Algae control for a 20 gallon nano

[las]

Hi

I need some ideas for algae control in a 20 gallon nano. I would love something like a lawnmower blenny. Is that even doable? Any ideas would be great.

 

[Rigoberto]

What are your nutrient parameters (Nitrates, Phosphates)? Who lives there currently? What do you feed?

 

[las]

Its an NPS tank. PO4 is always .15-.25. NO3 10-20. Only inhabitants are pair of wheeler gobies and the symbiotic pistol shrimp. Tank is centered around the gorgonians. Feed heavy on rotifers, phytoplankton, marine snow, Baby Brine shrimp.

 

[Rigoberto]

Its an NPS tank. PO4 is always .15-.25. NO3 10-20. Only inhabitants are pair of wheeler gobies and the symbiotic pistol shrimp. Tank is centered around the gorgonians. Feed heavy on rotifers, phytoplankton, marine snow, Baby Brine shrimp.

Hi las,

NPS, nice. Gobies are one of my favorites.

Is the food live... rotifiers/shrimp or frozen?

How about live copepods (active population)? Any additions?

Do you have competitive macro algae in tank?

Do you run a skimmer? Is there a substrate?

I would suggest an intermediate goal to make life hard for GHA by introducing predators (small and large), depriving nutrients and required energy sources, as well as mechanical attacks on the GHA if feasible. Small GHA predators which area also a food source for your larger residents serve multiple purposes.

This is the approach I took in Nano, and GHA struggles.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi

I need some ideas for algae control in a 20 gallon nano. I would love something like a lawnmower blenny. Is that even doable? Any ideas would be great.

Please post pics under white lighting to verify what you have and then make recommendations. Lawnmower blenny likely not the answer as while they require algae, they are not a true algae eater despite the name as they require meats and calcium to thrive

 

[las]

Hi las,

NPS, nice. Gobies are one of my favorites.

Is the food live... rotifiers/shrimp or frozen?

How about live copepods (active population)? Any additions?

Do you have competitive macro algae in tank?

Do you run a skimmer? Is there a substrate?

Im dosing live phyto. 2.5 ML/day

Ive seeded the tank with pods 3 times in 3 months. I think im done seeding by now. I see them all over the glass.

The rotifers and BBS are both Frozen from Hikari Biopure. I use Yellow Sno from PNS

No skimmer. No macro.

2 inch sand bed

 

[las]

Please post pics under white lighting to verify what you have and then make recommendations. Lawnmower blenny likely not the answer as while they require algae, they are not a true algae eater despite the name as they require meats and calcium to thrive

I have filamentous green hair algae.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have filamentous green hair algae.

Pics still help but sounds like you may have elevated phosphates from overfeeding and types of foods added, I assume bright lighting and tank which may be at or near a window.(guesses without pics)
Pull as much as you can by hand and add snails such as astrea-turbo grazer-cerith-nerite and nassarius as wel as a pencil urchin and about a dozen carribean blue leg hermit crabs and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white lighting

 

[las]

Pics still help but sounds like you may have elevated phosphates from overfeeding and types of foods added, I assume bright lighting and tank which may be at or near a window.(guesses without pics)
Pull as much as you can by hand and add snails such as astrea-turbo grazer-cerith-nerite and nassarius as wel as a pencil urchin and about a dozen carribean blue leg hermit crabs and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white lighting

I appreciate your thoughts. But, this is an NPS tank centered around gorgonians. No crabs or sea urchins will be in here. I shouldve been more specific earlier. Sorry. This tank is very low on the lighting. And, nowhere near a window. My phosphates range from .15-.25. Thats exactly where i want them. Everything about this tank has been designed for one purpose.

My questions is what would be a good fish that i can use in a 10 gallon nano that would help with eating the filamentous green hair algae that is starting to appear after 4 months without any clean up crew whatsover? I dont need a tank make over...... Just need help figuring out a fish to choose.

 

[Dav2996]

Hi

I need some ideas for algae control in a 20 gallon nano. I would love something like a lawnmower blenny. Is that even doable? Any ideas would be great.

I have a 20 gallon tank I got 1.5 Aquamax Hang on the back skimmer it brought all my nitrates and algae issues to non existent almost. I Had issues but never ever did water changes this keeps everything perfect nitrate wise and algae wise. Always shoot for a skimmer larger then your setup it also makes it easier to upgrade later.

AquaMaxx HOB-1.5 Protein Skimmer: How to Assemble

1. Internal Plumbing Assemble the inlet pipe assembly. Don't forget to install the red o-ring that helps prevent water from creeping out of the skimmer. 2. Assemble the Pump Secure the bubble plate to the outlet of the pump using the plastic screw until it is finger tight. Find the yellow airline

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[las]

Ive been looking at a rainford goby so far.

 

[Rigoberto]

Im dosing live phyto. 2.5 ML/day

Ive seeded the tank with pods 3 times in 3 months. I think im done seeding by now. I see them all over the glass.

The rotifers and BBS are both Frozen from Hikari Biopure. I use Yellow Sno from PNS

No skimmer. No macro.

2 inch sand bed

I lean towards live foods (brine) with the aim of minimizing remnant nutrients from feeding. I only fill in with frozen when live is not available. Your pods are a great asset IMO.

I keep macro (https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/macroalgae/pom-pom-gracilaria/) in my main tank and dose phyto (my culture). Phosphates are 0 and nitrates are 0. I dose phyto daily at about 1/2 your rate, and I skim it out constantly. I suppress CO2 with a skimmer/CO2 scrubber. GHA seems to have a hard time.

I have never had more than 2-5 nitrates. My bacterial filter included a culture of https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/bacteria/pns-substrate-sauce/ from the start.

 

[las]

I have a 20 gallon tank I got 1.5 Aquamax Hang on the back skimmer it brought all my nitrates and algae issues to non existent almost. I Had issues but never ever did water changes this keeps everything perfect nitrate wise and algae wise. Always shoot for a skimmer larger then your setup it also makes it easier to upgrade later.

AquaMaxx HOB-1.5 Protein Skimmer: How to Assemble

1. Internal Plumbing Assemble the inlet pipe assembly. Don't forget to install the red o-ring that helps prevent water from creeping out of the skimmer. 2. Assemble the Pump Secure the bubble plate to the outlet of the pump using the plastic screw until it is finger tight. Find the yellow airline

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I hear you. But, the point of this system is to remain skimmerless.

 

[Rigoberto]

I have a 20 gallon tank I got 1.5 Aquamax Hang on the back skimmer it brought all my nitrates and algae issues to non existent almost. I Had issues but never ever did water changes this keeps everything perfect nitrate wise and algae wise. Always shoot for a skimmer larger then your setup it also makes it easier to upgrade later.

AquaMaxx HOB-1.5 Protein Skimmer: How to Assemble

1. Internal Plumbing Assemble the inlet pipe assembly. Don't forget to install the red o-ring that helps prevent water from creeping out of the skimmer. 2. Assemble the Pump Secure the bubble plate to the outlet of the pump using the plastic screw until it is finger tight. Find the yellow airline

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Skimmer can definitely help with nutrient export.

 

[las]

I lean towards live foods (brine) with the aim of minimizing remnant nutrients from feeding. I only fill in with frozen when live is not available. Your pods are a great asset IMO.

I keep macro (https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/macroalgae/pom-pom-gracilaria/) in my main tank and dose phyto (my culture). Phosphates are 0 and nitrates are 0. I dose phyto daily at about 1/2 your rate, and I skim it out constantly. I suppress CO2 with a skimmer/CO2 scrubber. GHA seems to have a hard time.

I have never had more than 2-5 nitrates. My bacterial filter included a culture of https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/bacteria/pns-substrate-sauce/ from the start.

Im purposefully keeping NO3 & PO4 in those ranges i mentioned. I dont want them lower. I need a fish that will eat the hair algae.

 

[Rigoberto]

I hear you. But, the point of this system is to remain skimmerless.

Then perhaps you need to focus on biological filtration. Bacteria and microfauna...

 

[Nick Steele]

I’m not too sure a rainford goby will eat algae as actively as say a tailspot blenny. My tailspot keep my tank clean and would eat algae 24/7. He passed and I got a rainford goby. And while the rainford will pick at algae here and there he mostly focuses on the sandbed and any cyano around.

 

[Rigoberto]

Im purposefully keeping NO3 & PO4 in those ranges i mentioned. I dont want them lower. I need a fish that will eat the hair algae.

My first tank was a 20g. Pretty small... and I mean that in the spirit of difficult (expert level).

 

[las]

Then perhaps you need to focus on biological filtration. Bacteria and microfauna...

Seriously, the system is perfect. I just need a fish that will be happy in a 10 -20 gallon tank that will eat hair algae. I hope i am being clear

 

[las]

I’m not too sure a rainford goby will eat algae as actively as say a tailspot blenny. My tailspot keep my tank clean and would eat algae 24/7. He passed and I got a rainford goby. And while the rainford will pick at algae here and there he mostly focuses on the sandbed and any cyano around.

Thanks Nick! How big do tailspots get? Would one be happy in a 20 Gallon?