What fish to get clean?

[zanoshanox]

I have a 20 g long reef tank... I am having problems with algea since i added the new PC lights...(6.5 wpg). I have all kinds of alge, but the two worst that I have are bubble algea, everywhere, and brown algea...My sand bed is covered with a brown layer of algea and bubbles. I hate it. WHat woudl be the best fish/invert I could get to clean this up quickly? (it was mostly cuases from high nitrates while the tank was on a downfall)
Thanks,
Shane

 

[newgirl1]

the brown algae on your sand may be a result of high phosphates. If what you have is the same thing I had, that was my problem, phospates. I used phos-lock to get rid of it. worked in about a week. Now its more of a maintenance problem than anything.

 

[zanoshanox]

Is this stuff expensive? Where can I get it?

 

[lion_crazz]

RowaPhos also works excellently towards removing phosphates. It is similiar to carbon in appearence and runs about $20 a bag. What kind of water are you using? RO or tap?

 

[zanoshanox]

Tap, I dont have an RO unit
And the closest place to get RO from my house is about a one hour drive...

 

[lion_crazz]

Well that is why you have algae issues. I would get some RowaPhos, run that in your filter, and get 3 or 4 mexican turbo snails.

 

[zanoshanox]

Ok thanks a lot, they're reef safe correct?

 

[anthropo]

i'd get hermit crabs to take care of the sand. and to take care of the other algae get emerald crabs. this will take care of it, and keep it out of the tank. these are reef safe, also so are the turbo's

 

[zanoshanox]

Will the turbos do the sandbed or just maibly the glass and rocks?

 

[lion_crazz]

Turbos are for the rocks and glass. For the sand bed, you could do hermits or cerith snails.

 

[surfinusa]

maybe some sort of sand sifting goby might work because if they are constantly sifting the sand the algea wont be able to grow because the sand is not staying still :happyfish

 

[fanker]

when i had an alge bloom i had the brown stuff and i pulled it off in layers and did water changes allthe time and move the sand constantly

 

[zanoshanox]

Yeah I tried the same thing though, but it can sort of be dangerous with my tank because its so small and it stirs up nitrates...but idk. Sometimes it just get too bad, and I have no other choice, lol.

 

[fanker]

before that i got chemi-clean it worked really good

 

[zanoshanox]

Where'd you get it? Who makes it?

 

[fanker]

i got it at mermaid aquarium in fremont, i dont know who makes it but trop-aquarium might have some. it cost like $30

 

[zanoshanox]

Where is that place in fremont?

 

[fanker]

its on mission blvd. off of 680 or 880. its next to carls jr.

 

[paul p]

I, too, have some bubble algae. Did a search on the website and found that Foxface Lo rabbit fish will remove the stuff without releasing the spores. Plus they are a very nice community fish and attractive. I purchased one over the weekend and it is working away. I'm told that the Emerald Crabs will eat the bubble algae, but will probably break the bubble and release the spores.

 

[rusting]

Try Home Depot or wallmart for water, if you continue Using tap water you will have trouble. Tap water is not cost effective.