what are the best CUC to prevent algae on sand

[Just John]

This is a 13 gal tank. My rockwork is 99% algae free thanks to my Mexican turbo snails and hermit crabs, but I have had a problem with algae growing on the sand, eventually forming mats. I took out the sand for a month to work on the problem. The sand is back in and I want to prevent its return. What cuc animals would be best for this. (It's only a 13 gal tank. Nutrients are always low because there are no fish being fed. I don't have old photos of it. I was like a short hair algae)

Sal- 1.026
pH- 8.1
Alk- 7.5
Nit- 2.0
Phos- 0.02

 

[SlugSnorter]

My rockwork is 99% algae free thanks to my Mexican turbo snails and hermit crabs, but I have had a problem with algae growing on the sand, eventually forming mats. I took out the sand for a month to work on the problem. The sand is back in and I want to prevent its return. What cuc animals would be best for this. (It's only a 13 gal tank. Nutrients are always low because there are no fish being fed. I don't have old photos of it. I was like a short hair algae)

Sal- 1.026
pH- 8.1
Alk- 7.5
Nit- 2.0
Phos- 0.02

ceriths, Nas (need feeding).

 

[Garpgarp]

A regular old turkey baster?

 

[eqbal9947]

Diamond Goby

 

[Smoke-Town]

Yellow head sleeper goby.
Melanurus wrasse.
Tiger pistol shrimp.
Sand sifting starfish.
Conch.
Small horseshoe crab is probably the king here if you can find them in stock and have 6" of space between rocks and glass for them to scurry around.

I have none of these things and my sand shows it. Lol

 

[SlugSnorter]

Yellow head sleeper goby.
Melanurus wrasse.
Tiger pistol shrimp.
Sand sifting starfish.
Conch.
Small horseshoe crab is probably the king here if you can find them in stock and have 6" of space between rocks and glass for them to scurry around.

I have none of these things and my sand shows it. Lol

not good suggestions for a 13 gallon. Horseshoes are hard to care for unless you have a tank made for them

 

[shakacuz]

conches(tiger or fighter), cerith snails, sand sifting starfish

 

[Smoke-Town]

not good suggestions for a 13 gallon. Horseshoes are hard to care for unless you have a tank made for them

Ahhh... didn't read the tiny tank size... yeah terrible suggestions for that size. All of them. Lol... except the conch

 

[kevgib67]

Tiger conch, nassarius snails ( just keep the sand stirred up) and a sand sifting goby. With those three your sand will be pearl white.

 

[landlubber]

routine stirring in that size of tank. i've had a little of every other option and only had good results with a Goby but you can't always rely on them to deposit the substrate back where you want it.

 

[afrokobe]

strawberry conchs are usually a bit smaller. I have them in my tanks and they keep the sand pristine.

 

[Hooz]

A tiny conch and/or Ceriths and Dwarf Ceriths. The tank might be too small to keep a conch alive long term, so I'd probably do a dozen Ceriths and 2 dozen Dwarf Ceriths.

 

[Sdot]

Pods.... thank me later.

 

[VegasReefer]

conch, nassarius, pods and live phyto. love the gobies, but my corals hate it.

 

[Hooz]

Yes. Yes. Pods too! If you haven't already, add pods for sure!

 

[Stephen8169301]

Diamond Goby

+1 on goby but tank is a little small for one also jumpers I’m on my third

 

[Hitchhik3r]

+1 on goby but tank is a little small for one also jumpers I’m on my third

I want a Bella goby for my 75g mixed reef tank but I keep hearing how people regret them due to the constant need to clean the corals. Are diamond gobies better in that regard? Or should I just do the snails and conchs as suggested in this thread.

 

[Just John]

I have never purchased pods before. Should the LFS have them or is there a particularly reliable place to order them?

 

[xabo]

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[Hooz]

I have never purchased pods before. Should the LFS have them or is there a particularly reliable place to order them?

Algae Barn is the go-to, but they are SUPER expensive. Ever since I found Jay's Reef Bugs, I've used them instead. Prices are good, shipping is reasonable and the pods are top notch.

If you're seeding them for the first time, get the 7 species blend. I used one bottle in my 10g and 2 bottles in my 30L to start. Just float the bottle to acclimate then, after lights out, turn off the pumps for about 30 minutes while you dump half of the pods in the display and half in the back chambers of an AiO tank.

ETA: I use his phyto blend too.

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