How to remove algae?

[dustin.emmanuel]

Hi! I have a 7 months old tank that is starting to grow some coralline algae on the sump n a bit on the display. But the whole tank is covered in algae. Most of my corals are fine and growing well, except the algae keeps some from growing like my zoas. I used the PO4, NO3 salifert tester and both result are giving me clear water indicating nothing. Also for Ca, I have no clue how to do it. Looking at my sps and they are growing im thinking they are okay.
- salinity = 1.026 ppm
- kH = 10.3
- Ca = ???
- Mg = 1500

I dont have any inverts, only 4 hermits and 1 emerald crabs. I use an oversized skimmer and I grow chaeto farm. What should I do?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

How big is the tank?

You have no snails?

 

[dustin.emmanuel]

It is 120 gallon with 40 gallon sump. Sadly I dont have any snails. There used to be a super tiny snail and asterina starfish, but i think my valentini puffer ate them or something. But its been awhile

 

[Subsea]

Dustin,
Better discribe your sandbed maintenance and water change schedule.

Beef up your clean up crew with grazers & detrivores.

If your N & P are both at zero ppm, then you should address that with dosing N & P or feed more.

 

[dustin.emmanuel]

Dustin,
Better discribe your sandbed maintenance and water change schedule.

Beef up your clean up crew with grazers & detrivores.

If your N & P are both at zero ppm, then you should address that with dosing N & P or feed more.

I have not water change in a while. Possibly like 1month + bcs last time i did the parameters are all messed up. Maybe cuz i did 40% instead of 10%. But I'm planning to purchase more inverts. What is the best one? Sea hares, urchins?

 

[rtparty]

Snails. Herbivores are the answer to algae problems.

Go add 10-15 trochus snails, 10 cerith, and maybe a Mexican turbo snail

 

[dustin.emmanuel]

Snails. Herbivores are the answer to algae problems.

Go add 10-15 trochus snails, 10 cerith, and maybe a Mexican turbo snail

I have a fish that probably eat snails. Like valentini puffer and baby harlquin tusk. Though Im not sure if they will eat them since I dont have one in the tank. Worth the risk?

 

[LiP]

If your N is low, it makes less chance for your clean up crew to clearing the algae because they are not "delicious". Double zero in N and P is not optimal for your tank.

 

[dustin.emmanuel]

If your N is low, it makes less chance for your clean up crew to clearing the algae because they are not "delicious". Double zero in N and P is not optimal for your tank.

I tried feeding more for the fish. Like almost 6 frozen cubes everyday, and the Phos doesn't go up. The nitrate actually has a light pink but so close to 0. Is my chaeto absorbing them too much?

 

[BriDroid]

Mexican turbo snails are the answer! My back wall is growing something crazy. I just added these two and they started on a rock then found the back wall. You can see where they’ve already started eating the blanket of algae! Much better than the trochus and the astrea snails already in there.

 

[dustin.emmanuel]

Mexican turbo snails are the answer! My back wall is growing something crazy. I just added these two and they started on a rock then found the back wall. You can see where they’ve already started eating the blanket of algae! Much better than the trochus and the astrea snails already in there.

Okay I'll add them to my affordableaquaria.com cart for 5. Will conch help much? Pink urchin? Sea hare? Sea cucumber? I also liked to get some oddballs