Algae in Reef tanks!

**ShaunW** · 01-30-2006, 12:37 PM

Since algae is the ban and savior for all reef tanks, I would like to get a discussion about algae growth in marine aquariums.

So how do you maintain your bad algae growth in your tank and what can we all do to keep it under check.

**Chiefmcfuz** · 01-30-2006, 12:42 PM

I control bad algae by water changes and not overfeeding as well as snails, hermits and other crabs. I also supplement Purple up as my Iodine and calcium supplement to help the growth of coraline algae.

alrha · 01-30-2006, 12:48 PM

Biologically: I have blue Tuxedo Urchins, Snails, and Tangs to keep my algae in check. I also grow macroalgae (Chaetomorpha) in my refugium to complete.

Chemically: I run Phosphate media (Seachem's Phosguard) to keep my PO4 at 0 and thus be a limiting factor in algae growth.

Mechanically: I manually remove what I can.

01-30-2006, 12:55 PM

I have about 100 snails and 100 hermits doing my algea cleaning ,WC and TOns of cheato in my Refuge.
I dont use any thing but carbon as far as Media gos ,I feel that doing frequent water changes help out alot.Restores essential elements .calcium
Also a good flow of water in your tank helps too

**jhale** · 01-30-2006, 12:57 PM

see Rich's signature.

But seriously, I do think limiting the nutrients through skimming is one of the best ways to cut down on algae.

Also I would like to point out that algae is a normal occurance on reefs.
If you have it growing in your tank it does not mean something is wrong.
It's when the algae takes over a tank that it becomes a nuisance.

In the wild there are thousands of creatures who eat every type of algae out there, we can not possibly compete with that, so in the end it comes down to mechanical and chemical means for most of us.

I use phosban in a reactor to limit the Po4 levels. And I use water changes to keep the nutriants under control. I feed my fish quite a bit.

DRZL · 01-30-2006, 01:06 PM

BB method!

**ShaunW** · 01-30-2006, 01:15 PM

Even in BB tanks algae still is a major problem, since many algae species can obtain all their energy requirements through photosynthesis. These algae species are the most difficult to deal with since they are completely independent from the nutrient levels present in the tank, i.e. they are able to exist successfully even in a oligotrophic environment.

Heavy skimming also doesn't help completely, since many small molecules are not skimmed out even with heavy skimming.

jackson6745 · 01-30-2006, 01:17 PM

I still can't get rid of this damn red turf algae! It seems to thrive in low nutrient reefs. Mex turbos eat some of it but not all.
check out this RC thread
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&highlight=red turf
There is a lot of nice reefs here with the red stuff

**ShaunW** · 01-30-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackson6745


	I still can't get rid of this damn red turf algae! It seems to thrive in low nutrient reefs. Mex turbos eat some of it but not all. check out this RC thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&highlight=red turf There is a lot of nice reefs here with the red stuff

My point exactly,

, for starting this thread and talking about it.

Green bubble algae acts the same way.

jackson6745 · 01-30-2006, 01:26 PM

The only why I have been able to kill some is by adding mex turbos and also shading parts of the algae(only work on flat surfaces) Here is a pic of a piece of plastic placed on my faux sandbed. When left for about 2-3 weeks all algae underneath seems to die off. But I cant shade the whole tank

01-30-2006, 12:37 PM	#1
ShaunW Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,662 Reefer Ratings: (37) Friends: (0)	Algae in Reef tanks! Since algae is the ban and savior for all reef tanks, I would like to get a discussion about algae growth in marine aquariums. So how do you maintain your bad algae growth in your tank and what can we all do to keep it under check.

01-30-2006, 12:42 PM	#2
Chiefmcfuz Big Nosed Lazy Reef Dummy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 11,810 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (30)	I control bad algae by water changes and not overfeeding as well as snails, hermits and other crabs. I also supplement Purple up as my Iodine and calcium supplement to help the growth of coraline algae. __________________ Brendan Condo For Sale Northern Westchester Click here, My reef tank 24 gallon Aquapod

01-30-2006, 12:48 PM	#3
alrha ... Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn Posts: 4,265 Reefer Ratings: (51) Friends: (0)	Biologically: I have blue Tuxedo Urchins, Snails, and Tangs to keep my algae in check. I also grow macroalgae (Chaetomorpha) in my refugium to complete. Chemically: I run Phosphate media (Seachem's Phosguard) to keep my PO4 at 0 and thus be a limiting factor in algae growth. Mechanically: I manually remove what I can. __________________ - Albert

01-30-2006, 12:57 PM	#5
jhale paper bags are fun! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: G.V NYC Posts: 15,167 Reefer Ratings: (43) Friends: (32)	see Rich's signature. But seriously, I do think limiting the nutrients through skimming is one of the best ways to cut down on algae. Also I would like to point out that algae is a normal occurance on reefs. If you have it growing in your tank it does not mean something is wrong. It's when the algae takes over a tank that it becomes a nuisance. In the wild there are thousands of creatures who eat every type of algae out there, we can not possibly compete with that, so in the end it comes down to mechanical and chemical means for most of us. I use phosban in a reactor to limit the Po4 levels. And I use water changes to keep the nutriants under control. I feed my fish quite a bit. __________________ FS: Aquamedic dosing pump, MH250 ballast, wavemaker

01-30-2006, 01:06 PM	#6
DRZL ROCKSTAR Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hillside NJ Posts: 1,944 Reefer Ratings: (12) Friends: (0)	BB method! __________________

01-30-2006, 12:55 PM	#4
DEEPWATER Guest Posts: n/a	I have about 100 snails and 100 hermits doing my algea cleaning ,WC and TOns of cheato in my Refuge. I dont use any thing but carbon as far as Media gos ,I feel that doing frequent water changes help out alot.Restores essential elements .calcium Also a good flow of water in your tank helps too

01-30-2006, 01:15 PM	#7
ShaunW Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,662 Reefer Ratings: (37) Friends: (0)	Even in BB tanks algae still is a major problem, since many algae species can obtain all their energy requirements through photosynthesis. These algae species are the most difficult to deal with since they are completely independent from the nutrient levels present in the tank, i.e. they are able to exist successfully even in a oligotrophic environment. Heavy skimming also doesn't help completely, since many small molecules are not skimmed out even with heavy skimming.

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