Algae.: But why?

tuscani · Feb 2, 2024

I am a bit perplexed. I assume this is a start of GHA? I have solid CUC and my parameters appear fine. Ideas?

5 - Astraea Snails
5 - Nassarius Snails
2 - Peppermint Shrimp
2 - Emerald Crab
2 - Scarlet Skunk Shrimp
1 - Fire Shrimp
1 - Halloween Hermit Crab
1 - Blue Legged Crab
2 - Strawberry Conch
1 - Bumble Bee Snail (Hitchhiker

Alkalinity (dKH) = 8.6
Ammonia (NH3) = 0.07
Calcium (Ca2) = 555
Magnesium (Mg2) = 1535
Nitrate (N03) = 6.8
Nitrite (N02) = 0.018
pH = 7.7
Phosphate (P04) = 0.06
Salinity = 1.025

rennjidk · Feb 2, 2024

If you can grow coral, you can grow algae. It's one of the simplest growing organisms on the planet. No amount of nutrient limitations or "balance" will stop it. Big tanks have tangs, that's why they never see it. Small tanks need large Cuc, utility nano fish like a court jester goby, and manual removal. If you want to go the chemical route, Flux RX is often recommended, but I haven't seen any benefit after dosing it at 3x for several weeks in my FW tank for GHA.

Edit: Also out of your Cuc, only the astraea snails are gha eaters. Consider adding some large turbos and an urchin.

tuscani · Feb 2, 2024

So sounds like I need more CUC then I already have.. Was thinking or trying an Urchin anyway

Paul B · Feb 2, 2024

Remember those 22 creatures you have living in there also contribute to nutrients in the tank even if you are calling them a CUC. Algae will live in any tank especially a new tank and it is perfectly normal and healthy.

Reefer Matt · Feb 2, 2024

What size tank is this? Most of the cuc on the list don’t eat hair algae.

jda · Feb 2, 2024

You could need a hundred, or more, snails. The balance is different for every tank.

Don't ever get sucked into the narrative that waste products like no3 and po4 lead to algae, or can limit algae. Algae can thrive with undetectable levels of no3 and po4 since they can get nitrogen and phosphorous from other sources that you cannot test for. If you try and biologically limit algae by cutting back on nitrogen and phosphorous, you will harm corals too. Consumers are most of what keeps algae at bay. Having other things populate the surfaces also helps a lot too - coralline, film bacteria and algae, etc.