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Im on month 9 in a 20g tank and still have algaeJust give the tank time to get established and out of the "ugly" phase and it will correct itself. I see some snails so assuming you have a decent clean up crew you won't wait much longer. I think by month 8 on my tank I started with dry rock the algae disappeared from my sandbed.
Do you have a good nutrient export system? High nutrients? Good CUC? Good water flow?Im on month 9 in a 20g tank and still have algae
I have good enough flow, even though i think the flow makes the algae brow longer. Clean up crew i could probably add a bit more, I originally had 1 emerald crab, 4 margarita snails and 4 hermits. Im thinking of buying like 2 nassarius snails, 1 starfish and maybe a pinchusion urchin. I want the urchin, ive been told they eat lots of algae, but i have a bubble algae and im worried it would pop. How big to they get about?Do you have a good nutrient export system? High nutrients? Good CUC? Good water flow?
I've never tried a pencil urchin as other warn against it due to the destructiveness. I have a tuxedo urchin in my nano and it is a powerhouse. Haven't had any issues with it yet. Don't worry about the bubble algae popping as many claim that to be a myth in spreading spores around. I had some in both my tanks and two emerald crabs and manual removal have eliminated them. I haven't seen any in close to 8-9 months. Bump up the cuc and make sure to have good nutrient exporting to keep nutrients in check and you should start seeing a difference. Stir the sand around twice a week or get more critters to help out like conchs, a lot more nassarius, blue leg crabs, etc.I have good enough flow, even though i think the flow makes the algae brow longer. Clean up crew i could probably add a bit more, I originally had 1 emerald crab, 4 margarita snails and 4 hermits. Im thinking of buying like 2 nassarius snails, 1 starfish and maybe a pinchusion urchin. I want the urchin, ive been told they eat lots of algae, but i have a bubble algae and im worried it would pop. How big to they get about?
i dont think i want a conch, those are just huge snails and i dont really like big ssnails/slugs. Ill definitely try and get some nassarius snails, some more hermit crabs (can I mix blue leg with red leg?) and maybe the tuxedo urchin and/or brittle star. And maybe some more margarita snails or some turban or trochus snails. How does that sound?I've never tried a pencil urchin as other warn against it due to the destructiveness. I have a tuxedo urchin in my nano and it is a powerhouse. Haven't had any issues with it yet. Don't worry about the bubble algae popping as many claim that to be a myth in spreading spores around. I had some in both my tanks and two emerald crabs and manual removal have eliminated them. I haven't seen any in close to 8-9 months. Bump up the cuc and make sure to have good nutrient exporting to keep nutrients in check and you should start seeing a difference. Stir the sand around twice a week or get more critters to help out like conchs, a lot more nassarius, blue leg crabs, etc.
The conch has made the biggest difference for me in mixing my sand, now I have to manually do it much less. Yes you can mix red and blue hermits. Keep extra shells in the tank so they don't fight for space as they grow out of their existing shells.i dont think i want a conch, those are just huge snails and i dont really like big ssnails/slugs. Ill definitely try and get some nassarius snails, some more hermit crabs (can I mix blue leg with red leg?) and maybe the tuxedo urchin and/or brittle star. And maybe some more margarita snails or some turban or trochus snails. How does that sound?
Nassarius snails don’t eat algae.i dont think i want a conch, those are just huge snails and i dont really like big ssnails/slugs. Ill definitely try and get some nassarius snails, some more hermit crabs (can I mix blue leg with red leg?) and maybe the tuxedo urchin and/or brittle star. And maybe some more margarita snails or some turban or trochus snails. How does that sound?
Nassarius snails don’t eat algae.
for the sandbed about 10 small cerith snails will help. As stated abou even, conch would be good too.
Manual removal of hair algae is key. CUC will help keep it from coming back but will not eat the long stuff.
If you like you coralline algae, I would stay away from urchins. If you don’t care, they are great.
I’m same with yeah. Algae growing in sand, phosphates almost 0 and going on month 6Just manual remove it and let it phase its self out. 5 months is very new for a tank. Wacth nutrient levels and vacuum sand bed when doing water change.
I have to say I almost never see my conch. He is buried in the sand doing his thing. It can be months between sightings. So don’t let the look of a “huge snail” deter you from a great member of the CUC.i dont think i want a conch, those are just huge snails and i dont really like big ssnails/slugs