The Algae Begins

jsc4354 · 12/07/2006, 10:54 PM

Little patches of algae are starting to grow in several spots of the tank. I would like to combat it before it grows out of control. So, here is a pic along with some info about the tank. Let me know what ya think.

I have 20 astreas, 10 nassarius snails, 1 emerald crab, 1 sally lightfoot crab and thinking about getting a few cerith snails (not sure)

I have 3 pair of lights... the 1st pair runs for 12 hours the 2nd for 11 hours and the 3rd for 10 hours. I could cut this down to less hours if I need to.

I have to admit I got lazy and hadn't cleaned the skimmer lately. So, I finally cleaned it and its pulling junk out of the water now.

Also, I do not have any nitrates and have a refugium full of calerpa and chaeto.

Let me know if I have let anything out.

Thanks,
John C.

mwsmith15 · 12/07/2006, 10:56 PM

What are the tank params? Do you use tap or RO water to top off/water change?

petoonia · 12/07/2006, 11:22 PM

How long has the tank been set up?

If this is the 135g tank, you could add a lot more snails. I would add at least 20 more. I like to get a good combination of different types astreas, turbos, mexican turbos, cerith, nassarius, and banded trochus. You could also add about 15 to 20 hermit crabs, but be sure to add empty shells if you do. You could also consider a herbivorous fish like a tang, or a foxface.

I would cut back on the lighting, and see if that helps as well.

jsc4354 · 12/07/2006, 11:28 PM

mwsmith15, here are the results from last night and I topoff with RO water

sg - 1.024
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 0
ph - 8.1-8.2
alk - 4.5-5.0 meq/l (I ran this test 3 times and got 5.0 twice and 4.5 once)
calcium - 370-380 ppm

petoonia, this is a hard to answer but the tank was up for a while without lights. So, I would have to say completely setup it has been up for 6 months atleast. I would probably get some cerith snails but would prefer not to get hermits or tangs. Currently the asrtreas like to stay on the glass. Will the ceriths like to graze on the rocks?

Thanks,
John C.

jsc4354 · 12/08/2006, 08:57 AM

Heres the deal, I would prefer to buy snails instead of hermits to not worry about them killing each other over shells and making sure they have extra shells.

Also, I have a peaceful community tank which currently consists of gobies and wrasses. So, I would rather not mix them with tangs or a foxface.

If possbile, since the algae has not grown out of control. I would like to take measures to control without changing my plans I already have for the tank.

Currently, I have cleaned out the skimmer to pull more and started feeding the tank a little less. Every night, I come home and feed the tank a combination of either brine or mysis and cyclopees or zooplankton.

As far as livestock goes here is all that I have in there right now...

4 lubbocks fairy wrasses
1 purple firefish
1 diamond watchman goby
1 candy cane goby
1 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 blood red fire shrimp
1 peppermint shrimp
1 pistol shrimp
1 derasa clam

As for corals I have some zoos, xenias, rics and a monti cap.

Thanks,
John C.

mwsmith15 · 12/08/2006, 09:07 AM

What are your phosphates?

techigirl78 · 12/08/2006, 09:16 AM

I would definitely add some more snails to the tank. Maybe a rainfords goby or blenny would help some as well. My orange spotted blenny took care of some difficult algae after adding him.

What type of flow is in your tank?

jsc4354 · 12/08/2006, 09:46 AM

mwsmith15, not sure what my phosphates are and have never tested for them. I will have to do some research on this as i'm not familiar with how this affects my tank.

techigirl78, I guess I will pick up a few cerith snails this weekend. I was hesitant to pick up some up since they will compete with the nassarius snails for food. However, I also read that they will graze on the rocks more often than astreas which like to hang out on the glass.

Thanks,
John C.

techigirl78 · 12/08/2006, 09:48 AM

Mexian turbos are great grazors as well if you got everything secured in your tank. They can not some stuff over if it is not well attached.

petoonia · 12/08/2006, 11:52 AM

I would suggest 1 or 2 mexican turbo snails, about 5 of the regular turbos, and maybe 5 of the ceriths. Banded trochus snails are great cleaners as well if you can find them. I think just adding a few more snails really isnt going to help much, you need to get quite a few to keep a tank that big clean. I know alot of people dont like hermits, but they do a great job at cleaning the rocks. Maybe try like 2 or 3 then you could always remove them if they become a problem. If you do try them place them in the tank right by the algae they will more than likely start eating right away.

Good Luck!!!!

12/07/2006, 10:54 PM	#1
jsc4354 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 170	The Algae Begins Little patches of algae are starting to grow in several spots of the tank. I would like to combat it before it grows out of control. So, here is a pic along with some info about the tank. Let me know what ya think. I have 20 astreas, 10 nassarius snails, 1 emerald crab, 1 sally lightfoot crab and thinking about getting a few cerith snails (not sure) I have 3 pair of lights... the 1st pair runs for 12 hours the 2nd for 11 hours and the 3rd for 10 hours. I could cut this down to less hours if I need to. I have to admit I got lazy and hadn't cleaned the skimmer lately. So, I finally cleaned it and its pulling junk out of the water now. Also, I do not have any nitrates and have a refugium full of calerpa and chaeto. Let me know if I have let anything out. Thanks, John C.

12/07/2006, 10:56 PM	#2
mwsmith15 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 140	What are the tank params? Do you use tap or RO water to top off/water change? __________________ Guns don't kill people, Chuck Norris kills people Current Tank Info: 150 Gal w/ Radions

12/07/2006, 11:22 PM	#3
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	How long has the tank been set up? If this is the 135g tank, you could add a lot more snails. I would add at least 20 more. I like to get a good combination of different types astreas, turbos, mexican turbos, cerith, nassarius, and banded trochus. You could also add about 15 to 20 hermit crabs, but be sure to add empty shells if you do. You could also consider a herbivorous fish like a tang, or a foxface. I would cut back on the lighting, and see if that helps as well. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

12/08/2006, 09:07 AM	#6
mwsmith15 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 140	What are your phosphates? __________________ Guns don't kill people, Chuck Norris kills people Current Tank Info: 150 Gal w/ Radions

12/08/2006, 11:52 AM	#10
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	I would suggest 1 or 2 mexican turbo snails, about 5 of the regular turbos, and maybe 5 of the ceriths. Banded trochus snails are great cleaners as well if you can find them. I think just adding a few more snails really isnt going to help much, you need to get quite a few to keep a tank that big clean. I know alot of people dont like hermits, but they do a great job at cleaning the rocks. Maybe try like 2 or 3 then you could always remove them if they become a problem. If you do try them place them in the tank right by the algae they will more than likely start eating right away. Good Luck!!!! __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

12/07/2006, 11:28 PM	#4
jsc4354 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 170	mwsmith15, here are the results from last night and I topoff with RO water sg - 1.024 ammonia - 0 nitrite - 0 nitrate - 0 ph - 8.1-8.2 alk - 4.5-5.0 meq/l (I ran this test 3 times and got 5.0 twice and 4.5 once) calcium - 370-380 ppm petoonia, this is a hard to answer but the tank was up for a while without lights. So, I would have to say completely setup it has been up for 6 months atleast. I would probably get some cerith snails but would prefer not to get hermits or tangs. Currently the asrtreas like to stay on the glass. Will the ceriths like to graze on the rocks? Thanks, John C.

12/08/2006, 08:57 AM	#5
jsc4354 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 170	Heres the deal, I would prefer to buy snails instead of hermits to not worry about them killing each other over shells and making sure they have extra shells. Also, I have a peaceful community tank which currently consists of gobies and wrasses. So, I would rather not mix them with tangs or a foxface. If possbile, since the algae has not grown out of control. I would like to take measures to control without changing my plans I already have for the tank. Currently, I have cleaned out the skimmer to pull more and started feeding the tank a little less. Every night, I come home and feed the tank a combination of either brine or mysis and cyclopees or zooplankton. As far as livestock goes here is all that I have in there right now... 4 lubbocks fairy wrasses 1 purple firefish 1 diamond watchman goby 1 candy cane goby 1 skunk cleaner shrimp 1 blood red fire shrimp 1 peppermint shrimp 1 pistol shrimp 1 derasa clam As for corals I have some zoos, xenias, rics and a monti cap. Thanks, John C.

12/08/2006, 09:16 AM	#7
techigirl78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,739	I would definitely add some more snails to the tank. Maybe a rainfords goby or blenny would help some as well. My orange spotted blenny took care of some difficult algae after adding him. What type of flow is in your tank?

12/08/2006, 09:46 AM	#8
jsc4354 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 170	mwsmith15, not sure what my phosphates are and have never tested for them. I will have to do some research on this as i'm not familiar with how this affects my tank. techigirl78, I guess I will pick up a few cerith snails this weekend. I was hesitant to pick up some up since they will compete with the nassarius snails for food. However, I also read that they will graze on the rocks more often than astreas which like to hang out on the glass. Thanks, John C.

12/08/2006, 09:48 AM	#9
techigirl78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,739	Mexian turbos are great grazors as well if you got everything secured in your tank. They can not some stuff over if it is not well attached.