a hand powered algae removal device. I don't know of anyone who doesn't need to clean their glass at least weekly. Its the nature of the beast. There are ways to lessen it, but it'll almost always be there.

i agree. even turbo snails are just going to leave streaks and you'll have to clean it anyway. it's just part of the game. i try to do it everyday so i always have a nice view.

[mabublitz]

you can use a nice magnetic glass cleaner and it will take all of that gunk off.

[thebkramer]

I do do it every other day. I'm just amazed at how thick and green it is!! It never got this bad before. I only had to do it once a week. Since my tank crashed, I know have to do it more. I was hoping there was something to help cut back to once a week again. Thanks!

[thebkramer]

I wonder what changed? My tank was up and running for over 15 mos. Never had a real problem with glass. Now its psycho!! Could it be because I have less corals and fish??

[losthere]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

I do do it every other day. I'm just amazed at how thick and green it is!! It never got this bad before. I only had to do it once a week. Since my tank crashed, I know have to do it more. I was hoping there was something to help cut back to once a week again. Thanks!

Sounds like you are going through a mini re-cycle. I would cut down on the feedings, reduce photo period, and do weekly or bi-weekly water changes. What skimmer do you have? If it is a small one it wouldnt hurt to upgrade it.

my mag float is the best glass cleaning animal that I have

[mabublitz]

how many inhabitants do you have in your tank and what size tank?

[cubsFAN]

[QUOTE=losthere;16383464] I would cut down on the feedings, reduce photo period, and do weekly or bi-weekly water changes.

agree with this. also check your phosphate. if it is high it could be contributing to the growth. maybe try some gfo.

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by WharfRat

Use a hand powered algae removal device. I don't know of anyone who doesn't need to clean their glass at least weekly. Its the nature of the beast. There are ways to lessen it, but it'll almost always be there.

+1

Once your tank is nicely established you shouldn't have to do this more than about once a week IMO.

[thebkramer]

Hi guys. Thanks for replies. My only inhabitants are a tri-color hermit, a zebra hermit, a yellow-tip hermit, 2 nassarius, 2 magaritas (just purchased an hr ago) 3 ceriths, then I have buttons, green zoas, green star polyps, red cactus, and possibly a monti and black tubastrea trying to hold on...thats it. I have some bristles hanging on and aiptaisia. Everything else is dead, even the amphipods (misspelling?)
I have a Red Sea skimmer and a aquaclear 110, powerhead of some sort and day/actinic/night lights. I already cut back on my daytime lights after crash. I only have them on for 8 hrs. I'm not feeding, cause there is nothing to feed. I put in phyto one a month for now. No, there are no phosphates. I just had water tested...Perfection!

[thebkramer]

Also...just bought some more LR hoping to getting some amphipids copepods or starfish I have none I have a rock with these long tan tubes on them. These weird things come out that kinda look like snail heads. Meaning they have suckers with 2 feelers?? What are they? It looks like they are sending some kind of spindle out in the water, collecting stuff on it and then sucking it back in! ??? Also, is there such a thing as a black amphipod/copepod?? Thanks so much all!! I really appreciate it!!

[thebkramer]

Originally Posted by losthere

do weekly or bi-weekly water changes.

I do 10% weekly.

[chow]

Get some Astrea snails. I have a 210 gallon and got over 40 of them and they are gradually eating away at the entire back panel(6'x2.5'). I put them in there about a week ago and the ones that have taken to the back glass(about 10 of them) have already mowed down about half of it. They are really hardy suckers and work on rock as well. I would stay away from the Margarita snails thought IMO. They are too sensitive and die often. I bought 6 of them and 4 of them died within the first week. I've heard others with the same result.

[chow]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

Also...just bought some more LR hoping to getting some amphipids copepods or starfish I have none I have a rock with these long tan tubes on them. These weird things come out that kinda look like snail heads. Meaning they have suckers with 2 feelers?? What are they? It looks like they are sending some kind of spindle out in the water, collecting stuff on it and then sucking it back in! ??? Also, is there such a thing as a black amphipod/copepod?? Thanks so much all!! I really appreciate it!!

They are a type of worm(not tube worms). They are filter feeders and don't really harm anything although I really hate the mucous they put out. Kind of disgusting IMO. I come home and notice a trail of mucous floating in the water column coming from it in that corner.

[thebkramer]

Worm huh?? At LFS I was hoping they were feather dusters...oh well. Thanks for info!!

[Dtronic]

Best snails are trochus snails. They are expensive though, but you don't need as many.

[thebkramer]

Trying to find these worm thingys online. Anyone know what they are???

[Misterchinn]

do you have room for a refugium? Something seems out of balance. My chaeto went from the size of a softball to the size of a basketball in about 5 weeks. DT algae got so low I was actually worried about my turbo snails starving so I move them to the fuge every few days to graze in there.

Not sure if I read every post, but are you using RO/DI? My tap water come with phosphates. RO helped too.

[-Pixie-]

+1 on the mag cleaner

[terri_ann]

You may want to consider a different skimmer. Are you getting much skimmate? The phosphate test was "perfect" because the algae is consuming it...thus no reading of phoshate. The test may not be that accurate either.

I prefer the turbo snails. Make sure that you are not dosing too much phyto either. Keep up the water changes. When the tank crashed, did you reuse the sand and/or LR? If yes, this could also contribute to the algae problem. A mini-cycle is possible. You will just need to figure out what factor(s) are contributing to it and once figured out, adjust accordingly. Good Luck!

[DC_40gallon]

I use a long handled ice scraper. Works great!

[Salamander]

FYI The tube worm thing you're talking about is a vermetid gastropod.

For glass I use a Mag Float every 2-3 days, a long handled Kent Pro Scraper to scrape some harder algae and occasionally a razor blade to get the coralline off.

[Flipper62]

Most of the time my snails do a good job on the glass. However.....I have a rule for my tanks. It took some ( pounding in the head ) for my wife to understand, Because she has to do it when I'm out of town or out of the country.

When ever you look at the tank.......take the Mag Float and go over the glass. It keeps the glass looking perfect.

The BioCube takes about 30 seconds, The bigger tanks take about 1 minute.