Cleaner question?

[tanklife]

I have a live sand bed in my tank, on this sand is a thin coating of green/brown algae. Snails are awesome for getting algae of glass, but what type of organism can i get to clean the algae of the sand bed? Some one already suggested a queen conch.......any other suggestions? The algae is not a problem.....it just looks bad on the sand...i would like clean sand. Thanks for any help.

 

[renogaw]

how old is the tank, and what's your whole clean up crew?
you are probably just going through the normal algae stages.

 

[tanklife]

The tank is 6 months old with live sand. The tank contains turbo snails and blue/red legged hermit crabs. Do you have any other recomendations? If you have time what are the algae growth stages? Would a uv sterilizer take care of nusciance algae? :notsure:

 

[renogaw]

the stages most people go through are brown diatomes (not really algae, but describes it), then green hair algae (nightmare) then red slime algae (not really algae, but a bacterial growth called cyano).
i'd check your phosphates level.
you can also get nasarius snails for your live sand (make sure they arent whelks though, they look the same). don't get a sand sifting star or cucumber... they aren't really beneficial.
also, what is your lighting schedule?
a late algae bloom is odd if you havent had one before, but it honestly is a sign of a good tank with a few problems.

 

[fishy head]

also what about a sand sifter blenny?????

 

[renogaw]

i don't know how they work on algae. but, they eat livestock out of the sand so i don't know how beneficial they are in the long run.
maybe someone else can answer though.

 

[lion_crazz]

Naussarius snails do an excellent job for the sandbed.

 

[bang guy]

Cerith Snails.
Queen Conch will work but they need a very large sandbed to live long term.

 

[tanklife]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like i will be getting some more snails (nassarius and cerith). One concern, once the algae is gone, what will the snails feed on? For a 50 gallon tank, how many should i have working? Also, will a UV sterilizer control the algal growth as well? Thank you again for all the responses....great help!!

 

[bang guy]

Nassarius Snails generally eat carrion, they are typically unable to eat Diatoms.
Cerith Snails can eat detritus and Diatoms. That makes them a very versitile Snail for a reef tank. They often reproduce in captive environments and that makes it even better.

 

[coderad]

I have a dragon Gobey he keeps my sand nice and white

 

[fishy head]

i have a clown that plays in the sand,,,he rolls in it