Not new, but new to algae...
- Thread starter jcm1229
- Start date
Since this is a new setup (2 weeks), I have added 5 nassarius snails, 1 cerith, and 5 small blue leg hermits from my other tank. I also have added 2 scoops of sand which may have included other animals.
I also have a few scarlet hermits, astrea and trochus snails in my other tank.
I also have a few scarlet hermits, astrea and trochus snails in my other tank.
I have the same problem with the algea. I tried to scrub it off but when I put the rocks back in the tank 3 weeks later it all comes back again. I have no fish in my tank. I was thinking of getting a sailfin tang and more snails. My tank is 10 months old. I have a 150 gal. with two 250w 10k. I too would like to know how to battle this algea.
Both the red and green forms of algae I see in your photos are not "bad" micros. They are actually beneficial, and a great eed algae for a refugium. The best solution to these is either a mithrax or two, or a small yellow tang. Of the two, I'd go with the mithrax (emerald) crab.
If the algae is too coarse, the hermits won't touch it. The snails really prefer film algae on the glass, but will reluctantly go after hairlike algae when hungry.
Nassarius snails are carnivorous. They will not touch algae, unless it smells like fish food. Nassis are great sand stirrers though and a good addition to any tank, albeit not long lived.
I would avoid sally lightfoots. They will eventually outgrow the tank, get too hungry, and start ripping nibblets of corals.
If the algae is too coarse, the hermits won't touch it. The snails really prefer film algae on the glass, but will reluctantly go after hairlike algae when hungry.
Nassarius snails are carnivorous. They will not touch algae, unless it smells like fish food. Nassis are great sand stirrers though and a good addition to any tank, albeit not long lived.
I would avoid sally lightfoots. They will eventually outgrow the tank, get too hungry, and start ripping nibblets of corals.
SPC,
Personnal observation. As with all things, tank to tank variations may account for one person's luck and another's failure.
The Nassarius snails are a fairly active snail when the scent of food is in the water. They seek out dead animal stuff that sinks down to the sand and congregate and consume, kinda like carion beetles.
In a tank, there usually isn't enough food for them in the substrate. So they bury in and extend their proboscus and sniff for food.
I think they don't live very long due to starvation and the fact that faster critters out-compete them at feeding time. One way to help them out is to feed sinking pellets every other day or so, not alot, to ensure food hits the bottom where they feed.
In my case, brittle/serpeant stars, shrimp and mithrax are just quicker out of the blocks when I feed.
Personnal observation. As with all things, tank to tank variations may account for one person's luck and another's failure.
The Nassarius snails are a fairly active snail when the scent of food is in the water. They seek out dead animal stuff that sinks down to the sand and congregate and consume, kinda like carion beetles.
In a tank, there usually isn't enough food for them in the substrate. So they bury in and extend their proboscus and sniff for food.
I think they don't live very long due to starvation and the fact that faster critters out-compete them at feeding time. One way to help them out is to feed sinking pellets every other day or so, not alot, to ensure food hits the bottom where they feed.
In my case, brittle/serpeant stars, shrimp and mithrax are just quicker out of the blocks when I feed.
I wish I had your algae problem. As stated above that algae is beneficial. They are commonly found in lagoons along with soft corals. They remove many of your unwanted nutrients. As they grow prune them as a form of nutrient export. Snails may help a little and may eat the old which leaves room for the new. If you have a refuge or plan to get one that would be a great place for that rock. Again, I would not worry, they are not cyano, diatoms, bubble, or even hair algae.
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