Controlling algae from the git go

HawkeyeDJ · Sep 1, 2022

This may sound like a dumb question, but the inquiry is genuine.

Since nuisance algae is a near universal problem in this hobby, why don't we start immediately treating our tanks from the beginning, even before the NA shows up? I'm finding that Algaefix is somewhat helpful at this point, and I'm asking myself, why didn't I just use this stuff as soon as I filled the tank?

ScubaFish802 · Sep 1, 2022

In my opinion that would be my go to if things had run completely out of control. - not sure I would want the effects in a new/establishing system. Makes me wonder what good stuff it is cutting out as well as the long term effects on tank health/biome

Waters · Sep 1, 2022

The key is to keep nutrients in check from the beginning while also having a substantial CUC (fish and inverts) along with a good bacterial population. If you introduce that stuff early (before your tank is overrun with GHA) it vastly increases your chances of being successful. I just hit a year on my dry marco rock tank and have not had any algae at all. I would worry about adding chemicals like algaefix from the beginning to a tank just starting to try and find a balance.

djs4him · Sep 1, 2022

I think adding copepods and phytoplankton early on is often overlooked. These little guys will help to keep those nutrients in check and will eat algae along the way - an invaluable addition to any tank in my opinion.

MoshJosh · Sep 1, 2022

I agree with the above, keep nutrients in check, dose bacteria, start with a good clean up crew, and manually remove as you go. My tanks aren’t spotless, but so far this method is working pretty well go me. . . Oh, and a refugium if you can swing it

livinlifeinBKK · Sep 1, 2022

If you value the bacteria population and diversity why not use live rock that already has a variety of biodiversity like coralline algae? That seems like it would be by far the best way to establish the bacterial population.

rhostam · Sep 1, 2022

It is a nice idea. An ounce of prevention is worth an ounce of cure.

However, I think a proactive and regular use of algaecides would prevent your system from ever achieving a natural balance. This would leave an opening for massive trauma if you skipped a few treatments by accident or out of necessity, etc. In this case, the prevention would be to watch your nutrients, follow recommended practices, and do the time by allowing your tank to mature naturally.

Even then, that doesn't mean things won't happen! I had a pristine tank for a long time until I accidentally mixed Reefroids into my daily food mix (in the auto feeder - yikes!) and didn't notice until it was too late.

Dan_P · Sep 1, 2022

HawkeyeDJ said:
This may sound like a dumb question, but the inquiry is genuine.

Since nuisance algae is a near universal problem in this hobby, why don't we start immediately treating our tanks from the beginning, even before the NA shows up? I'm finding that Algaefix is somewhat helpful at this point, and I'm asking myself, why didn't I just use this stuff as soon as I filled the tank?

I had the same thought. Here is where I got to in thinking about it.

Thanks to @taricha, we are learned that poly quaternary algicides are persistent chemicals. Unless you go after them with GAC, they are likely to be in your system a long time. If you don’t know what the poly quat concentration is, you could be poisoning future live stock. Also, what algae poly quats harm or kill in saltwater is not entirely clear. I still want to try the idea and observe the outcome, but as an experiment rather than the first step in starting a reef aquarium.

taricha · Sep 1, 2022

HawkeyeDJ said:
Since nuisance algae is a near universal problem in this hobby, why don't we start immediately treating our tanks from the beginning, even before the NA shows up? I'm finding that Algaefix is somewhat helpful at this point, and I'm asking myself, why didn't I just use this stuff as soon as I filled the tank?

I actually looked at this on a new test tank (algaefix at lights-on) vs a tank without treatment, and for a while the clean white sand looked like an advertisement for algaefix, but then what happened was the nuisance organisms that are very low in susceptibility (cyano) to the algaecide asserted themselves and dominated. So the susceptibility of different organisms to the chemical varies dramatically. And it mostly just shapes what kind of uglies you'll have (no diatoms, yes cyano) rather than keeping them away.

Jay'sReefBugs · Sep 2, 2022

Bacteria and plenty of biodiversity. Let's face the facts you're going to be getting some type of algea Regardless it's just part of the process....But at all costs ( unless its fish only ) avoid any chemical treatments it's simply not worth it . Yes you have to put in more manual labor but the end results will be satisfactory and you won't have stressed out corals .

gibbers · Sep 2, 2022

Waters said:
The key is to keep nutrients in check from the beginning while also having a substantial CUC (fish and inverts) along with a good bacterial population. If you introduce that stuff early (before your tank is overrun with GHA) it vastly increases your chances of being successful. I just hit a year on my dry marco rock tank and have not had any algae at all. I would worry about adding chemicals like algaefix from the beginning to a tank just starting to try and find a balance.

Would you mind sharing your process? I am about to go live with my tank and it’s all dry marco rock

Waters · Sep 3, 2022

gibbers said:
Would you mind sharing your process? I am about to go live with my tank and it’s all dry marco rock

The whole process was pretty simple. I cycled the tank using one of the starter bacterias (I honestly can't remember which one I used this time unfortunately) and added my algae eating fish (One Spot and Coral Beauty) over the course of a couple of weeks. As soon as I started seeing diatoms, I added my snails and urchins. Microbacter 7 was dosed daily for a couple of months. The rest of my fish were added gradually within the first 3 months. I tested nutrients every other day (usually having to dose phosphates to make sure they didn't bottom out). A year in and so far no algae issues and my nitrates remain at around 6 with my phosphates sitting at about .07. I never had any nutrient issues from the dry rock. I don't run GFO or Carbon anymore but I do run UV 24X7. That doesn't mean 2 weeks from now I won't wake up to a GHA explosion lol....but so far so good.