Clean Up Crew For 24 Gal Nano

carfac · 05/21/2007, 02:40 PM

Hey!

I am at just about 1 year on my tank, and things have been relatively good. I have had a real problem with Red Algae recently, and I cannot seem to get to the root cause of the problem. But every couple weeks, I will get a dime to quarter sized patch, which I suck out at a water change. I alss have some light bits of red on other places in my sand.

I feed sparingly, have good flow (maxijet 1200 in tank and another running the main filter), change 20% a week, etc.

So I am starting to think I need more of a clean up crew. I have 2 Mexican Turbos, 3-4 Cerinths (?, they go under the sand and have a snout that sticks up through the sand), 4-5 Narcissus (again, ?- inch sized with triangular shells) and 3-4 blue legs.

Thats it. Should I have more? What about sand sifters, to try and break up the red on the sand?

Dave

alan214 · 05/21/2007, 02:44 PM

That sounds like a pretty good cleaning crew to me; maybe could use a few Astrea's to compliment the Turbo's. Do you use RO/DI for your water source?

carfac · 05/21/2007, 02:45 PM

>>> Do you use RO/DI for your water source?

ALWAYS.

alan214 · 05/21/2007, 03:05 PM

That's good. I can't think offhand of what else may be causing the red algae. My son's 24G also has patches of the same stuff but his tank is only a few months old so I kid of expect that.

Are all of your other water parameters okay? I'd look closely at phosphates myself.

carfac · 05/21/2007, 04:21 PM

I am using a red rock-rusty looking thing to reduce Phos... been using that for a month or so. And put some new version of ChemiPure in that has a phos cleaner, too. I do not have any Phos showing in my tests.

Params are good- 1.026 salinity with Topic Marin, no NH3, No2, NO3, etc.

I am concerned now that there is too much debris not getting "eaten" by a clean up crew. My LFS told me I needed 20-30 crabs, which I think is a bit much, but maybe 3 is too few. Also thinking it might be good to have something turning my sand over a bit more...

Zann · 05/22/2007, 06:12 AM

you really cant have enough hermits you can put alot into a tank and snails they dont cause a nitrate problem like fish do or nitrite

carfac · 05/22/2007, 11:35 AM

So, for a 24, what should I doo? Add 3-4 of each and see how it goes? What are the signs of too many?

Nano Chris · 05/22/2007, 05:01 PM

Check out this thread of the month, i had a algae problem, and i just finished my 3 days of no lights and walla! No more algae, hope it stays away! Please read this thread:
No lights for 3 days every couple of months works wonders!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1078532

05/21/2007, 02:40 PM	#1
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	Clean Up Crew For 24 Gal Nano Hey! I am at just about 1 year on my tank, and things have been relatively good. I have had a real problem with Red Algae recently, and I cannot seem to get to the root cause of the problem. But every couple weeks, I will get a dime to quarter sized patch, which I suck out at a water change. I alss have some light bits of red on other places in my sand. I feed sparingly, have good flow (maxijet 1200 in tank and another running the main filter), change 20% a week, etc. So I am starting to think I need more of a clean up crew. I have 2 Mexican Turbos, 3-4 Cerinths (?, they go under the sand and have a snout that sticks up through the sand), 4-5 Narcissus (again, ?- inch sized with triangular shells) and 3-4 blue legs. Thats it. Should I have more? What about sand sifters, to try and break up the red on the sand? Dave

05/21/2007, 02:44 PM	#2
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	That sounds like a pretty good cleaning crew to me; maybe could use a few Astrea's to compliment the Turbo's. Do you use RO/DI for your water source? __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

05/21/2007, 03:05 PM	#4
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	That's good. I can't think offhand of what else may be causing the red algae. My son's 24G also has patches of the same stuff but his tank is only a few months old so I kid of expect that. Are all of your other water parameters okay? I'd look closely at phosphates myself. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

05/22/2007, 05:01 PM	#8
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Check out this thread of the month, i had a algae problem, and i just finished my 3 days of no lights and walla! No more algae, hope it stays away! Please read this thread: No lights for 3 days every couple of months works wonders! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1078532 __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

05/21/2007, 02:45 PM	#3
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	>>> Do you use RO/DI for your water source? ALWAYS.

05/21/2007, 04:21 PM	#5
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	I am using a red rock-rusty looking thing to reduce Phos... been using that for a month or so. And put some new version of ChemiPure in that has a phos cleaner, too. I do not have any Phos showing in my tests. Params are good- 1.026 salinity with Topic Marin, no NH3, No2, NO3, etc. I am concerned now that there is too much debris not getting "eaten" by a clean up crew. My LFS told me I needed 20-30 crabs, which I think is a bit much, but maybe 3 is too few. Also thinking it might be good to have something turning my sand over a bit more...

05/22/2007, 06:12 AM	#6
Zann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southaven Ms Posts: 569	you really cant have enough hermits you can put alot into a tank and snails they dont cause a nitrate problem like fish do or nitrite

05/22/2007, 11:35 AM	#7
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	So, for a 24, what should I doo? Add 3-4 of each and see how it goes? What are the signs of too many?