Api phosphate test help

[stewy14]

I wouldn’t make any decisions based on an API phosphate test.

Algae isn’t controlled by lowering phosphates anyway. Algae is from a lack of herbivores. Get more algae eaters and it will go away.

I have too many algae eaters
Bunch of pods and stuff
30+astreas
Turbo snail
Emerald
Decorator
5nassarius
A clown
At this point I always forget if I have anything else, I don’t think so
And this is an 11 gal that’s been setup since feb 28, 2024

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

In my experience these can be wrong

 

[rtparty]

I have too many algae eaters
Bunch of pods and stuff
30+astreas
Turbo snail
Emerald
Decorator
5nassarius
A clown
At this point I always forget if I have anything else, I don’t think so
And this is an 11 gal that’s been setup since feb 28, 2024

Is it hair algae for sure? Is it longer? Have you gotten in there with a toothbrush and scrubbed it out? That way the snails can get ahead of the issue.

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

over overstocked with inverts 30 plus snail in an 11 gallon I have 12 in my 20 and 41 in 55

 

[stewy14]

Is it hair algae for sure? Is it longer? Have you gotten in there with a toothbrush and scrubbed it out? That way the snails can get ahead of the issue.

Not gha, just normal, green algae on my rock if I take the rock out, then I’m gonna have to clean the whole tank after, and I don’t wanna risk killing anything
I don’t want a repeat of what happened when I put this rock in…
I smashed up my old rock in big pieces, and put everything onto this new giant rock, everything got stressed, sand went murky, snails tried to climb out, it was a disaster

 

[stewy14]

over overstocked with inverts 30 plus snail in an 11 gallon I have 12 in my 20 and 41 in 55

Ik…
But there’s nothing I can really do, I can sell, for nothing, they do eat a lot though, I only have had 10 deaths out of 45 astreas(got sent 20 or 30 too many lol)

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

nice I would just put algae tablet I am not hating

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

A you want no algae This is the way to go without any chemicals and cool to see this hole ecosystem

 

[stewy14]

A you want no algae This is the way to go without any chemicals and cool to see this hole ecosystem

Exactly, yet, my stupid impatient brain still doses, even though I know I shouldn’t and can’t basically

 

[rtparty]

This is a great video

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

Ik they are, but they are too dang expensive for me
I can’t spend $60 on something I will not use much
But seriously, is this 1 or 2 ppm?

Lots of us do use them often.
I use mine 2-3 times a week & base my feeding off its readings.
You won't regret the investment

 

[VintageReefer]

Algae isn’t controlled by lowering phosphates anyway. Algae is from a lack of herbivores. Get more algae eaters and it will go away.

Is it hair algae for sure? Is it longer? Have you gotten in there with a toothbrush and scrubbed it out? That way the snails can get ahead of the issue.

While I don’t disagree, I will say, I have never once toothbrushed or scrubbed my rock, to fix algae problems, and I always run modest cleanup crews. Roughly 10 snails or less, and 10 hermits or less, for a 75g tank

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

While I don’t disagree, I will say, I have never once toothbrushed or scrubbed my rock, to fix algae problems, and I always run modest cleanup crews. Roughly 10 snails or less, and 10 hermits or less, for a 75g tank

I would imagine the vast amount of snails in OP's tank would equal a vast amount of snail poop too.
Ive never delved too deeply into the effects of snail poop on nutrients but at a high enough ratio....

 

[VintageReefer]

I would imagine the vast amount of snails in OP's tank would equal a vast amount of snail poop too.
Ive never delved too deeply into the effects of snail poop on nutrients but at a high enough ratio....

Yes each living thing, contributes waste. And keep in mind that tank is 11g

My 15g I think I have 5-6 snails and a couple hermits, 1 fish

 

[rtparty]

While I don’t disagree, I will say, I have never once toothbrushed or scrubbed my rock, to fix algae problems, and I always run modest cleanup crews. Roughly 10 snails or less, and 10 hermits or less, for a 75g tank

Okay?

If it’s hair algae and too long, very few snails or any other CUC will ever touch it. Thus, the problem is never fixed.

But cool story

 

[rtparty]

It’s clear a lot of hobbyists need to actually research algae, its causes, and the fixes. The video I linked above is a very good place to start. Turn it on 1.5x speed and it’s a 30 minute watch that will provide actual info

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

nice I would just put algae tablet I am not hating

What are you suggesting? Algae tablet?

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

What are you suggesting? Algae tablet?

I said this because eventually there's will be hardly any algae and all 70 snails will parish with a big nitrate spike

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I said this because eventually there's will be hardly any algae and all 70 snails will parish with a big nitrate spike

Never heard of an algae tablet before. Couldn't you just use nori instead, without putting unwanted algae/chemicals in your tank?

 

[stewy14]

Never heard of an algae tablet before. Couldn't you just use nori instead, without putting unwanted algae/chemicals in your tank?

used to use algae tablets, until my dog ate them all....................................................................................................