Red bubble algae and bristle worms and snails?

[ackelley]

I have set up a tank for about a month know and I started to grow the red bubble algae. Not shore if I should remove it or let it be or what I should do. I also have found some bristle worms and have been picking them off the live rock I got by the droves. I have gotten some that are up to 3 inches in length off of them. I have also had a small amount of trouble with snails. I got 9 of the margarita snails and 5 nassarius snails I am losing 1 margarita a week just about they seem to just stop moving and fall of the glass or rocks every few hours. They appear to attempt to open up and move again but never do just lift themselves up a little and fall back down. The nassarius snails are doing great though they are very active and seem to do well. Any ideas or comments?

[GaryP]

Red Algae - remove by hand or with a siphon tube when doing a water change. Remember that if the bubble is ruptured they will release spores into the water. That's why I like the siphon method. I just puncture the bubble and suck the spores out.

Bristle worms - They are good detritivores. If you have overrun with them, it could be because you are overfeeding. Try feeding less food, more often to reduce the amount of uneaten food that is falling to the bottom. The excess food in turn could also account for the nutrients that are feeding the bubble algae. A wrasse will probably help keep them under control, but only as needed. The bristle worms are also competing for food with the nassarius. They are both detritivores.

Margarita Snails - I have never had a lot of luck with them either. I prefer Astrea, Cerith, and Nerite snails.

[betiuminside]

If the tank is 1month old, have you check for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates?
In other words, have the tank cycled??
Readings?
It is a brand new aquiarium... so...Maybe something is out of balance still.

[ackelley]

I have checked for all and nada on NH4 and nada on N02 and a little on the N03 but the mangrove plants and the seaweed I have is taking care of that along with weekly water changes so its going down slowly I also have one fish, 1 zoo frag, 2 mushroom frags and a large zoo rock and they are doing great lots of color and are very vibrant have had them in tank for about 2 weeks know. I built my own filter with a 30 gal aquarium and some acrylic “Filipe said it was a huge filter for a 55 gal tank” and I have a 10 gal with the mangroves and seaweed. I have a protein skimmer but it was missing the pump when I bought it so still trying to get that going. Other than that the diatom bloom has ebbed and the tank is clear. Ow sand bed is about 1 and a half inches deep. I use Kent salt also.

[GaryP]

Ah hah!!!!

Get the skimmer working ASAP.

[safeuerwehr]

diddo on the skimmer it makes a big difference when it comes to algae

[GaryP]

Skimmer = nutrient export
No skimmer = No nutrient export
No nutrient export = High Nutrients
High Nutrients = Nuisance Algae Growth

therefore

No Skimmer = Nuisance Algae Growth

[ackelley]

I have a skimmer lol. When I bought it they didn’t put the pump in the box lol. So I have been trying to get the pump. So it will work lol. I got the coralife super skimmer 125gal.

[GaryP]

Non functioning skimmer = no skimmer

[betiuminside]

LOL

[z28pwr]

Non functioning skimmer = no skimmer

I love it when Gary get's technical :D

J/K Gary.

[ackelley]

lol yah it = an expensive plastic tube

[GaryP]

I have been accused of being long winded. I'm working on it. :)

[acrofreak]

^^^^ what they said :)