Algae removal

[eliashickman]

I have a tank that has been up for a month click on tank1.jpg and I recently added an anemone click on anemone1.jpg and a tube worm click on worm1.jpg.
In the pic of the tube worm you can see green and brown algae in the background. Is it okay to lightly scrub your rocks to remove unwanted algae??
I have been trying to feed the worm "Octopeeze" or something like that, it is a very fine, almost powder-like fish food. I really don't know if it eats this, but I feed it twice a day, and turn off the sump for 10-15 minutes.

 

[brandonberry]

It is OK to lightly scrub your rocks, however if you control the nutrient levels, that will help to get rid of the algae. Try using some Phosban or Rowaphos in a Phosban reactor. A mini-jet 404 pump works well with the reactor. This is also a great place to put your carbon. Stay on top of your water quality and do regular water changes and you may be able to succeed with the anemone. I assume you were talking about Cyclopeeze that you were feeding the tube worm. Does it actually appear to be taking any in. I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that they eat more microscopic food such as phytoplankton. The cyclopeeze is great for the anemone, but you may want to feed it other stuff as well such as frozen silversides and mysis.

 

[eliashickman]

Thanks guys. The tube worm doesn't seem to really be taking in the Cyclopeeze. I turned off all the pumps today (doing my weekly water change) and then tried to target feed it. I don't really think it was receptive to the food.
As for the anemone. He ate three parts of a shirmp yesterday, then regurgitated (sp) a smaller piece many hours after the initial feeding. I will feed him again in three days. The shrimps that I am feeding him are of course cleaned and deveined popcorn size shrimp.
I think the algae problem is a result of the lighting assembly that I have installed. I ran the tank for 3 weeks without lights preforming water changes the whole while and then introduced the lights the same time as the specimens. So either it is that or the food or a combination of the two.
This weekend I am going to get some macroalgae and snails from an lfs.

 

[mr_X]

where are you located? i could part with a basketball sized clump of macroalgae.
as for the anemone- i wish you luck with it. i too, purchased an anemone very early on, and i ended up losing him, despite the hand feedings.

 

[Entacmaea]

Hi there, I agree with seven that you should not scrub the algae- you will just be putting back into the water the nutrients that the algae has sequestered when the little bits of scrubbed algae break down. Better to remove the algae manually and take it out of the aquarium if you can.

As for the anemone, I would advise reading up on them. It was probably too early in the tank's life to purchase one, but if you go on a mission to learn about their care, you can succeed. It is a good sign that you are feeding it. From the picture you provided, the anemone looks rather bleached, so you will need to provide food, good lighting, and not "bother" it by trying to move it. It needs as much energy as possible in the form of food and light. Try feeding it whole shrimp- smaller ones if necessary- rather than cut up shrimp meat. The anemone probably gets other nutrition from other parts of the shrimp in addition to the "meat", so it is best to feed whole shrimp. It will expel the shell and undigested waste (probably what you saw) through its mouth. It will do this to expel waste after every meal, and it is normal. At this early stage, I would try feeding small amounts everyday, or at least every other day.

Their is a good book called "Host Sea Anemone Secrets" by Ron Shimek. It is short and a quick read, but will give you good background and strategies for keeping anemones. Good Luck.

Best, Peter

 

[eliashickman]

Thanks guys. The anemone seems to be doing fine. I fed it yesterday and this morning it regurgitated the undigested food. My algae problem is comming from my attempts to feed either the anemone or the tube worm Cyclopeeze. I am certain of this.
Peter, I am going to follow your advise and feed it every other day. Right now, I have been feeding it once every three days. I think it'll be okay since I don't fool with it too much.
Mr. X I am in Seoul, South Korea, but purchased some macro algae this past weekend. I am reading this book on corals and animal husbandry. It is an excellent book, I can 't remember the title but it comes highly recommended by all in the hobby. It covers everything and I am learning a great deal about marine life.
This is my second saltwater tank. I tried once 10 years ago and it was horrible. This time the tank I have is twice as big and was set up by the LFS owner himself, since I am teaching him English. It's a pretty sweet deal.