Things that go away on their own

[Paul B]

It seems that there are so many people in this hobby that are stressed every time they see something either growing or just appearing in their tanks.
I figured I would post things that over the years just went away with no help from me.
Hair algae.
I have no idea when I took this picture but it must have been at least 15 years ago. That fireclown is stil with me and he is almost 18 now, but look at all the hair algae. The fish and corals were in great shape, but the tank looked horrible. It left on it's own like it always does

About 2 years ago I had so many flatworms that I could not find any rock that was not covered in them. Everyone was urgeing me to use "Flatworm Exit"
IN about 6 months, every one of them disappeared. I didn't use anything.
Last year I noticed one tiny spot of this bubble algae. Everyone said I had to remove it immediately or it would cover everything in the tank and the tank would crash.
Much of it has died off and it is only on a couple of rocks. I like the stuff and think it is interesting.

 

[Og Drogon]

+1
I was one of those people lol, now I give the tank time to deal with those "pop up" stuff..... And most of the time it corrects it's self.

 

[strgazr27]

Although it has worked for you it doesn't always go that way Lol.

As far as the flatworm issue, if you had AEFW's and had no Acro's in the tank than they would naturally die off over time from lack of food.

I agree sometimes we jump the gun but most times it is really for the good of the tank and it's inhabitants.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Annoying reefers (T that means you)....:joke:

 

[bizzarro]

Unfortunately HA doesn't go away on their own that quickly to not have to worry about it.

 

[Paul B]

Unfortunately HA doesn't go away on their own that quickly to not have to worry about it.

OK, things that go away for me that I don't have to worry about.

 

[MIKE NY]

I think I have had almost every pest known to reefing over the years from excessive algaes to Sea Spiders and I agree with Paul many things have just been a cycle and left alone, but I do take some preventive measures now so hopefully they don't happen again... like watching nutriant levels better etc... , but for some pests like red bugs and flatworms I actually had to directly take care of. The red bugs I had to do the interceptor treatments and the flatworms, although I didn't use flatworm exist or any meds, I did add a few more wrasses and watched my iodine levels...I was dosing at the time to achieve better pink coloration and I've read that excessive iodine contributes to the growth in population of flatworms..once I stopped dosing, added the wrasses and dip everything I haven't seen them again....

 

[Paul B]

Hi Mike:smile:
If you keep a tank long enough you will see cycles of everything. Most tanks are only a few years old so you don't see this stuff. I used to get cycles of hair algae every few years and they would last a year or so. Now I aded an algae trough or scrubber and I don't get hardly any HA.
even if I did, I would not do anything to the water to eliminate it. I know it is actually a healthy thing and it will only hurt corals if it shields them from light, and we don't like the way it looks, but it grows on every healthy reef in the sea. I just let it grow until it exhausts the nutrients, limit feeding and don't change the water, then it will die, yes it will, and I suck out the dead algae before it rots.
See the picture I posted with the hair algae? The corals are perfect.
You can get crazy and add vodka, sea hares, snails, crabs, tangs algae bleenies slugs or grenades and it will still disappear on it's own.
Don't believe me do you? OK then buy those animals, they are interesting.

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

+1
I was one of those people lol, now I give the tank time to deal with those "pop up" stuff..... And most of the time it corrects it's self.

same =(

 

[irvp13]

I agree. I've had algea blooms that go away mostly by them selves. I just cut down a little bit on the feeding, suck some of it when doing maintenance and after a few weeks or even months the algea is gone.

 

[Paul B]

and after a few weeks or even months the algea is gone.

How about that. But most people will not believe that and will add all sorts of things.
I guess it is good for the economy

 

[Nomadic1]

I've never seen aiptasia disappear on its own, or mojanos or hydroids.

 

[Paul B]

I've never seen aiptasia disappear on its own, or mojanos or hydroids.

Thats why I did not mention those things. I only mentioned things that have disappeared on their own "In my tank"