Fish only & algae...

[Jenn]

My predator tank has to be wiped clean of algae @ least once a week and I have searched long and hard for a solution. Also have tried large hermits and snails, only to unfortunately wind up on the menu. I hope someone has the answer to question #2.

[Jenn]

Yea, about 50 lbs. of LR, and the algae is green and brown.

[Henry]

Josh what fish were you going to keep. I had a FO, and had turbos in there and some small crabs. I had live rock and sand and a seaclone. I also had just regular fluorescent lights on it. I think that had a lot to do with the reduced algae growth.

[Tim Marvin]

Fish eat algea mixed in with the food. Algea has spores. Fish poop is fertilizer. Poof! Bloom.

[robertpower3]

Josh I used to use algae fix in fish only systems for over a couple years. It did not harm any of the invertebrates. The only negative affect it had was on the corraline algae. I used for hair alge and that green slime algae and it worked like a charm.

[kaiser]

No beating around the bush on that one. LOL

[Tim Marvin]

Only if you don't feed them afterwards.

[Tim Marvin]

To be honest I have mixed IO and put it in a tub in the back yard and had an algea bloom????

[kaiser]

Joshua,
if You are interested I have some really coarse coral substrate. It's about 45lbs or a full 5gal bucket. Should be good for a FO.

[Tim Marvin]

If you want to do something really interesting put your water change in a bucket with an airstone in direct sunlight and watch what grows...

[robertpower3]

I used to get it from aqua dome when i lived in central austin. It is used for fresh water but Gary recommended it to me up there a while back. i dosed it the same as the instructions for fresh water.

[matt]

Josh;

I think you need spiny urchins like diadema. They'll help with the algae and I don't think your fish can get 'em. Am I right about that, or do fish somehow get around the spines?

[GaryP]

Algae can be airborne. Poof you have a bloom.

[Tim Marvin]

Triggers eat them. I do have a large one though if you want it.

[Tim Marvin]

I'll keep it. It is about the size of the small soccer balls from tip to tip. If you are useing large limestone you could probably put in a few different types of urchins and just suppliment feeding.

[prof]

Let the tank cycle. Let the algae bloom run its course. Increase your Ph. Do consistent water changes. DO NOT run any sponge, or filter pads. They just create food and a breeding ground for algae.

I don't like treating for algae. I think most quick fixes won't last because you are not getting rid of the root cause of the algae.

[Bigreefer]

I have margarita snails and those dime size white star fish in my trigger tank . The hermits didn't last too long but the snails and stars are doing good.

I have a clown, huma, and a tomato clown in a 48.

Jason

[ratboy]

I would recommend a couple of urchins but a trigger will make short work of any urchin regardless of size. They will first flip them with a blast of water from their mouths then eat them starting with the softer underside of the urchin. I would use minimal lighting to not encourage algae growth and probably add kalk to keep pH higher and promote coraline growth. Just because you use limestone doesnt mean you cant have coraline algae. When my 55 at work was a preadator tank I had 90% limestone with a few small pieces of LR. The limestone was (and still is) totally pink w/ coraline.

[witecap4u]

Come on Josh,

You cant have an agressive tank without a trigger.... :scold:

cs

[captexas]

I agree, there are some pretty triggers out there and a FO aggressive tank should definately have a trigger in it. :-)

[Tim Marvin]

I gave a clown trigger to Jim that will eat anything. Snails, hermits, small fish, fingers, and anything else you put in there. Be wary of triggers, or at least know what to expect.

[Jenn]

Josh, I encourage you to get triggers if you are looking for that type of tank. I have the clown and humu-humu and they are the coolest and have tons of personality. I put my arm in to clean and they do go after it, but you just go after them instead. I consider it "play", but I'm sure thats not what they are thinking! The only other fish I have in there is a mean damsel to grab the little pieces, and a lion thats about 10" when fins are spread - he rules the tank and they know it! Hope this helps.

[MikeP]

If you want to keep a lion dont get a trigger, those flowing fins can get nipped fast by many triggers, may be able to get away with one of the Xanthicthys triggers (Bluejaw, Sargasum etc) but a picasso / clown would be bad.

If no triggers then you could get a few urchins, also a few of those golfball sized turbos would probably be ok, would be worth trying - if you don't have corals to worrk about them knocking over they are awesome for algae control (one of mine helped me frag my red montipora digitata today!)

[Jenn]

Wow, I feel lucky and I guess my lion should too. His fins are so long an absolutely flawless. Never thought about that.