Nordy
Well-Known Member
I have had my tank cycling and running full steam for 4 months now. 2 months ago I ran into some sort of hair algae that really took hold and grew fast. (Pic posted of algae) I also had a lot of detritus I believe. It was flakey white, and I’m unsure exactly what it is? Something organic, but not uneaten food or fish waste. I’m a huge fan of the CUC’s I can find online. Various snails, hermit crabs, emerald crabs, a fire shrimp, and serpent starfish have been gradually added over the last 3 months. To there credit, they did some great work, my sand bed is white, and the hair algae is almost gone except for a few patches. Realizing I may have added a few too many has been on my mind. If a hermit goes after a snail, I won’t intervene and I’ll let nature play out. There’s empty shells of all sizes in my tank for there growth, but I would be ashamed if I had all these wonderous sea creatures starve at my tenacious overstocking.
Now that the tank algae is well under control, I would like to know from you guys what is best to keep all fed? I feed my fish 3 times a day, and if I’m home doing the feeding, all pumps get turned off for 15 minutes to let uneaten food settle. I’m also not cleaning my glass as often so snails can get some algae there. I also have been using some magnetic seaweed clips with Nori I can wedge on the sand bed. I know of the algae stick on tabs for tangs and invertebrates, but don’t care for them much, and I really would not like to foul the water with sinking pellets and all my pumps off for periods of time. Right now there are 5 fish in this 158.5 gallon tank, but I will be removing all fish soon for an 8 week fallow period to rid ich. Any helpful tips are appreciated, just hoping I can keep all fat and happy besides the fish.
Now that the tank algae is well under control, I would like to know from you guys what is best to keep all fed? I feed my fish 3 times a day, and if I’m home doing the feeding, all pumps get turned off for 15 minutes to let uneaten food settle. I’m also not cleaning my glass as often so snails can get some algae there. I also have been using some magnetic seaweed clips with Nori I can wedge on the sand bed. I know of the algae stick on tabs for tangs and invertebrates, but don’t care for them much, and I really would not like to foul the water with sinking pellets and all my pumps off for periods of time. Right now there are 5 fish in this 158.5 gallon tank, but I will be removing all fish soon for an 8 week fallow period to rid ich. Any helpful tips are appreciated, just hoping I can keep all fat and happy besides the fish.
