algea

[phat]

hey guys so i started running my nano almost two weeks ago and now the last two days i have started getting a diatome algea break out on my sand and rock(LS and LR). the lights are only on for four hours a day. any suggestions on how to cure this??

its a 10g tank btw with a dsb and berlin airlift skimmer!!

 

[Illuminati]

This is totally normal. I'd be worried if this didn't happen.

Keep up with (or start) weekly water changes, get a good cleanup crew, etc.....

No need to worry......

 

[sir_dudeguy]

and make sure your nitrates and phosphates are kept in check too. That will feed the algae and make it get out of hand. But like said just before me, this is perfectly normal for a new tank.

 

[phat]

thanks guys!!! for the clean up crew what do you reccomend turbo.s bristle stars and??

 

[sir_dudeguy]

what sized tank? I love cerith snails, but i hate hermit crabs, so i dont recommend hermits.

So i'd say get maybe 1 cerith snail per gallon. Lots of people use more because they're slow eaters (but they get it all), so maybe if you find that they're not cutting it, you could get a few more.

Also, you could get some astrea snails. But tank size would be nice to know.

Turbos...i havent really had much luck with mine eating any algae or anything, but i know many many people do. But then again...mine's been stuck on the powerhead about 10 times in the last 4 months, and is missing a chunk do to it lol...maybe thats got something to do w/it

But if the tank is really small (like a 5 gallon) i dont think i'd get any. They're really clumbsy, and in a small tank you're likely going to have rather small pieces of rock, which turbos are rather good at knocking over. In larger tanks they're fine becuase you put mostly just large rocks.

 

[Illuminati]

I was going to reccomend a few places for you to get a cleanup crew, then noticed your in South Africa

I am the opposite of Sir Dudeguy. I love Hermits but hate Cernith snails. I don't see my cernith snails doing a bit of good, ever.

Turbo's in a 10 gal would be bad. I'd avoid them.

If your going to keep a sandbed get some Nassarius snails.

I just got some Nerite snails, they are o.k., very small.

Also you could get 1 or 2 Margarita snails.

 

[Drewpdog]

I love magarita snails just because of their time MARGARITA FRIDAYS!!! WOOOHOOOOO

 

[Illuminati]

Drewpdog = Boozehound

Note to self don't take any advice from him........... j/k

 

[dime079]

i dont have many probs w/ the turbos in my tank. they do knock over my frags but that doesnt bug me that much. as for the algae, mine took 6 months to go away after setting the tank up so i wouldnt be worried. i WOULD however make your LFS test your RO/DI water for TDS as this was the main reason for my algae outbreaks. as for cleanup crew, i think i've found the perfect combo for my 10g, 2 nas snails, 2 turbos and 4 ceriths. no need for hermits to munch on my snails .. they never really did anything when i had them in there anyways.