Questions about algae and suggestions for tank

[KHow]

I have what looks like red slime algae on the walls....is this bad and if so what should I do? In the gravel bed there is green growth, same question. And finally, I would like to add color and texture to my tank. Any suggestions without going full reef?
36 g bow front
Two smallish power heads
HOB protein skimmer
HOB power filter
Standard hood with pet store fluorescent ( planning to go with LED strip )
Up and running for eight months.
Parameters good
Frequent RO/DI water changes from LFS

 

[KHow]

Oooops!
Dwarf lemonpeel angel
Two clowns ( they chased the small one out of the tank one night)
Foxface rabbit
A few hermits

 

[bang guy]

The algae there is normal. If it's unpleasant to you just cover the sandbed on the outside of the tank. Eventually, if you have good live sand, some critter will exploit the algae for its nutrition and it will slowly go away.

 

[KHow]

I don't mind it. Easy to clean from the tank walls. Is it beneficial at all to leave on the back wall?

 

[flower]

Hi,

You need a better CUC (Clean Up Crew) then a few hermits, you should have a variety of snails, and maybe a serpent or brittle star. I personally don't clean the back wall, some do...it really depends on you, beneficial???... besides less work, no.

For added color or texture to your tank, check out "Golf Coast Ecosystems". Macroalgae is beneficial, keeping the water pristine, and it adds color and texture. You will have to prune it so it doesn't grow out of control (called harvesting), but as you remove the growth, you also remove the nitrates and phosphates it uses to grow, out of your system.

 

[KHow]

Thanks. I had a larger CUC. My dog face puffer dined on the snails. I didn't list him above because he is being re- homed to my LFS in a few days.

 

[Luvthekeys]

Be careful you do not buy too large of a clean up crew. The back wall of my tank looks new and once it was covered with algae. I now have to figure out how to keep my clean up crew alive before they start eating each other. To make it worse I recently added a lawnmower blenny, I could not resist his face or antics. They do sell clean up crew for various sized tanks which may give you a idea of what to buy for your tank.

 

[KHow]

Gonna trade my puffer and pick up three or four snails. My tank stays pretty clean. Then change to an LED light and try some frags.