Need some pointers on algae control

91mini · 05/05/2013, 11:57 AM

My tank has been cycled for about 3 weeks now and I am starting to get a lot of algae in the tank. I believe it's hair algae but some could be Bryopis. I added 15 astrea snails to the tank and they have started to cull the algae but I'm not sure they could handle the load and I don't want to add too many of them.

I've included a video so you can see the algae in the tank. I have been running GFO and skimming the tank since I started it 2 months ago.

Should I add some emeralds? Dose anything?

I currently have 2 clowns and 3 coral in the tank as well.

Biodork · 05/05/2013, 12:16 PM

Looks like hair algae with maybe some diatoms. I would continue to do regular water changes and check your water chemistry, including nitrates and phosphorus. I'm going to assume you're using RO/DI water for the changes. The clean up crew is good. I would hold off on adding emerald crabs, they can cause problems later down the road by eating things you would rather they did not. You can manually remove some algae when you do water changes. I like a tooth brush in one hand and the siphon hose in the other. But keep in mind you tank is new. Most new tanks go through an algae cycle early on. By maintaining low nutrients and keeping up with the husbandry, this typically passes. Good luck!

91mini · 05/05/2013, 03:58 PM

Changed 20 gallons today and scraped and tooth brushes as much as I could from the walls and rocks. Before I started up the system again I put pantyhose on the outlets of the overflow to try to catch as much debris as possible as I do t have filter socks. Ill scrape a little at a time over the next couple of days and then take the pantyhose off.

Hope this helps.

05/05/2013, 11:57 AM	#1
91mini Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 278	Need some pointers on algae control My tank has been cycled for about 3 weeks now and I am starting to get a lot of algae in the tank. I believe it's hair algae but some could be Bryopis. I added 15 astrea snails to the tank and they have started to cull the algae but I'm not sure they could handle the load and I don't want to add too many of them. I've included a video so you can see the algae in the tank. I have been running GFO and skimming the tank since I started it 2 months ago. Should I add some emeralds? Dose anything? I currently have 2 clowns and 3 coral in the tank as well.

05/05/2013, 12:16 PM	#2
Biodork Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 129	Looks like hair algae with maybe some diatoms. I would continue to do regular water changes and check your water chemistry, including nitrates and phosphorus. I'm going to assume you're using RO/DI water for the changes. The clean up crew is good. I would hold off on adding emerald crabs, they can cause problems later down the road by eating things you would rather they did not. You can manually remove some algae when you do water changes. I like a tooth brush in one hand and the siphon hose in the other. But keep in mind you tank is new. Most new tanks go through an algae cycle early on. By maintaining low nutrients and keeping up with the husbandry, this typically passes. Good luck!

05/05/2013, 03:58 PM	#3
91mini Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 278	Changed 20 gallons today and scraped and tooth brushes as much as I could from the walls and rocks. Before I started up the system again I put pantyhose on the outlets of the overflow to try to catch as much debris as possible as I do t have filter socks. Ill scrape a little at a time over the next couple of days and then take the pantyhose off. Hope this helps.