Annoying algae on the rocks

[Carz]

So I did a total tear down of my 250 MD early April of this year. Today has marked 5 months from the new start. I went through a small ugly stage and just let it ride. I am still looking at this thin covering of algae on my rocks and it annoys me. My nitrates are at 5 and Phosphates are at .05 and these are pretty consistent with my Hanna tests. I can keep my glass pretty clean with daily cleaning and weekly water changes but the algae on the rocks just wont leave and I dont think taking the rocks out to scrub is a option yet. As you can see from the pics I have a good amount of tangs in the tank and they do their job. I am not in a rush if I just need to wait it out or is there something else that I am missing with this algae. I am dosing Nitrates daily to keep the tank in the 5 range. I have some corals that are in the tank that were transferred from the old system and these were just frags of corals i kept before I sold the main colonies (besides the giant duncan that I did not have the heart to frag any of the 200+heads) I wanted to wait for this algae to leave before I added any new corals. Am I over reacting? Will this algae leave on its own? Should I stop dosing the nitrates? or is there another option That I am missing?

This may be the answer to my own question, but I am not using any clean up crew. I went bare bottom and did not want the shells all over the place. I am close to throwing in the towel and getting a CUC though.

 

[Subsea]

Those fish will not eat that algae. Snails would easily remove that algae. If you eliminate hermit crabs you should not have empty shells.

PS: Some would dose 10ml of 3% peroxide per 10G of system water. I did it once for 10 days on an established sand bed display system. It wrecked Copepod population, but tank was visible free of algae. Clean in my display does not work. I use janitors like snails & pods.

 

[Carz]

I do see me getting some snails and urchins here soon.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Might be green cyanno, can I get a clearer photo?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

This may be the answer to my own question, but I am not using any clean up crew. I went bare bottom and did not want the shells all over the place. I am close to throwing in the towel and getting a CUC though.

I think you've answered your question...

 

[Subsea]

I do see me getting some snails and urchins here soon.

Urchins can be bulldozers and they are consumers of coraline algae.

Incidentally, your display is very nice.

 

[Carz]

never thought about green cyanno, but wouldnt it scrub off pretty easy with a brush?

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

never thought about green cyanno, but wouldnt it scrub off pretty easy with a brush?

It would, usually grows best in low flow areas, can I get a close up photo

 

[Carz]

no pic but took out a rock and its algae. Kinda smells pretty good, but I did not taste it. Really hard to scrub off with scrub brush. I guess I will just ride it out another month to see if it goes away. I really dont want to add chemicals but did order some snails and urchins.

 

[jabberwock]

This is the trade off with dry or live rock. Lot's of available real estate for algae to take hold.

Real ocean live rock comes prepopulated (the good and the bad), but, I would never start another tank with anything else.

 

[Subsea]

This is the trade off with dry or live rock. Lot's of available real estate for algae to take hold.

Real ocean live rock comes prepopulated (the good and the bad), but, I would never start another tank with anything else.

Kudos to this post.

 

[Debramb]

Have you thought about adding pods? I didn’t think about it but we never had new tank syndrome because of live rock and pods. Steele pods posted how well they work. I agree and will stock up when we upgrade again. He cultures everything himself.
Debra

 

[Paul B]

That ain't algae. This is algae.



What you have growing is normal in such a new tank and with that many fish ("way" to many in that young of a tank) there is no way around it. Like was said, dry rock will grow algae no matter what you do or add. It should subside eventually but I fear it will get much worse before that happens.

You can add urchins, snails, crabs or manatees but it won't help. Only time will do that and maybe the removal of some of those fish.

Good Luck.

PS, algae is actually a good thing, especially in a new, bare, dry rock tank.

 

[jbc6262]

Here's some fish that eat algae.

21 Best algae-eating saltwater fish for a reef tank

Watching the natural behaviors of fish in a reef tank is awesome. It's even better when it is useful, like in these 21 best algae-eating saltwater fish

www.saltwateraquariumblog.com

 

[Debramb]

Manatees HaHaHa. I love the way you “reef”. Wish I were back home and beg a visit to see your tanks!
Debra, Fort Worth, Texas
PS, Tom and I are old school with our fish keeping, rely on biological approach. Your food “guts” theory is spot on. We’re using same principles outside in a steam and pond for plants and fish. No shoveling or plowing snow here, maybe a day or 2 at most. But the natural way is great!

 

[Paul B]

Manatees HaHaHa. I love the way you “reef”.

I used to use them, but the plastic bags to ship them in became ridiculous.