Green Hair Algae Clean up Crew Experiment (Comparison of Snails) : ALGAE HUNGER GAMES

[Wally.B]

Your actual problem will only recycle as the CUC poos phosphate back into the tank and algae uptakes it again. You need a phosphate remover, such as a GFO reactor.

I totally agree with you.

I have a Phosphate reactor on my Algae Bloom tank using PhosBan media. It was turned off due to low PO4 levels, but restated it since those reading are inaccurate during a Algae bloom (as Algae absorbs the PO4, and releases it during breakdown).

And I recently add the same to the Experimental tank to avoid Phosphate recycling. It was clear when CUC polished the first couple of rocks from the Bloom tank and PO4 spiked quickly (even though no tank feeding).

 

[Wally.B]

Star Wars Parody (Algae Wars - Episode I ) MOVIE Progress Update:

Quick update.

The movie efforts continue.

The more we learn about Video/Image Editing the more we keep adding and improving.
It's tiring and a lot of work, but also fun!!

Even considering Sound, but it will be a nice to have, if time permits.

So hang in there. Movie is coming and will be worth the wait.

 

[shyerdj]

this is awesome! thx!

 

[Wally.B]

Algae Hunger Wars Experiment Update: (Tank Swap/Reversal Planning)

Based on observations so far, I am thinking of reversing the Experiment.

It is becoming a bit difficult to remove/lift rocks from the Display tank (without damaging the SPS coral Frags), so why not just leave the rocks, and bring the Clean Up Crew over to the Display tank.

- The few Coral frags I've brought over are doing great in the Experimental Tank (since Lighting and Water is very closely matched).

- Frags are slowly releasing any attached GHA, and recovering nicely. Where GHA releases I see recessed coral growth due to GHA suffocation at bases.

I'm think of removing/fragging the Frags off the rocks and place them in the Experimental tank on Trays where they can recover.

The rocks can be cleaned in the Display tank with the Cowrie and Sea Hare which are TOP cleaners. Cowrie is really good but as mentioned before, he has attacked a SPS coral, and shaved it clean. (That coral is recovering).

The other snails appear to be good at rock polishing, but NOT as for aggressive cleaning of Long GHA. The Sea Hare and Cowrie are merciless for any amount of GHA.

Fish would remain in the Display Tank, with their accustomed rock scape.

I would increase Tank filtration with Return Filter Socks, and more aggressive Phosphate Reactor cleaning. This would also allow the Algae scrubber to kick in do its work.

I could then decrease lighting in Display tank without Corals, and increase lighting (gradually) to give Corals a healing boost.

This will take some planning, and a minor change in Exp. Tank Setup. I already topped it up with water for full 50 Gallon capacity, use some water from Display tank water change to help cycle it if needed.

This may appear to be a big job, but actually is the easier and faster path toward my goal (which is to clean up my Display Tank, and stabilize/stop the Algae growth for the long term).

Any thoughts?

 

[Wally.B]

ALGAE WARS (MOVIE)- Pre-Release (Galaxy Map) HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Some hesitation at first but thought it would be a treat to release the Galaxy Map from the Algae Wars Movie - Episode I

Doesn't give much away, but you get the setting.

See you in 2016.

Happy New Year and MAY THE FORCE OF TANK STABILITY be with you.

WallyB.

 

[Virtual Balboa]

hahaha

 

[Wally.B]

Algae Wars (ENDING).....

Of Course I would never reveal the Ending of the Algae Wars Movie.

However I'll be including this into the Ending Somehow.

The Algae War for me is Over.

With going back to work tomorrow, and a new 2016 year.
I decided to spend today overhauling the Algae Infested Tank.

Was surprised to see how my Coralline had grown under the GHA.

(Also While cleaning I found about 30 empty Snail Snails, which the DiamondWatch Golby has stocked in a cave)

Took about 8 hours, but I wanted to be thorough.

This is the new look for 2016. Still clearing up....(I'll post a photo when it does and MH light on)

I like the new layout. So do the fish so far.


BEFORE

AFTER

The experiment is over. Results will be in the MOVIE. And in this thread later.

 

[Wally.B]

Tank's Fresh New Look (Lights ON)

Water cleared up quickly , so I couldn't resist turning on MH Lights for a few minutes..

The continuation of this Tank will be posted on my Tank Thread (ULR below). (Movie updates will still remain on this Thread)
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2500379&page=23

I hope the Algae Scrubber (ATS) will now kick in, without the GHA Overload.

And I'll be adding the Bio Rock wall, for Nutrient Breakdown.

Will also be interested to see how Water Chemistry does over next while (Especially PO4 readings)

 

[Wally.B]

OFFICE LOOKS MUCH Better WITHOUT (ALGAE VIEW) to Finish off Algae Wars Movie

Today water is sparkling Clean...

I'm more in the mood to finish the Algae Wars Movie, looking at my Office Tank.

Problem is that I want to make the movie better, so will take longer.

 

[peseifert]

Had same issue in an established 150 gal reef. Massive GHA outbreak almost overnight. Would like to see winners in movie. For me, tried the "fabled" Garf cleaners, including the mollies. Huge waste of money;cleaners didn't clean and mollies never touched GHA.
Got cleanup crew from Reeftia with lettuce nudibranchs. Incredible to watch the nudis mow down the algae. Think their snails and crabs also worked on it, but the coup d'grace was the phosphate reactor. Not one bit of Algae left. Think nudibranchs are now gone.

 

[peseifert]

That was Reeftopia

 

[Wally.B]

Your actual problem will only recycle as the CUC poos phosphate back into the tank and algae uptakes it again. You need a phosphate remover, such as a GFO reactor.

I wasn't on planning on Posting Post Tank Rebuild updates HERE since that is on my Tank Thread (link above in previous post), however I do wish to respond to this comment.


FIRST there is nothing to Recycle anymore. The experiment is OVER. The Experimental tank is closed down, and was used to scrub my rocks clean. There is NO algae in my system anymore.

After this cleanup I am aware that GHA could come back. However it may not happen since I've learned my lessons in recent past few months.

Yes, I have a Phosphate reactor with Fresh RowaPhos, however I'm doing a bit more to ensure no Cyano or GHA return (which has haunted me in the past).
Also since this is an SPS only Tank, my reactor will be turned on/off as needed, since I do want detectable levels of PO4 & NO3.
Right now it's ON to ensure any residual GHA is eliminated.

1) TOP and most important is avoiding Coral Feeding (ADDITATIVES). Must be careful since I believe I over did feeding last time since it helped color up my Corals (Osyter Feast, PhytoFeast, Reef Roids, Coral Frenzy ). Greatest danger were products with Amino Acids like AcroPower, Phols Extra, Polyp Booster, Coral Vitalizer,and Seachem Fuel. (Yes I was a additive junkie hoping for quick turn around miracles).

I'm going to avoid those bottles for a while. And when I touch them again, it will be lightly. (( BUT I will never Feed my Corals High Nutrient FOODs, l since that brought on my Cyano which I passionately hate).

- My future approach is just more fish and lots of fish feeding with adequate nutrient export (Skimmer ++). That is taking time since I only want specific fish and I'm waiting for them to be available.

2) Everyone has been pushing for massive clean up crew. Yes that is the whole point of this experiment, but the wrong combination of Snails, Hermits ends up in Snail Death, which results in Tank Pollution.

So my new approach is just a few select CUC:
- I like Zebra Hemits, since the seem to behave and always seem busy.
- Blue legged Hermits are good since they are small to clean tight spots and can't harm a snails.
- I also like Emerald crabs for picking at Algae (Hair, Turf and Bubble-Valonia) and they don't bother snails. I may some day eliminate Big Hermits and go just Emeralds.
- For snails I have a Few of Astraea (Regular and Ninja Star) for Glass cleaning, Nassarius for sand cleaning, and Margarita for rocks.
- I just added two sand sifting CUC (Pearl Snail and Sand Sifting Star Fish). Plus the Fighting Conch from the experiment.
- I just removed my Diamond Watch Goby since he wasn't ideal for a SPS only tank. Strong circulation and his constant sand throwing was bad.
- I also just removed my Tuxedo urchins and put them in sumps (the scrape the nice Purple, Red Coraline off rocks, which I like).
- I did return the Sea Hare FIRST PLACE WINNER, since he wouldn't survive long in my Algae Free tank. He ate like a pig, but also produced a lot of waste (Loaded with Phosphates and Nitrates).
- The 2nd PLACE WINNER, was the Arabica Cowrie. He is back in Sump since he has attacked my SPS in the past.
- The RUNNER UP WINNERS were the various snails, but nothing significant for GHA removal.
- The Urchin moves around a lot, does a lot, but also likes Coraline.
- The Conch tried it's best, but was returned to a proper sandbed.

3) I also just recently added a Algae Scrubber which will help with Nitrate and Phophates. It's still burning in.

4) And today I added a wall of MARINEPURE BioFilter Media into my sump to increase bacterial level in my system. Same approach a my Wall of Live Rock in my other Tanks sump, but cheaper and Avoids Live Rock Contamination and Hitchhikers.

So all those things combined, should give me a chance to avoid another Algae Bloom in the future, and allow me to increase Bio Load in my tank (fish and Corals).

** And one last thing. I'm running a 200 micro Nylon sock as a pre-filter into my sump. To catch any loose GHA, and suspended large particles.
** I clean it several times a day, and eventually it will be removed, since I do add Copepods for my Mandarin from my Copepod Farm **

SORRY FOR THIS LONG REPLY.

This thread is Algae Wars Movie thread now, and my son and I are working on it each day. Less now with School and work re-started.

 

[ReefWreak]

I'm glad to see the results worked out well, and appreciate your excellently documented approach and conclusion to this GHA issue (as usual) . Thanks for sharing it!

It really confirmed a number of my core beliefs, particularly 1. and 1.5 (fishes not supplements), 3. which is why I run some "dragon's breath" red algae in my display, since it was easier than having algae growing in the back of the tank, looks nicer, does a decent job, and people want to buy it from me when I need to trim it back.

I'm on the fence about 2. and 4.. 2. because I'm not a huge fan of crabs, be it hermits, emeralds, or others, due to their omnivorous nature and attacking snails and potentially corals. 4. I'm on the fence about because as I understand it if you have 0 nitrates but high phosphates, it can lead to cyano growth. If you reduce them equally (through nutrient export in bacteria through carbon dosing + skimming or ATS/controlled algae growth) you won't get cyano as easily.

I haven't had an algae issue yet in my biocube since I'm very stingy with feeding (my fishes get plenty of food but I make sure they eat every last pellet and feed no more than that), due to using a ghetto ATS in the back of my biocube, and due to aggressive skimming early in the tank's life. I've actually backed off of skimming for the last 2 months or so, and have seen positive results, but I think that people need to aim for 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates, and 0 algae first, then you can start playing around with cutting back on skimming or dosing nutrients.

Thanks again for another excellent adventure in the life and aquatics of Wally.B

 

[neededahobby]

office shot looks great
Still waiting on the movie!

 

[Wally.B]

ALGAE-WARS MOVIE REVEALING TEASER in appreciation for the compliments, and just feeling good about new Algae Free Tank......

Many thanks for the compliments so far. I always appreciate feedback. Any kind. It helps me keep going, and wanting to share more.

I'm actually in a great mood looking at my new tank look.

My tanks set my mood, and the Algae Phase was a misery to me, however the Experiment and Movie never would have happened, so I'm grateful for Algae inspiration (Please,.... never Again, YUCK! ).

So I feel I owe everyone an explanation for this long DRAGGED OUT.... MOVIE wait.

It's been a long while, and it will be at bit more.

However....It's time I reveal some best kept secrets. So you hang in there patiently.

Some of you may think, I've been just hanging on to those TimeLapse Photo's of the SeaHare polishing off the Algae. True, but for a good reason.

THE MOVIE is not just some minor enhanced TimeLapse sequence stiches.

My son and I are making this into a Full Feature movie. Probably about 10 minutes long. Which is taking hundreds of hours to film, edit and produce.

You will get advanced warning to get popcorn, and book time in front of a big Screen.

When the Snails did their things, the time lapses caught some interesting momemnts. Idea's came about for the plot.

Original plan was minor enhancing of these scene, but then things got wildly out of control with creativity. (Dad with the Plot and Aqurium Mind, while my 13 year old Son, learning and going nuts with Graphics ideas)

We dug up my Son's dusty box of Star War Lego. Mini Ships, Mini Figs. Which led into INTEGRATED EDITED scenes of Snails, Lego Figs, talking cartoon bubbles, plus more (can't tell all).

Then we learned MovieMaker, PaintNet, some PowerPoint, and Snag it, with an SLR and Point and Shoot Camera to enhance movie better. Animated Graphics, etc

Then I started pulling out various fish tank supplies and turn them with Blue Screen type editing Techno, into Ships, etc

At this point there is no SOUND (Not really needed).

The plot is rich, with every imaginable character from Star Wars. Plenty of Aquarium terms and knowledge sharing. Some funny scenes, that I've gone to bed chucking with.

So here is the teaser trailer your been waiting for.

WallyB & MartinB

 

[Wally.B]

Your actual problem will only recycle as the CUC poos phosphate back into the tank and algae uptakes it again. You need a phosphate remover, such as a GFO reactor.

DejaVu Momement.:deadhorse1:

Due to overwhelming popularity, I promise to have a GFO reactor in the movie.

 

[swanny]

Your actual problem will only recycle as the CUC poos phosphate back into the tank and algae uptakes it again. You need a phosphate remover, such as a GFO reactor.

We heard you the first four times idgit.

 

[Wally.B]

Maybe thread posts also recycle too. Need a "Thread-Post Media Reactor" in this thread.
Or a user guide on how to look/read though multi page threads.

 

[reefmutt]

Wally, you need a troll reactor to filter out the waste from cxnxvhj and cjggyi
.. Identical post

 

[Wally.B]

All in good faith and humour.