Algae control during fallow

JayM · Dec 14, 2023

I started my fallow period a couple of days ago and realized that a very integral part of my algae control is now in a QT/Hospital tank. 90 gallon tank is moderately stocked with mostly LPS coral, 3 Skunk Cleaner shrimp and a couple dozen assorted snails and hermit crabs. Is there anything that's reef safe that I can add either proactively, or later on should the need arise?

UV? Crabs? Urchin? All of the above?

vaguelyreeflike · Dec 14, 2023

Do you currently have an algae problem going on?
What are your nitrates and phosphates?

If nitrates stay between 5-10, and phosphates 0.25 then you shouldn’t have any problems during your fallow period.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 14, 2023

JayM said:
I started my fallow period a couple of days ago and realized that a very integral part of my algae control is now in a QT/Hospital tank. 90 gallon tank is moderately stocked with mostly LPS coral, 3 Skunk Cleaner shrimp and a couple dozen assorted snails and hermit crabs. Is there anything that's reef safe that I can add either proactively, or later on should the need arise?

UV? Crabs? Urchin? All of the above?

Keep chemicals out of tank. Light reduction is best as you cant utilize inverts. A small uv unit like the green machine will help also with QT tank

JayM · Dec 14, 2023

vaguelyreeflike said:
Do you currently have an algae problem going on?
What are your nitrates and phosphates?

If nitrates stay between 5-10, and phosphates 0.25 then you shouldn’t have any problems during your fallow period.

Haven’t checked DT since last weekend, but nitrates were 16 and phos was 0, which I found odd because the week before they were .1 with nitrates at 12.

Not having a problem, just trying to be proactive.

JayM · Dec 14, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Keep chemicals out of tank. Light reduction is best as you cant utilize inverts. A small uv unit like the green machine will help also with QT tank

I wasn’t real clear in my first post. Not terribly concerned about QT. My concern is keeping the DT in order. I can’t reduce lighting much due to all the coral. I just added a UV, but i need to grab some more tubing before i can fire it up.