algae in salt water aquarium?

Question

hey everyone, need some help again, im getting some hair algae in my tank and need to do something before it gets out of control, my problem is its a very aggressive tank with a clown trigger, a humu trigger, and a spotted puffer so the crabs and snails are outta the question, any ideas??? i would really like to stay away from chemicals if possible

ya i plan on adding about a hundred of the small black snails (know what they are but cant spell it), i did that before and it lasted awhile, i think i will try the blenny also since some of the algae is on the rock, i haven't thought about turning the lights off for so long but i might try that as well, what about feeding with the lights off??? i have also read that turning the lights off for about an hour in the middle of the time that their on helps also, i have an RO system that i use for make up water and for 15% bi-weekly water changes, use instant ocean salt, and kent calcium, strontium and a reef complete blend so i dont think phosphates would be the problem

used phosphate pads for awhile and didnt like them, currently running whisper 60 filter that has the carbon media in it, and a CPR bak-pak2 skimmer, not sure about plumbing in a refugium just yet though, i will look into the fish mentioned here since i have been wanting to add to my tank for a little bit anyways, just a side note though, i do a 20 gallon water change on the first of each month, what is everones thought on doing 5 gallons a week say on sunday instead???

Answer 1

algae eater?

Answer 2

Depending on the size of your fish, a blenny might be attacked as well. Turning off the lights only means the ones on the tank - you could still have other lights on in the room (just not directly over or by the tank), or have a curtain open as long as sunlight doesn't fall on the tank. This should give the fish enough light that they can see to eat and still have a sense of day and night.

Another possible option is to set up a small second tank (10 gallons or so) with heater and filter, and keep snails, hermit crabs, an emerald crab, or some shrimp that would eat the algae, then rotate the live rock. You can also remove the rock into a tank with just satwater (even old tank water after a water change) and use a soft bristled toothbrush to remove the algae manually. You might want to do this initially anyway, just to knock back the amount your cleaners have to deal with.

Apart from these suggestions, it's a matter of nutrient control. Since you're using RO water, already, any nutrients generates must come from inside the tank (as long as you're changing your RO membrane as needed). You could try using carbon media or resin pads to reduce/remove nitrates and phosphates. A protein skimmer (if you don't already use one) can help remove dissolved proteins before they significantly add to the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate generated from within the tank. Then it's a matter of water changes to keep the nitrates in the tank down.

Answer 3

A Sailfin Tang should help eliminate the hair algae, if your aquarium can house one. You may also try a Longspine Urchin. If you don't already have one, plumbing in a refugium would be very beneficial, along with a good protein skimmer. You can also try leaving the lights off for a day or two every once in a while. And, while it's not as natural of a solution, a PhosBan Reactor, which uses ferric oxide (rust basically) to bind large amounts of phosphate and other organics and pollutants, will work great too.

Regards

Answer 4

Hello. Algae - hair algae specifically, flourish under certain conditions. My best bet is you change the tank ecosystem or your feeding method to reduce if not eradicate undesirable algae altogether.

Quick fixes such as frequent water changes do work but is it sustainable? Finding a sustainable solution is best (unless you enjoy replacing the water so often it becomes more than a chore, it becomes a career).

One good way (and effective) is putting in other macro algae to compete with the undesirable algae. Problem with this is most macro algae go asexual and will kill your tank. One particularly good algae to use (and which almost never go asexual) is chaetomorpha. It's also simple to use. Place in a refugium, light for 10-12 hours a day with a 5500K to 6500K bulb and let water flow through it then you're done. Prune when the refugium gets filled with chaetomorpha. Remember to throw or give the pruned algae. Do not recycle back to your tank.

Chaetomorpha looks like green steel wool.

Good luck.

Answer 5

try a larger lawnmower blenny. They are a great fish and get about 5 inches if i'm not mistaken. They can tend to be territorial but not too much to worry about. check your phospates and nitrates. Cut the lights for 3 days straight even if you have coral they will be okay. I have tried this before and it did not harm any coral. I have heard of people doing this once a month.

Answer 6

There are no other choices that I know of.
Snails are really your only option, if you buy alot of them, and don't mind one or two being eaten every once in a while.