Crystal Clear Aquariums

[kiwis]

Probably no real secrets here but I wanna ask anyway...

You often see 'showcase aquariums' with crystal clear water and not the remotest sign of algae in any form in there.

Mine isn't too bad after a water change but a week later it's starting to look dirty again, the rock has various degrees of green and brown algae over it and I have a small patch of bubble algae (I thought it was Dinos but it's not very aggressive so I don't think it is)

My question is... what are these experts doing differently or better to keep such a pristine aquarium?

 

[madweazl]

I'm assuming this is a new tank? Once coralline takes over, the browns and greens wont grow on it. If you have a CUC that works on the sand (conch, goby, starfish, etc.) it will stay nice as well. The rest (glass, pumps, overflows etc.) is maintained by you.

 

[geddavis]

Most of them use difrent methods. But for the most part they all have low nutrients even more so in acro only tanks and in others they carefully plan stocking to take care of pretty much every algae they may find. This personally did not work out so much for me. However in the ocean it’s not like all rocks are perfect balls of coral one and nothing eles. Algae is simply part of the reef eco system and so long it is not to much of an eye sore or hurting anything I’d let it be.

 

[kiwis]

Mine's about 6 months old. Is this still 'new'?

 

[Pntbll687]

Mine's about 6 months old. Is this still 'new'?

Yes, that would still be considered on the newer side of things.

On my tank it had taken almost 2 years, but algae seems to be a thing of the past now. I haven't had any major outbreaks in a couple months. I still do get an occasional patch, but the tangs take care if it before I need to do anything.

 

[PatW]

Mine's about 6 months old. Is this still 'new'?

I agree with the above. At 6 months, a tank is still new. It takes awhile to get the lighting, nutrient export, CUC, fish and husbandry sorted out and the tank looking nice.

If your tank looks good even part of the time, you are doing pretty well.