What's a good algae eater?

slitwin · 06/25/2007, 01:02 PM

My 55 tank is about 10 weeks old now and the algae is really starting to accumulate. Is there a fish that can help take care of this growing problem.

Thanks

drummereef · 06/25/2007, 01:04 PM

Do you have a cleanup crew yet? Some Turbo and Astrea snails are good cleaners. Sounds like a nutrient issue to me. Check your nitrates, phosphates, and water source. Eliminating the source of the nutrients is the best, long term solution.

slitwin · 06/25/2007, 01:11 PM

Yeah, I have several hermit crabs and several snails. I am planning on putting some PhosBan in my sump to help with the nutrients but I wanted to get a jump start by putting some fish in there.

Thanks again

Peter Eichler · 06/25/2007, 01:24 PM

The tank is only 10 weeks old, it's perfectly normal for it to go through algae cycles. What type of algae are you having problems with?

slitwin · 06/25/2007, 01:29 PM

Not sure exactly. I think it is string algae or something like that. It is growing on my rocks. The snails and crabs don't seem to do much about it.

Grins · 06/25/2007, 01:31 PM

Hair algae perhaps?

slitwin · 06/25/2007, 01:32 PM

Yeah, that could be it. It is long and stringy and is overtaking my rocks.

Peter Eichler · 06/25/2007, 01:34 PM

A picture would help since it could be Bryopsis, which looks a lot like hair algae but is far more difficult to get rid of.

slitwin · 06/25/2007, 01:36 PM

I will have to take a picture tonight and post it then. Can you tell me if a Hippo Tang would be good in there. I have read both good and bad about them. I'm not sure the tank is big enough. I don't have any other fish in the tank at this time.

smac · 06/25/2007, 11:49 PM

What is your light cycle like? You could consider reducing the amount of time the lights are on.

drummereef · 06/26/2007, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by slitwin
I will have to take a picture tonight and post it then. Can you tell me if a Hippo Tang would be good in there. I have read both good and bad about them. I'm not sure the tank is big enough. I don't have any other fish in the tank at this time.

Not in a 55g, no.

I agree the tank is new and could just be going through its natural algae cycles. None the less, limiting nutrients is going to be your only sure fire method of beating it.

kuoka · 06/26/2007, 12:27 AM

I had hair algae before. I scrubbed the big pieces with a tooth brush and added blue leg hermits to eat the rest. Also watch your feedings. It sounds like you might be feeding too much and have excess laying around.

slitwin · 06/26/2007, 08:05 AM

yeah, I cut the lights back to about 4 hours a day from 12 and I am planning on putting some PhosBan in my refugium to pull the nutrients. What do you guys think of that cheato stuff?

06/25/2007, 01:02 PM	#1
slitwin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 119	What's a good algae eater? My 55 tank is about 10 weeks old now and the algae is really starting to accumulate. Is there a fish that can help take care of this growing problem. Thanks

06/25/2007, 01:04 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Do you have a cleanup crew yet? Some Turbo and Astrea snails are good cleaners. Sounds like a nutrient issue to me. Check your nitrates, phosphates, and water source. Eliminating the source of the nutrients is the best, long term solution. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

06/25/2007, 01:24 PM	#4
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	The tank is only 10 weeks old, it's perfectly normal for it to go through algae cycles. What type of algae are you having problems with? __________________ April 2015 TOTM

06/25/2007, 01:31 PM	#6
Grins Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 735	Hair algae perhaps? __________________ R.A.S.O.C. : Reef Aquarium Society of Charlotte Current Tank Info: 55g mixed reef

06/25/2007, 01:34 PM	#8
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	A picture would help since it could be Bryopsis, which looks a lot like hair algae but is far more difficult to get rid of. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

06/25/2007, 01:11 PM	#3
slitwin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 119	Yeah, I have several hermit crabs and several snails. I am planning on putting some PhosBan in my sump to help with the nutrients but I wanted to get a jump start by putting some fish in there. Thanks again

06/25/2007, 01:29 PM	#5
slitwin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 119	Not sure exactly. I think it is string algae or something like that. It is growing on my rocks. The snails and crabs don't seem to do much about it.

06/25/2007, 01:32 PM	#7
slitwin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 119	Yeah, that could be it. It is long and stringy and is overtaking my rocks.

06/25/2007, 01:36 PM	#9
slitwin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 119	I will have to take a picture tonight and post it then. Can you tell me if a Hippo Tang would be good in there. I have read both good and bad about them. I'm not sure the tank is big enough. I don't have any other fish in the tank at this time.

06/25/2007, 11:49 PM	#10
smac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Orange , CA Posts: 70	What is your light cycle like? You could consider reducing the amount of time the lights are on.

06/26/2007, 12:27 AM	#12
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	I had hair algae before. I scrubbed the big pieces with a tooth brush and added blue leg hermits to eat the rest. Also watch your feedings. It sounds like you might be feeding too much and have excess laying around. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

06/26/2007, 08:05 AM	#13
slitwin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 119	yeah, I cut the lights back to about 4 hours a day from 12 and I am planning on putting some PhosBan in my refugium to pull the nutrients. What do you guys think of that cheato stuff?