Hey all, looking for some advice on clean up crew. I'm in kind of a paradox: when is it OK to add inverts to a dirty tank? Thinking about a tuxedo urchin, Nassarius, astraeas, and maybe a star of some kind (Not kean on getting more hermits, but open to other critters)
For background:
I've got a 75gal FOWLR that has been neglected for about 2 years following a baby and move. Lost all but 2 clownfish, and wiped out my cleaning crew. Tank was over run with algae. About a 2inch sand bed that's about 5 years old with green algae growing on it.
But recovery is commencing. I've managed to knock out all of the hair algae and bryopsis growing on the rocks with peroxide, using GFO in my canister filter to try suck up the phosphates, but turf algae and red slime are filling in the void left by hair algae. I'm doing weekly 10Gal water changes and monthly canister scrubs (haven't committed to replacing the pads yet, but rinsing those at least). I've got a cheap API saltwater test kit coming today to start testing and set up a chart to start tracking parameters, and this weekend I'm replacing the 6 year old single T8 bulb and fixture that looks pretty pink with a low cost LED bar that is marketed as 10000K.
For background:
I've got a 75gal FOWLR that has been neglected for about 2 years following a baby and move. Lost all but 2 clownfish, and wiped out my cleaning crew. Tank was over run with algae. About a 2inch sand bed that's about 5 years old with green algae growing on it.
But recovery is commencing. I've managed to knock out all of the hair algae and bryopsis growing on the rocks with peroxide, using GFO in my canister filter to try suck up the phosphates, but turf algae and red slime are filling in the void left by hair algae. I'm doing weekly 10Gal water changes and monthly canister scrubs (haven't committed to replacing the pads yet, but rinsing those at least). I've got a cheap API saltwater test kit coming today to start testing and set up a chart to start tracking parameters, and this weekend I'm replacing the 6 year old single T8 bulb and fixture that looks pretty pink with a low cost LED bar that is marketed as 10000K.