Broodstock Tank Cleaning & Maint

[milkman55]

I have eight broodstock tanks running off a 75 gal sump for the past year. I just clean the tanks with a siphon vac once a week. Over time, algae as grown on the walls of the tanks. All the tanks are bare bottom with a single clay pot for the clowns.

How do others deal with algae or routine cleaning? I have not lost a single fish this past year and the nitrates are near zero, so not any real problems other than appearance. Does anyone use snails in broodstock tanks?

Any tips to long-term care appreciated.

 

[ClownfishSushi]

I have eight broodstock tanks running off a 75 gal sump for the past year. I just clean the tanks with a siphon vac once a week. Over time, algae as grown on the walls of the tanks. All the tanks are bare bottom with a single clay pot for the clowns.

How do others deal with algae or routine cleaning? I have not lost a single fish this past year and the nitrates are near zero, so not any real problems other than appearance. Does anyone use snails in broodstock tanks?

Any tips to long-term care appreciated.

I've moved away from bare bottom broodstock tanks and now keep my broodstock in reef systems. However, I do experience this with my growout tanks.

I scrape the front viewing panel weekly and once a month I clean all the sides of my growout tanks. Between cleanings I use 1 astrae snail in each 10 gallon tank to help with maintenance throughout the month.

I honestly don't know if your clowns will allow a snail to graze that close to their territory. My picassos slaughter any snails or hermits that get close to their nest site. At the same time, my Onyx could care less that a snail routinely cleans their pot. I'd say give it a try but monitor your clowns behavior. You don't want a half-eaten snail rotting in their system.