Some interesting stuff I've been reading on food and algae

[Europhyllia]

First this one. I really like it. it's by Borneman.
Here's a quote from it:

When first setting up an aquarium, levels of uptake and decomposition are low. As live rock "cycles," and dead plants and animals decompose, a nutrient spike is seen in all cases. Following this, various algal successions occur, usually in the order of diatoms, cyanobacteria, filamentous algae, and finally crustose coralline algae. Nutrient levels drop over time and the reef becomes a stable low nutrient place. The same process is occurring with increasing food sources to an aquarium. The nutrient levels spike, and various algal successions occur, until a new steady state is reached with a larger number and diversity of life than at the previous level. This process can take time, and food can be slowly increased over longer periods of time, allowing for such development to occur and bring measurable nutrient levels down to previous water column levels. It is my experience that perfectly "obscene" levels of food can be added to well stocked and diverse reef aquariums over time without high nutrient levels in the water column. To be sure, algae growth will also increase even over the long term with the added nutrient inputs, even though measurable levels are low. This is easily countered with the addition of more herbivores. Grazing has been shown to be the primary means of both filamentous and fleshy algae control on reefs.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/eb/index.php

Then there is this one on iron by Holmes-Farley:

The benefit of iron appears to be at least two-fold (and maybe three-fold). The main benefit is that at least some species of macroalgae grow faster, and appear a darker, more attractive green, when the tank is dosed with iron. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, this increased growth permits the macroalgae to be a better nutrient export system. A secondary benefit is that faster growing macroalgae may better compete with microalgae, which is often a source of frustration to reefkeepers.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/8/chemistry

I think that's interesting stuff.

Got reminded of it in the pellet conversation because I thought I had to use the pellets to be able to feed the massive amounts of food I feed my reef and I've been without the pellets for several months now and the reef is looking better than ever -and being fed round the clock pretty much.
No cyano, very few tufts of hair algae.

[CoryDude]

It's amazing how adaptable life is. The rule of thumb used to be that you fed as little as possible. But, after seeing Lorraine's tank, and hearing about yours, I've changed my thinking. I will be adding an automatic feeder to my new setup for 'round the clock feedings.

I've still been toying with adding iron to help my cheato, but have been too scared for fear of causing an algae bloom. Maybe I need to give it a try.

[Europhyllia]

Cory instructions on the Brightwell bottle say NOT to dose iron unless Phosphate is below 0.03 and to not let iron get above 0.2 I think so keeping the phosphates low before starting this might be a way to avoid micro algae troubles while supporting macro.
And test to see what your iron level is now. Both of my tanks had 0.0 on my Seachem iron test kit.

[justahobby]

While the first quote is true .....its also a heavy sugar coating. If it wasn't sweetened up to sound easy as cake then fuges is all anyone would ever need. The reason people have algae outbreaks with an incorporated fuge is one or more are out competing our chaeto or caulerpa. And several caulerpa strands as well as briopsis aren't palatable to most herbivores. So yes your tank will find a way to use up the nutrients that build up, but its not pretty.

[Europhyllia]

So yes your tank will find a way to use up the nutrients that build up, but its not pretty.

Oh I don't know ... I kinda like how mine looks ;)

[Europhyllia]

Oh and keep an eye open for the MARCH TOTM thread. That tank/owner/article will blow you socks off.

Really interesting philosophy and approach, especially in reference to algae and hoe to deal with the bad stuff

[hobogato]

interesting stuff karin. in my tank, i have noticed that the tank seems happier when i dont skimp on the feeding. if i feed less, i see an increase in algae on the glass and cyano on the sand bed.

[justahobby]

Lol, well your scenarios are a little different than most. Both tanks use dry rock/ sand and are pretty new. I suspect other unintended algae spores will be introduced with intended macro and corals. Over time a nutrient build up in the rock and sand may lead to unintended growth. It can be combated with skimming, gfo, WC, calcium binding, etc. but that made it sound like its a hands off process and I disagree.

[Europhyllia]

got ya. ;)

Nothing wrong with skimming, GFO, etc.

I have just a little hair algae (small tufts I guess) and I am already past a little outbreak of Bryosis, cyano is gone too.

What his point was (if I understand it correctly) is that normally as the biological filtration adjusts you go through the usual cyano, brypsis, hair algae cycle.
Did you read Holmes-Farley's article on how he got rid of hair algae by boosting his macro with iron?
I thought that was pretty interesting.

What amazes me is that I put in algae paste daily, 6-7 cubes of frozen. Powdered and freeze dried foods every 4 hours for a duration of 2 hours each. That's a lot IMO.
I can compare that to a ULN system I saw recently and can say mine looks cleaner in regards to algae.
I don't think the 'feed your fish sparingly' is justified anymore.

That's just my opinion of course.

And I wouldn't introduce anything on purpose that I know has no convenient herbivore to go with it (Caulerpa racemosa has no place in my tank)

still...look for the next TOTM thread It's such a fantastic example of where patience can take you even in a really long-term set up and when faced with pests and algae. Truly inspiring.

[justahobby]

Oh yeah. I guess I was looking too hard. I think we all forget from time to time that are tanks are ever changing without even adding new livestock. I always dismissed adding iron for fear of increasing unwanted growth. I look forward to reading all of it.