Algae Question

caldel · 04/25/2006, 08:01 AM

I added a blenny and 5 large turbo snails to my tank 1 week ago. They stripped the rock and glass CLEAN. Can there be too LITTLE algea for a healthy reef tank???

Avi · 04/25/2006, 08:43 AM

What you have is what you want....The only problem with having little algae in your reef is that vegetable eating fish may not derive sufficient nutrition from the food you put into the tank for them unless you use something chiefly vegetative like nori, spirulina, etc. Even though your reef looks completely clear of algae, there most likely is some growing because it's almost impossible to completely irradicate it. But, so long as you don't see it and so long as you put something in for the Blenny to subsist on, you're in good shape.

sttroyiii · 04/25/2006, 01:40 PM

I didnt realize I needed to give my lawnmower blenny some nori after he took care of the hair algae. I thought the regular algae that goes on the glass and rocks would be ok too. Apparently its not, as he died. Then I found out about nori. The snails lived through it all because they eat more than just greens, and they can scrape the glass unlike the blenny. Just saying that in case yours is a LMB. I think other blennies are less particular.

Mike and Tori · 04/25/2006, 09:44 PM

Mine loves to sit on the clip and eat the seaweed all day long.

04/25/2006, 08:01 AM	#1
caldel Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: corona ca Posts: 46	Algae Question I added a blenny and 5 large turbo snails to my tank 1 week ago. They stripped the rock and glass CLEAN. Can there be too LITTLE algea for a healthy reef tank???

04/25/2006, 08:43 AM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	What you have is what you want....The only problem with having little algae in your reef is that vegetable eating fish may not derive sufficient nutrition from the food you put into the tank for them unless you use something chiefly vegetative like nori, spirulina, etc. Even though your reef looks completely clear of algae, there most likely is some growing because it's almost impossible to completely irradicate it. But, so long as you don't see it and so long as you put something in for the Blenny to subsist on, you're in good shape. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/25/2006, 01:40 PM	#3
sttroyiii Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 378	I didnt realize I needed to give my lawnmower blenny some nori after he took care of the hair algae. I thought the regular algae that goes on the glass and rocks would be ok too. Apparently its not, as he died. Then I found out about nori. The snails lived through it all because they eat more than just greens, and they can scrape the glass unlike the blenny. Just saying that in case yours is a LMB. I think other blennies are less particular.

04/25/2006, 09:44 PM	#4
Mike and Tori Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 50	Mine loves to sit on the clip and eat the seaweed all day long.