best cleanup crew?

[ragawaga]

Hi,
I've been running my tank for about 5 months now. I though I'd got over the algae blooms, but it seems to have started again.

At the moment, it is a FOWLR with 1 scarlet hermt, about 7-10 glass shrimp (I caught myself, but can't remember how many) and 1 brown mushroom (hitchiker on LR).

The tank is 71 litres and I have a 20 litre sump (the sump has a plenum). There is about 4-5 KG of LR (mixed sources).

My readings are :
ammonia - 0ppm
nitrite - 0ppm
nitrate - 0ppm

The hair algae stopped growing (but never disapeared) and the brown algae on the walls of the tank disapeared. I had a lot of barnacle type creatures growing on the walls of the tank, and since I scraped the ones on the front wall off (as it was obstructing view), brown algae has started to build up. I know that this bloom will obviousley be caused by the sudden increase in organic waste. What I would like to know is, what is the best crew to get rid of the hair algae (and keep it away) and keep the brown algae at bay?

 

[Litoria]

Every situation has its own needs. There is no single best cleanup crew. If you are having problems with brown algae, go with snails, these are the best with any diatomaceous type blooms. For hair algae,try a variety. Scarlet reef hermits are excellent at eating hair algae, as are sally lightfoot crabs and emeralds. Also try some fish if you have room. A tang or a blenny will eat the algae also. And finally, one of the best algae removers is you. An algae breakout will overwhelm any amount of cleaners. Try to get as many out as possible and leave just the remains for your cleaners.