Wally.B
Active member
This won't solve all you Algae problems or the source causing Algae, but for me any time I've had Bubble Algae, I got an Emerald crab. They love the stuff. When they run out, they will pick at other algae too. Not just at the surface of rocks, but every nook and cranny. Not sure about sandbed, since my tank is glass bottom.
Recently I was having general algae problem due to over feeding corals, so I got 3 more emerald crabs. And was shocked on how well they cleaned up the tank. They even picked out tuff turf Algae that I couldn't remove with a steel brush. (Just be patient. Look for them working at night. At first I thought they all died, since only one was out, but I do see all 4 around every so often).
There was still a bit of algae so was going to get more snails to help. But by luck the store had a Cowrie Snail. Really beautiful, and unique. He's been doing a great job, and always moving around and eating algae. Since then, my algae has gotten under control. It's never gone 100%, but under control.
So to summarize, I've learned that having algae control via Clean up crew, is at least for me the key. I couldn't stop algae growing (via chemistry, better circulation, better filtration, scrubbing rocks...since it would always come back over time), but at least for now have found the balance for a crew good enough to control it.
(I still have to be careful on overfeeding corals, since then the scale tips, and algae out competes the crew's ability to eat it)
(Also increasing lighting too much also tips the scale for me).
The clean up Crew get free algae food, and you get less visible algae, or algae that doesn't get out of control.
Just get crabs, snail, slugs, unchins, starfish, etc that are specifically algae eaters (Be careful not to get ones that will eat your corals, since some species within each are dangerous).
ONE thing I've learned with Algae clean up crew is. Don't throw them in when you have a massive algae problem. They will never be able to remove it all, since algae grows faster than they can consume it.
SURE you could throw in 1000 snails, and 2000 crabs, but what would they eat when it's gone.
Scrub the tank really good (just like you just did) and throw in a proper sized, mixed crew right away. If not much algae around, the will find the bit's of algae as it starts creeping back. Give the crew the advantage, and the hunger to work the whole tank.
I've also learned to help the crew along. Specifically with green hair algae, I prune it a bit. They will eat the shorter stuff right down to the rock. Long stringy pieces, they will just leave alone.
Good luck. I HATE ALGAE TOO!!
Recently I was having general algae problem due to over feeding corals, so I got 3 more emerald crabs. And was shocked on how well they cleaned up the tank. They even picked out tuff turf Algae that I couldn't remove with a steel brush. (Just be patient. Look for them working at night. At first I thought they all died, since only one was out, but I do see all 4 around every so often).
There was still a bit of algae so was going to get more snails to help. But by luck the store had a Cowrie Snail. Really beautiful, and unique. He's been doing a great job, and always moving around and eating algae. Since then, my algae has gotten under control. It's never gone 100%, but under control.
So to summarize, I've learned that having algae control via Clean up crew, is at least for me the key. I couldn't stop algae growing (via chemistry, better circulation, better filtration, scrubbing rocks...since it would always come back over time), but at least for now have found the balance for a crew good enough to control it.
(I still have to be careful on overfeeding corals, since then the scale tips, and algae out competes the crew's ability to eat it)
(Also increasing lighting too much also tips the scale for me).
The clean up Crew get free algae food, and you get less visible algae, or algae that doesn't get out of control.
Just get crabs, snail, slugs, unchins, starfish, etc that are specifically algae eaters (Be careful not to get ones that will eat your corals, since some species within each are dangerous).
ONE thing I've learned with Algae clean up crew is. Don't throw them in when you have a massive algae problem. They will never be able to remove it all, since algae grows faster than they can consume it.
SURE you could throw in 1000 snails, and 2000 crabs, but what would they eat when it's gone.
Scrub the tank really good (just like you just did) and throw in a proper sized, mixed crew right away. If not much algae around, the will find the bit's of algae as it starts creeping back. Give the crew the advantage, and the hunger to work the whole tank.
I've also learned to help the crew along. Specifically with green hair algae, I prune it a bit. They will eat the shorter stuff right down to the rock. Long stringy pieces, they will just leave alone.
Good luck. I HATE ALGAE TOO!!
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