a few questions about algae control

jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Active Member
OK, I know these have been covered, I did a search, but for some reason I couldn't find any recent posts.
1.) I'm tyring to find ways to keep my DSB algae free. My hermits do an ok job, but my snails never touch it. I've heard that fighting conchs do a good job, true? Any stars that you'd recommend that are truely reef safe?
2.) Do any of the anti-phosphate products really work? I'm pretty sure my algae is due to 2 things-tap water and 500w MH over a 44g tank. I'm going to keep using my tap water, and I've limited my lights way down, so I'm hoping to find a way to control phosphates.
3.) Are snails and hermits still considered to be the preferred algae controllers, specifically turbos, bluelegs and scarlet reefs?
4.) Tangs. I know (generally speaking) they are active fish and need a lot of swimming space. What are some of the smaller, less space-demanding tangs availble. Can I get away with adding one to my 44g pent? Would you recommend (or not recommend) adding one to my 44g pent. I'm looking for a more interesting algae eater than hermits and snails.
Thanks everyone for the info.
 
bluemarlin

bluemarlin

Member
1.) I'm tyring to find ways to keep my DSB algae free. My hermits do an ok job, but my snails never touch it. I've heard that fighting conchs do a good job, true? Any stars that you'd recommend that are truely reef safe?
Yes. fighting conchs do a fine job. Snails won't do much on the sand bed. At best they may hit a shell or rock lying on the bed but they do nothing with the sandbed itself. I've heard of sifting stars being good at, well, sifting sand but I've heard others warn against them because they can make the sand unstable by digging into it.
2.) Do any of the anti-phosphate products really work? I'm pretty sure my algae is due to 2 things-tap water and 500w MH over a 44g tank. I'm going to keep using my tap water, and I've limited my lights way down, so I'm hoping to find a way to control phosphates.
If you insist on putting phosphates into your tank by using tap water then the algae is just using your generosity to its benefit.
3.) Are snails and hermits still considered to be the preferred algae controllers, specifically turbos, bluelegs and scarlet reefs?
I use turbo snails, red leg hermits and zebra hermits. I have about 150 hermits and 50-75 snails in my 180 tank.
4.) Tangs. I know (generally speaking) they are active fish and need a lot of swimming space. What are some of the smaller, less space-demanding tangs availble. Can I get away with adding one to my 44g pent? Would you recommend (or not recommend) adding one to my 44g pent. I'm looking for a more interesting algae eater than hermits and snails.
No. I would not add a tang to a 44 gallon tank. They need ALOT of room to swim around. Have you thought about a coral beauty? They are pretty and adapt pretty well to the smaller tank. Just don't over crowd it.
 
mrfish

mrfish

Member
I'm new to this and am learning by trial and error,(and this site). I was using tap water and had a bad algae problem. When I tested the water, i found high levels of Nitrate and Phos. I now still use tap water but filter it through a Nitragon filter first which removes all the Nitrate and most of the Phosphate.
I used a phospate filter before that was only rated for my tank size and it did not work very well. I am now using Hagen phosphate filters rated twice my tank size and it does reduce phosphate levels.
 
mini-reefer

mini-reefer

Member
Im using the Kent Phosphate Sponge on and off right now. You can only use it up to 48 hrs at a time. I started using it about 1 1/2 weeks ago because I did a test on 6/16/02 for phosphates and found .2 mg/l. I dosed for 48 hrs and then retested. According to my wife the color was at 0. But I thought it was at zero the first time. :) Also, according to her Im color blind.
I do use RO/DI water though. Ive never added tap water to this tank. Everything I can test for is a ideal levels. I dont have any cyno but the tank is still young. I am going through a brown diatom bloom however, Im still waiting on my snails to get here. <img src="graemlins//yell.gif" border="0" alt="[yell]" />
 
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