Need algae eater

Bodhisattva · 03/22/2006, 02:05 AM

I've got about a one month old 10 gal tank right now. The tank is in my dorm room and being that I have nothing that requires care at the moment so I put my light on a timer and left it for a week.

When I came back I was expecting a good deal of algae growth but not this much.

The red algae I got from a friends tank which it was currently overgrowing.

So anyway I really need something that will eat the green algae.

I'm looking preferably for a fish that will fit into and coexist a 10gal which is also going to have 2 false percs and a bubble tip.

jeffb3t · 03/22/2006, 02:14 AM

Sounds like you need some hermits and snails. Lawnmower blennies are are great choice too.

jeffb3t · 03/22/2006, 02:17 AM

Btw, Are you using RO water? You have quite a bit of hair algae and if you are using tap water, it will fuel it quite a bit. Your tank is also new so it will take some time to stablize.

Bodhisattva · 03/22/2006, 02:28 AM

I'm using DI water I get from the Biology building.

Also I added 4 hermit crabs tonight.

jeffb3t · 03/22/2006, 04:13 AM

I would also add a lawnmower blennie to assist but do watch out for your bioload. After a while your tank will stabilize and things wil look better.

a4twenty · 03/22/2006, 05:09 AM

go with the snails and crabs and let the tank run it's course. you wouldn't want to put to many fish in a 10G

sassyfishy · 03/22/2006, 06:41 AM

I think you're going to have to trim that hair algae down to about the 1/8" - 1/4" mark before anything will eat it.

bjonesjr1 · 03/22/2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sassyfishy
I think you're going to have to trim that hair algae down to about the 1/8" - 1/4" mark before anything will eat it.

I agree... Help the critters out by cutting some away first

hmott · 03/22/2006, 09:42 AM

big turbo snails will eat it even at its current length. Not the little ones but the big golf ball sized ones will.

Sk8r · 03/22/2006, 10:08 AM

And watch it when the cleaning crew starts clipping it off at the roots and letting it float: it'll go for filters, screens, teeth, and other places it can stop things up. Before you add water to make up a deficit (while you have hair algae) check to make sure there's no blockage of any intake, or when you do clean it (a new toothbrush works wonders on filter teeth and other spots, and a good wrist technique can snag it in mid float) be sure the water doesn't start rising somewhere else. I had a bit of a flood due to topping off while something was blocked.

03/22/2006, 02:05 AM	#1
Bodhisattva Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 5	Need algae eater I've got about a one month old 10 gal tank right now. The tank is in my dorm room and being that I have nothing that requires care at the moment so I put my light on a timer and left it for a week. When I came back I was expecting a good deal of algae growth but not this much. The red algae I got from a friends tank which it was currently overgrowing. So anyway I really need something that will eat the green algae. I'm looking preferably for a fish that will fit into and coexist a 10gal which is also going to have 2 false percs and a bubble tip.

03/22/2006, 10:08 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	And watch it when the cleaning crew starts clipping it off at the roots and letting it float: it'll go for filters, screens, teeth, and other places it can stop things up. Before you add water to make up a deficit (while you have hair algae) check to make sure there's no blockage of any intake, or when you do clean it (a new toothbrush works wonders on filter teeth and other spots, and a good wrist technique can snag it in mid float) be sure the water doesn't start rising somewhere else. I had a bit of a flood due to topping off while something was blocked. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/22/2006, 02:14 AM	#2
jeffb3t Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 1,327	Sounds like you need some hermits and snails. Lawnmower blennies are are great choice too.

03/22/2006, 02:17 AM	#3
jeffb3t Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 1,327	Btw, Are you using RO water? You have quite a bit of hair algae and if you are using tap water, it will fuel it quite a bit. Your tank is also new so it will take some time to stablize.

03/22/2006, 02:28 AM	#4
Bodhisattva Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 5	I'm using DI water I get from the Biology building. Also I added 4 hermit crabs tonight.

03/22/2006, 04:13 AM	#5
jeffb3t Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 1,327	I would also add a lawnmower blennie to assist but do watch out for your bioload. After a while your tank will stabilize and things wil look better.

03/22/2006, 05:09 AM	#6
a4twenty Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,603	go with the snails and crabs and let the tank run it's course. you wouldn't want to put to many fish in a 10G

03/22/2006, 06:41 AM	#7
sassyfishy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 118	I think you're going to have to trim that hair algae down to about the 1/8" - 1/4" mark before anything will eat it.

03/22/2006, 09:42 AM	#9
hmott Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belpre Ohio Posts: 470	big turbo snails will eat it even at its current length. Not the little ones but the big golf ball sized ones will.