Algae question
- Thread starter ReeferItis
- Start date
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Some rock will change colors as it ages. Doesn't look to me like an algae issue at all. More like the beginnings of Coralline growth.
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
Can't identify the algae this soon in the game, but can tell you that it is perfectly normal. Wait until your nitrites have reached zero. Then check your level of nitrates. Then do a water change to bring nitrates down and thus reducing algae growth.
Nevermind, I see you have a fish in there. You'll need to do regular water changes to keep pollutants like nitrites and nitrates down.
Key to this is: Keep you nitrates down and you'll have a lot less problem algae.
Nevermind, I see you have a fish in there. You'll need to do regular water changes to keep pollutants like nitrites and nitrates down.
Key to this is: Keep you nitrates down and you'll have a lot less problem algae.
ReeferItis
Community Member
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Yea I put 4 damsels in last friday...so ill most like do my first water change in like another week and a half...if that is bad algae and not coralline algae what part of the clean up crew should I go get and how many?? Just a starter 20 gallon tank
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
You can get a custom clean up crew at this site very inexpensively. Almost like free just pay for shipping.
Cleaner Packages with Free Shipping
Cleaner Packages with Free Shipping
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
Scarlet hermits are the most reef safe of the crabs; and, as a bonus, they will eat hair algae and bryopsis, get 2 of them. 1 Turbo Snail, 2 Trochus Snails for algae on glass and rocks. Some people prefer Astrea Snails. 2 Cerith Snails and 2 Nassa Snails for the substrate.
That's about all you'd need for a 20 gallon. This is just a recommendation, ask your LFS for guidance. The rule of 1 per gallon is not really correct and experts agree on one per 10 gallons for the larger snails. You could starve them with too many.
That's about all you'd need for a 20 gallon. This is just a recommendation, ask your LFS for guidance. The rule of 1 per gallon is not really correct and experts agree on one per 10 gallons for the larger snails. You could starve them with too many.
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
At this point in your tank life the parameters that are a need to know are ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Since you have animals in your tank we really need to know these. You'll also have to do some stepped water changes regularly. It's way to early for you to worry about your calcium level, your water changes will take care of that for now. Yes 380 - 450 is where you want to be, even though that is irrelevant at this stage in the game.
Marinedepot.com | Reef Tank Parameters
Marinedepot.com | Reef Tank Parameters
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
ReeferItis
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My ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are all at 0 its weird...still havent done a water change since I started the tank...I think im just going to let it run for another month before doing anything else to it...thanks mike im going to read both of those links before I go to bed tonight...
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
I see you have four damsels in there, so you'll need to do water changes. I'd suggest a minimum of two gallons a week. What are you keeping your specific gravity at? Are you topping off every day?
clownfitch
Active Member
Once your sure the tank is established and you do have some micro algae growth you might look into an Algae Blenny or Starry Blenny. These little guys are awesome and full of character. My AB keeps my live rock and substrate cleaned with a little extra attitude to boot! I have another 30 gal tank I just started up this past weekend that I plan to stock with a Starry once I am sure I have established some micro algae growth.
