Destined for algae outbreak?

chirojosh · 09/02/2007, 11:33 AM

I have a 100g Fowlr. I planned on doing a snowflake and a picasso trigger. I was told that without a tang or heavy cleanup crew that I would be battling various algae outbreaks all the time. He said Id be better off with a yellow tang and other community fish, plus a cleanup crew. I dont want to get into fuges etc, and think plants in a main tank are fugly(to freshwater looking). Thoughts?

six.line · 09/02/2007, 12:57 PM

A cleanup crew is a great thing to have, even in a FOWLR. I'd go ahead and at least get a team of snails (astreas, ceriths, and turbos to be exact.)

A yellow tang does not control algae outbreaks. You control it at the source; don't introduce too much extra in terms of nutrients for algae to feed on. There's always going to be acceptable levels, but overfeeding, overstocking, never doing water changes, not skimming and similar things will most likely result in an algae bloom.

Do the opposite and you'll be fine.

chirojosh · 09/02/2007, 02:17 PM

What if I just do the eel and the trigger. I wouldnt be able to have much of a cleanup crew, maybe a few snails. So If I dont over feed and I have a decent skimmer, with the trigger and eel, I shouldn't have that ugly algae all over. I also thought that the tangs feed on algae on the rock, and thus help reduce algae.

six.line · 09/02/2007, 02:24 PM

I doubt you'd even need a skimmer unless you wanted one for a possible change from FOWLR to reef.

Yeah, I'd go with like 50 astreas and do more if needed.

While tangs are known to pick at algae, and they really like to, they're not really a good means of controlling algae. Snails, on the other hand, are like cows and are constantly munching. On top of that, tangs can be picky as to what kind of algae they'll eat. Snails, for the most part, will pick apart just about anything.

Aquarist007 · 09/02/2007, 02:49 PM

IMO a protein skimmer is a must---its going to be too easy for you to accumulated uneaten food--which is the biggest contributor to algae blooms.
You might also consider getting a phosban reactor and running phosban--cheap investment --40 dollars.
I have two--in the other I run charcoal--which can absorb some organics from the water

chirojosh · 09/02/2007, 02:57 PM

already have a skimmer, a tunze 9010, which should be more than enough for a 75g. I have a RO/DI unit. Also have an AC110 power filter I was going to put some purigen in, not sure if that would help or not. Im actually debating on turning a 29g into a refug, looking into how difficult that woule be. I will pray for no fugly algae

Aquarist007 · 09/02/2007, 03:05 PM

your looking good then--you just have to watch your feeding---a little a little more often

johndawg · 09/02/2007, 03:15 PM

all tanks go through cycles, which include algae outbreaks. In my opinion, it is inevitable as you add critters to your system. The goal is to make sure you offset all this with good maintenance, including water changes.
John

09/02/2007, 11:33 AM	#1
chirojosh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 229	Destined for algae outbreak? I have a 100g Fowlr. I planned on doing a snowflake and a picasso trigger. I was told that without a tang or heavy cleanup crew that I would be battling various algae outbreaks all the time. He said Id be better off with a yellow tang and other community fish, plus a cleanup crew. I dont want to get into fuges etc, and think plants in a main tank are fugly(to freshwater looking). Thoughts?

09/02/2007, 12:57 PM	#2
six.line Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 775	A cleanup crew is a great thing to have, even in a FOWLR. I'd go ahead and at least get a team of snails (astreas, ceriths, and turbos to be exact.) A yellow tang does not control algae outbreaks. You control it at the source; don't introduce too much extra in terms of nutrients for algae to feed on. There's always going to be acceptable levels, but overfeeding, overstocking, never doing water changes, not skimming and similar things will most likely result in an algae bloom. Do the opposite and you'll be fine. __________________ This post approved by Mrs. Sixline. assign <= six.line(#FFFFFF && string("nerdy")) Current Tank Info: 30 gallon with 10 gallon sump

09/02/2007, 02:24 PM	#4
six.line Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 775	I doubt you'd even need a skimmer unless you wanted one for a possible change from FOWLR to reef. Yeah, I'd go with like 50 astreas and do more if needed. While tangs are known to pick at algae, and they really like to, they're not really a good means of controlling algae. Snails, on the other hand, are like cows and are constantly munching. On top of that, tangs can be picky as to what kind of algae they'll eat. Snails, for the most part, will pick apart just about anything. __________________ This post approved by Mrs. Sixline. assign <= six.line(#FFFFFF && string("nerdy")) Current Tank Info: 30 gallon with 10 gallon sump

09/02/2007, 02:49 PM	#5
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	IMO a protein skimmer is a must---its going to be too easy for you to accumulated uneaten food--which is the biggest contributor to algae blooms. You might also consider getting a phosban reactor and running phosban--cheap investment --40 dollars. I have two--in the other I run charcoal--which can absorb some organics from the water __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

09/02/2007, 03:05 PM	#7
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	your looking good then--you just have to watch your feeding---a little a little more often __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

09/02/2007, 02:17 PM	#3
chirojosh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 229	What if I just do the eel and the trigger. I wouldnt be able to have much of a cleanup crew, maybe a few snails. So If I dont over feed and I have a decent skimmer, with the trigger and eel, I shouldn't have that ugly algae all over. I also thought that the tangs feed on algae on the rock, and thus help reduce algae.

09/02/2007, 02:57 PM	#6
chirojosh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 229	already have a skimmer, a tunze 9010, which should be more than enough for a 75g. I have a RO/DI unit. Also have an AC110 power filter I was going to put some purigen in, not sure if that would help or not. Im actually debating on turning a 29g into a refug, looking into how difficult that woule be. I will pray for no fugly algae

09/02/2007, 03:15 PM	#8
johndawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Hudson, OH Posts: 928	all tanks go through cycles, which include algae outbreaks. In my opinion, it is inevitable as you add critters to your system. The goal is to make sure you offset all this with good maintenance, including water changes. John