Algae vs. CUC...it's a draw

wurking_girl · 02/07/2013, 05:15 PM

I've had a clean up crew of mixed snails, serpent starfish, shrimp, two tiny scarlet hermits, and one long-spined urchin in my tank for a couple of months now. At the time I put them in, my diatom bloom was pretty much over but I was starting to get a film of algae on the tank walls as well as some on the sand/rocks. My LFS guy advised me not to bother scraping the walls - 'Let the CUC take care of it - that's what they're for...' So, I cleaned the front wall, put in the snails, and left them to it.

As I said, it's been about 10 weeks now, and I have to say that the algae is still holding its own on the walls, and it's starting to accumulate on the rocks, too. My question: is it possible to achieve a balance where the CUC can keep the tank tidy but won't starve from lack of nutrition? I have probably 30 algae-eating snails in there now (in addition to some Nassarius) - I could add more, but I don't really want to put more snails in there than the tank will ultimately be able to support.

I avoided 'turbos' as I've heard they can be tough on rockwork and corals when they get larger, but I've got a mix of everything else. I don't see many of them on the tank walls, though - and they really don't seem fond of the strands of algae growing on the rocks. Would a turbo make a difference?

Now that I have a couple of fish in there as well, I am going to start running GFO - the reactor just arrived today - so that should make a difference in the future...my nitrates are staying between 0-0.2, but phosphate has been high.

Anyway, just wondering if my dreams of a natural balance are possible, or if I need to get in there and do some scraping myself to let the crew catch up? Am I asking too much of too few snails and one lone urchin?

Squidmotron · 02/07/2013, 06:00 PM

My CUC is a bunch of lazy good for nothings. Invariably there is always a film.

nynick · 02/07/2013, 06:15 PM

10 weeks isn't very long in a reef, once you get good Coralline growth it will start to win out over other algae but it is not a fast grower by algae standards. Be happy the critters stay on the rocks, glass = easy to clean, rocks = not easy to clean

For most things that form strands you will need cutting power, urchins or Turbos work well but don't expect the Turbos to live long. They are not a tropical species so they might last a year but while they last they plow. I find Tuxedo Urchins to be great and they also do not "redecorate" your tank as much as other urchins.

Since you mentioned balance, have you considered Dwarf Ceriths? THey are tiny, night active and breed in the tank. THey will self adjust their numbers to your algae growth...they are cheap too usually....IF you can find them. ALso nice to not have some giant Turbo's butt in the middle of your front glass. You don't see them much at day time but at lights out they are everywhere by the hundreds.

HUNTER1 · 02/07/2013, 06:52 PM

You clean the glass so the cuc can concentrate on the algae on rocks or sand.

philosophile · 02/07/2013, 10:04 PM

manual removal of Green hair also goes a long way.

NeilFox · 02/07/2013, 10:07 PM

The best snails for cleaning glass are astea tectas if you can find them. You need alot though. Turbos are too big and clumsy and not nearly as efficient. Alot of these other snails I've seen for sail as part of a CUC are basically detritivores and essentially useless. No reason not to clean the glass though.

wurking_girl · 02/10/2013, 09:38 PM

Thanks, all. I do have astreas - but only about 10. Some of them are collecting a nice shell-full of algae as well! :-) I also do have a bunch of dwarf ceriths - forgot to include them in the total (so teeny...easy to forget...but glad to hear they are a plus). I think I'll clean the glass and give the GFO some time to work before I decide whether or not to get a turbo.

nynick · 02/10/2013, 10:21 PM

DDwarf Ceriths aren't just a plus, they ROCK!

If you ever come across them from another hobbyist, Colonista Snails are even smaller and also amazing, night active and breeds in tank. Smaller is better imo, they can fit into tiny spaces and really clean.

Also, stuff that hides during the day is less likely to find the smooth confy glass and stay there (for MONTHS!!!!) while your rocks turn greener and greener.

02/07/2013, 05:15 PM	#1
wurking_girl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 68	Algae vs. CUC...it's a draw I've had a clean up crew of mixed snails, serpent starfish, shrimp, two tiny scarlet hermits, and one long-spined urchin in my tank for a couple of months now. At the time I put them in, my diatom bloom was pretty much over but I was starting to get a film of algae on the tank walls as well as some on the sand/rocks. My LFS guy advised me not to bother scraping the walls - 'Let the CUC take care of it - that's what they're for...' So, I cleaned the front wall, put in the snails, and left them to it. As I said, it's been about 10 weeks now, and I have to say that the algae is still holding its own on the walls, and it's starting to accumulate on the rocks, too. My question: is it possible to achieve a balance where the CUC can keep the tank tidy but won't starve from lack of nutrition? I have probably 30 algae-eating snails in there now (in addition to some Nassarius) - I could add more, but I don't really want to put more snails in there than the tank will ultimately be able to support. I avoided 'turbos' as I've heard they can be tough on rockwork and corals when they get larger, but I've got a mix of everything else. I don't see many of them on the tank walls, though - and they really don't seem fond of the strands of algae growing on the rocks. Would a turbo make a difference? Now that I have a couple of fish in there as well, I am going to start running GFO - the reactor just arrived today - so that should make a difference in the future...my nitrates are staying between 0-0.2, but phosphate has been high. Anyway, just wondering if my dreams of a natural balance are possible, or if I need to get in there and do some scraping myself to let the crew catch up? Am I asking too much of too few snails and one lone urchin? __________________ 120 gal acrylic tank - 48x24x24; Sfiligoi Genesis LEDs; 100 lbs Fiji live rock/1-2" Fiji Pink; sump/refugium; ReeFlo Barracuda return; Tunze wavemaker; INS135 skimmer; Apex controller

02/07/2013, 06:00 PM	#2
Squidmotron Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 675	My CUC is a bunch of lazy good for nothings. Invariably there is always a film. __________________ .................................................. Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon "Mixed Reef" Tank (84 inches wide)

02/07/2013, 10:04 PM	#5
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	manual removal of Green hair also goes a long way. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

02/10/2013, 09:38 PM	#7
wurking_girl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 68	Thanks, all. I do have astreas - but only about 10. Some of them are collecting a nice shell-full of algae as well! :-) I also do have a bunch of dwarf ceriths - forgot to include them in the total (so teeny...easy to forget...but glad to hear they are a plus). I think I'll clean the glass and give the GFO some time to work before I decide whether or not to get a turbo. __________________ 120 gal acrylic tank - 48x24x24; Sfiligoi Genesis LEDs; 100 lbs Fiji live rock/1-2" Fiji Pink; sump/refugium; ReeFlo Barracuda return; Tunze wavemaker; INS135 skimmer; Apex controller

02/07/2013, 06:15 PM	#3
nynick Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,029	10 weeks isn't very long in a reef, once you get good Coralline growth it will start to win out over other algae but it is not a fast grower by algae standards. Be happy the critters stay on the rocks, glass = easy to clean, rocks = not easy to clean For most things that form strands you will need cutting power, urchins or Turbos work well but don't expect the Turbos to live long. They are not a tropical species so they might last a year but while they last they plow. I find Tuxedo Urchins to be great and they also do not "redecorate" your tank as much as other urchins. Since you mentioned balance, have you considered Dwarf Ceriths? THey are tiny, night active and breed in the tank. THey will self adjust their numbers to your algae growth...they are cheap too usually....IF you can find them. ALso nice to not have some giant Turbo's butt in the middle of your front glass. You don't see them much at day time but at lights out they are everywhere by the hundreds.

02/07/2013, 06:52 PM	#4
HUNTER1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,044	You clean the glass so the cuc can concentrate on the algae on rocks or sand.

02/07/2013, 10:07 PM	#6
NeilFox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: DuPont, WA Posts: 947	The best snails for cleaning glass are astea tectas if you can find them. You need alot though. Turbos are too big and clumsy and not nearly as efficient. Alot of these other snails I've seen for sail as part of a CUC are basically detritivores and essentially useless. No reason not to clean the glass though.

02/10/2013, 10:21 PM	#8
nynick Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,029	DDwarf Ceriths aren't just a plus, they ROCK! If you ever come across them from another hobbyist, Colonista Snails are even smaller and also amazing, night active and breeds in tank. Smaller is better imo, they can fit into tiny spaces and really clean. Also, stuff that hides during the day is less likely to find the smooth confy glass and stay there (for MONTHS!!!!) while your rocks turn greener and greener.