<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12569050#post12569050 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricks
I would identity the source of the algae outbreak.. Before I would use livestock to control the problem. Fish, crabs, snails, sea hairs are all hit and miss...
Correcting the problem is much easier, and you will learn how the balance of a reef system works in the process...
Happy Reefing
Tank is an Oceanic 120, BB with a 55 gallon sump, and 20 gallon H plumbed in. Total system volume is about 170 gallons. Chaeto is in the sump, the 20 H has a 2 inch sand bed.
DkH 11.2
Ca 420
Mg 1520
Salinity is 1.026
Temp is 82F
Nitrates are undetectable
Two water changes have been done this month so far:
a 15 gallon water change on 05-04-08
a 20 gallon water change on 05-14-08
The chaeto in the sump is growing, but has only needed to be thinned out twice in the year this tank has been up. Glass needs to be scraped once a week to remove the film of algae growing on the glass....so there are some nutrients available to promote algae growth.
I have a Tomini tang, a convict tang, and the purple tang in the 120 for algae control, in addition to a large diadema urchin. There is a large Derasa clam, (approx 10 inches) and a large crocea clam, (approx 5 inches). Acros are doing fine and growing, as is my Ritteri anemone (had it for over 2 years, one year in this tank). My percs mate every two weeks. My Indo Pacific Regal Angel eats from my hands.....so this isnt exactly my first experiance with reefkeeping, and I've got a good grasp of how the balance of a reef system works.
With the above information, please tell me how you think I might be able to restrict nutrients further to the valaonia and eliminate them. About the only other thing I can think to do is to add a Phosban reactor to the mix cause I cant test for phosphate....
Suggestions??????????????????????????????????????????????
Nick
