Algae control in small system

[Millepora_Maniac]

Hello everyone, i thought i would ask around to see what the best approach for algae control is in my frag tank.

It is a thirty gallon tall tank, (18"x18"x24")
With such a small footprint i am reluctant to put tangs etc into the tank, there just isn't much room in there.

I have a couple of snails in there, but they aren't doing the greatest job. Any suggestions?

thanks!-MM

[jostafew]

I'm considering the same thing for my upcoming nano build (approx. 10gal DT). May still be too big for me, but in your case what about a Lawmower Blenny? Will still require some supplemental feeding but it's supposed to be an effective algae destroyer and doesn't need much swimming room.

[MarkoD]

Turbo snails will decimate all algae.

Just get 20-30 and you'll have no problems at all

[tang daddy]

Running a phosban reactor with rowaphos or Gfo will help greatly aswell.

[Millepora_Maniac]

HI guys thanks for the replies,

I was considering the lawnmower blenny, but at the same time, they are known to perch on corals, and i wouldn't want that on some fresh frags.

I do have some turbo snails in there but they don't seem to be touching the longer algae strands. Maybe i should try removing the algae again, and seeing if the snails can keep up, maybe add a few more. Turbo's are just so clumsy and run right over my frags sometimes, once again this can dislodge coral frags and cause the frags to lean against each other, something i really don't want if i can avoid it.

My tank is growing fast and has awesome colour, so i am hesitant to change anything filtration wise at the moment, so i won't be adding another reactor to my system. I am running pellets and zeo already, and phosphates and nitrates are negligable (0ppm not readable on my elos tesk kit).

I was hoping someone had some kind of new invert or fish that could live alone in there and take care of all of it.

This egg grate stuff is annoying, it seems to grow algae like crazy.

[Reefer Rob]

A Tuxedo Urchin or Abalone. Two of my favorite algae eaters.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Millepora_Maniac

HI guys thanks for the replies,

I was considering the lawnmower blenny, but at the same time, they are known to perch on corals, and i wouldn't want that on some fresh frags.

I do have some turbo snails in there but they don't seem to be touching the longer algae strands. Maybe i should try removing the algae again, and seeing if the snails can keep up, maybe add a few more. Turbo's are just so clumsy and run right over my frags sometimes, once again this can dislodge coral frags and cause the frags to lean against each other, something i really don't want if i can avoid it.

My tank is growing fast and has awesome colour, so i am hesitant to change anything filtration wise at the moment, so i won't be adding another reactor to my system. I am running pellets and zeo already, and phosphates and nitrates are negligable (0ppm not readable on my elos tesk kit).

I was hoping someone had some kind of new invert or fish that could live alone in there and take care of all of it.

This egg grate stuff is annoying, it seems to grow algae like crazy.

best algae eater out there for long hair algae is a sea hare...hands down a eating machine but will starve once it finishes its job they do not take to nori(mine didnt anyways) and they will eat the super long stuff once food hets scarce.drip acclimate though as they are temp and salinity sensative.

[ashr]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

Running a phosban reactor with rowaphos or Gfo will help greatly aswell.

Id go with this idea.. and some turbo snails!

[tang daddy]

I suggested an algae scrubber to another member on here that had problems and it has worked very well for him, I am thinking of DIY ing one from a plastic waste bucket with a t off the return pump as I have enough room behind my tank....but first I want to see what Gfo can do as I bought a cheap reactor to try it out. I only have small tufts of hair algae in my display and my sump/refuge hardly grows any....

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Turbo snails will decimate all algae.

Just get 20-30 and you'll have no problems at all

30 turbo snails in a 33g imo is a whole new list of problems....algae is nutrient control and tang daddy said run a reactor for rowaphos or gfo and keep up on water changes and run a fugeor hob fuge for nitrate export.