Substrate stirring

[justlooking]

I have alot of green algae on my CC substrate. Should I occasionally stir up my substrate so the new unalgae cc comes to the top and the algae CC would be underneath. I assume the algae underneat would die off? Pros? Cons?

 

[toddius]

How long have you had the tank setup and what are your water readings? Also what kind of lighting do you use. I have been using cc for a while and the only time I have had any problems were when the tank was cycling but it cleared up and no problems since. I use a very large clean up crew though, but I would also recommend vaccuming it when you do water changes.

 

[justlooking]

Neither of those answered my questions. I understand WHY I might have algae, not worried about that right now. Wondering about stirring up the CC so some of the algaeed up pieces go underneath. The pros,cons

 

[@knight]

it should be just fine, but expect an ammonia spike, as the waste that had settled to the bottom will be stirred up into the water.
I would recommend using a syphon-vaccume and thoroughly vaccuming the substrate to minimize the waste getting back into your water. This would be a good time to do a water change as well. HTH

 

[guppie]

I have two smaller tanks set up with cc I stir it up about once a week, I have been doing this in one of the tanks for about a year and a half with not problems. That is the best way to get all the uneaten food up into your filters, You might also want to try useing powerhead to move the water around. I would also vacum the cc when you do water changes. Good Luck

 

[old salt]

I don't know if it would die if you stir it.. kinda doubt it... the algae comes from excess nutrients (overfeeding is one)... Either get some cleaners who eat the algae you have, or consider adding macroalgae plants (like caulerpa) to your tank. they will out compete the nuisance algae and it should die off...

 

[justlooking]

Im going to try stirring it up a bit. I am considering a DSB instead but not sure my hermit crabs will like it, lol. Also not sure how much a DSB will help with nitrates or if a DSB will make my PH less stable...I have decoration dead coral pieces in now..

 

[justlooking]

One more quick question, if I have regular lighting that I keep on for 6 hours a day, no LR, will things still grow in my LS....