Can we prevent algae from being introduced into a new aquarium system?

[Chris Witort]

If an aquarium were set up in a sterile environment can we prevent algae from being introduced into the system in the first place, then keep it out by not introducing anything that may carry it?

 

[jdegrasse]

Possible? Yes. Easy and practical? No.

I mean if you had access to proper sterilization equipment, then you can start the tank sterile. But it would be extremely difficult to maintain. I'd go so far as to say it would as time consuming to maintain sterility as it would be to limit growth in a non-sterile tank. Additionally, since algae is a natural element to reef life, it may actually have a negative effect on the tank. A lot of beneficial algae is microscopic and not considered a "nuisance."

 

[Chris Witort]

I think the initial sterilization would be easy. Use bleach on fossilized rock and sand/gravel. use ro di water and synthetic salt. I wonder about how easy it would be to prevent contaminating it with fish that may carry it in their digestive tract or coral that may have it as a hitch hiker etc.

 

[swcc]

well sterile also means no bacteria.. you could not run a system sterile. Algae itself is actually very easy to control anyways.

 

[KCombs]

I dunno how far inland SW algae spores can travel, but I know algae "spores" or whatever they are can be airborne/rain dispersed; apparently (how else can you explain algae showing up in fountains, et?)


I remember being sorta surprized at finding algae in my BBS cultures ones and all I had was FW aquariums....no clue if there is a "universal" FW/SW algae or what...

 

[brandon429]

Cyano and various forms of micro and hair algae can be imported on aerosols and suspended items like hairs/cells as spores or the transmissible form for their species
is not possible to prevent import unless tank is in a positive pressure control room like a lab.

Cleaning imported substrates whether through qt or dip takes care of the critical ones

 

[Dadekster]

I'm not sure that it's something that can be done practically to be honest. At least if you plan on running any kind of reef tank. What I see having to be done looks like something out of ET the movie after the government gets involved.

 

[adeebm]

Even if you set up the tank without algae, any fish, corals, etc you introduce are going to carry algal spores. Pretty hard to sterilize of algae a frag without nuking it. Maybe theoretically possible, but extremely unpractical I'd say.

--Adeeb

 

[sail33]

Seems to me it's like having a dandelion free lawn. You'll want to treat your neighbors lawn too. Then there's that guy 4 houses down.... Might be easier to pave the whole thing. The last thing you might see is a dandelion breaking through the concrete.

Nature will find a way.

To that end, I'm installing an algae turf scrubber this week. Let it grow...but only where I want it to grow.

 

[skeeter_ca]

Can you say "snails". Control it naturally.

skeeter

 

[danil]

It is possible to avoid most common type to be introduced. I was running my tank on bleached dead rocks for over a year without having any bubble, torf, hair algae. Once I stop paying attention to new frags and add few new live rocks - I got all of it. So it is possible but take some effort to keep it this way.

 

[Chris Witort]

Thats what i was thinking. If I could start a system without it and have strict quarantine of everything coming in I may be able to keep most species out! How elaborate of a quarantine would be needed, I don't know.

 

[hk855]

A quarantine alone probably won't do the trick long term as many algae can lie dormant for a long time. I would say quarantine fish in a clean tank, completely bleached after every batch that makes it through, for 2-4 weeks. For corals I really only see taking fresh frags as a possibility. Any substrate will eventually bring in just enough algae cells that when the water quality has a hiccup will grow and then what's the point. Fresh cut sps and 'center cut' lps would be safest. Zoas would be difficult.

In research to keep large systems (usually fw zebrafish) clean of parasites they start out sterile and raise every fish(hundreds to hundreds of thousands) in there from egg, and they rinse them in bleach before they hatch just incase. Even these systems with 10% water changed daily with ro and lab salts aced back grow hair algae, not all but most. They don't have any type of parasite tho.

Your not really gaining much as so many algae have the ability to transfer via airborne or longterm dormant cysts. In the end if water quality allows for algae to grow some kind will find a way. Usually it's the slimy kinds that are more unicellular and tend to dissolve when you try to remove them rather than a solid mass you can remove.

But hey it's worth a try and I would do it if I had a new tank and wanted to experiment a bit, I just wouldn't do it as my only tank. Something to remember separate cleaning equipment is better than trying to sterilize between tanks, eventually you'll forget.