Who tolerates some algae for happier corals?

hbrochs

hbrochs

New member
My corals are happier when I feed my fish more.

Then I start getting some hair algae, but after a few days of GFO the corals are not happy, so I stop running it.

So, who just tolerates a little algae to have happier corals?
 
I allow algae. There's a little growing here and there in the tank, nothing that is out of control. It even grows when I run gfo...
 
Thanks Paul

Thanks Paul

Thats SO funny, Paul.

I feel like so many people freak out at the first sign of algae.

I was recently one of them, but now I'm thinking a little algae is something I can live with cause I have to strip the water of all its nutrients to get algae free.
 
As long as the corals look good, I can put up with a little algae, cyano, dino whatever. Its funny I've never had hair algae in my tank. Bubble, cyano and dino yes. Weird huh?
 
I feel like so many people freak out at the first sign of algae.
Click to expand...
People in this hobby freak out about almost everything.

I am in the process right now as a matter of fact of building a new design algae scrubber in my reef that I don't think was tried before. I did some experiments and they came out very well. I want to see tons of algae, but of course only where I want it to grow and so far it is working perfectly.
 
I tollerate algae because I don't have a choice lol. It's been growing in my tank since I cycled it. I started with dry rock and it leaches phosphates. Even running GFO I still have some GHA growing in my tank. At least now I have it to a point where I feel like its under control.
 
hbrochs said:
My corals are happier when I feed my fish more.

Then I start getting some hair algae, but after a few days of GFO the corals are not happy, so I stop running it.

So, who just tolerates a little algae to have happier corals?
Click to expand...


Can you provide a list of corals that you keep?

Thanks
 
I just realized how much algae is hiding in my tank.
I hadn't been replacing snails that fell on their backs and died or whatever. It sort of crept up on me and one day I was like "hey, where did all this stuff come from?" that night at snail o'clock when the lights dim and they started motoring around, I realized I was down to like a dozen dwarf ceriths, 3 ceriths and 2 nassarius in a 55g.

I reupped and everything was back to happy in about a week. I suppose technically I have a fair amount of algae but since I don't see it, my parameters are aok, and my fish and corals are thriving, I save my freak outs for other things.

PS I feed a lot, 3-4x a day. But I clean more than most, I think that helps me not need scrubbers or gfo to keep the levels in check. Like, the coral can grab chunks of food and fish poo out of the water but it isn't staying around for a long time if they don't.
 
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Corals

Corals

I have an innovative marine long shallow 80 gallon tank.

In it I have four acropora frags, strawberry shortcake montipora, three small Favia frags, trumpet coral, euphillia, torch coral, acans, two clams, Xenia, big green star polyp colony, a chalice, and a sun coral.

Mg 1300
Ca 420
Alk 7.8
 
hbrochs said:
Thats SO funny, Paul.

I feel like so many people freak out at the first sign of algae.

I was recently one of them, but now I'm thinking a little algae is something I can live with cause I have to strip the water of all its nutrients to get algae free.
Click to expand...

opposite to my philosophy... Strip the water clean and feed heavy..different technique little more work.
 
i don't tolerate algae, i hate it and do everthing i can to remove it. however, if there is none growing or none to remove, my corals look pale and stop growing!!!!
 
no one likes algae, but you don't want a barren tank either. in most tanks there will be some, just make sure it doesn't take over. plus i always you the eye test. if my tank looks good, i am happy. i dont go looking for problems
 
Coming from decades of FW tanks, some of the healthiest tanks (and inhabitants) were ones with lots of algae (not covering larger order plants though). To many, the algae made them looked disgusting, but the fish and plants were gorgeous and extremely healthy.

Personally I wouldn't freak out over some algae. I like to allow nature to just do its thing...within reason of course. I prefer to set up tanks to naturally settle into balance, with appropriate stocking levels (of all kinds of things that work together.) They seem to be less work and more enjoyment. I'm not exactly fond of pristine or sterile looking tanks. But that's me. to each his own.
 
I am with Anthony on this one but Paul i would love to see you a new scrubber design I cannot fit a regular waterfall scrubber my new sump so I am currently using Chato
 
I have plenty of algae. But im also getting great coral growth too. I dont mind taking 30 seconds every 2 weeks pulling GHA or blow some cyano off the sand. It stays in check.
 
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