I want more algae...?

[thatsruff]

So I am very much a rookie so I know for sure I will regret this post... But I am going to ask all of you smarter, more experienced folks how to get more algae. And then you will probably tell me that I am insane and just you wait. Fair.

But... we would really like to get a Tuxedo Urchin in particular and we know that they will need a healthy amount to graze on.

We have a 30 gallon tank with 15 lbs of coralline covered live rock that has had 3 fish for about a month. All signs are good so far except for this algae 'problem'.

Let me know what you think, up to and including that we are impatient rookies who will regret wanting a less clean tank.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Excess nitrates and phosphates will cause algae to grow.

 

[TrialandError]

If you ever plan on getting corals don't get anything that can not be glued or epoxied to the rock. The urchin will more than likely knock it off rocks or carry it around with them and it's very aggravating.

 

[Dalmatia]

So I am very much a rookie so I know for sure I will regret this post... But I am going to ask all of you smarter, more experienced folks how to get more algae. And then you will probably tell me that I am insane and just you wait. Fair.

But... we would really like to get a Tuxedo Urchin in particular and we know that they will need a healthy amount to graze on.

We have a 30 gallon tank with 15 lbs of coralline covered live rock that has had 3 fish for about a month. All signs are good so far except for this algae 'problem'.

Let me know what you think, up to and including that we are impatient rookies who will regret wanting a less clean tank.

Did you mean coralline algae?

 

[fishroomlady]

yes, ^^ what type of algae are you wanting to grow? green or coralline?

 

[thatsruff]

yes, ^^ what type of algae are you wanting to grow? green or coralline?

Sorry, I suppose we are looking for green growth for the urchin to eat instead of it eating the coralline (not that we could tell it what to do...)

And yes, we do hope to have coral at some point and did see that they can knock them over/wear them. We will try to be cautious there; everything in stride.

 

[Skydvr]

Instead of growing algae in the display tank, why don't you set up a small container (a gallon or so) with a 3700K CFL bulb or place it in a sunny window. You can dose some nitrate and phosphate, or just add some food occasionally. Use it to grow algae on several rocks that you swap out as the urchin eats the algae.

That will minimize the nuisance algae in the display tank as well as ensure that you have a ready supply should the urchin end up eating the algae faster than it grows in the display. It will also allow you to maintain parameters that are more beneficial to the coral when you start adding them instead of trying to maintain non-ideal conditions to promote algae growth.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Instead of growing algae in the display tank, why don't you set up a small container (a gallon or so) with a 3700K CFL bulb or place it in a sunny window. You can dose some nitrate and phosphate, or just add some food occasionally. Use it to grow algae on several rocks that you swap out as the urchin eats the algae.

That will minimize the nuisance algae in the display tank as well as ensure that you have a ready supply should the urchin end up eating the algae faster than it grows in the display. It will also allow you to maintain parameters that are more beneficial to the coral when you start adding them instead of trying to maintain non-ideal conditions to promote algae growth.

This is a great idea! It would definitely do the job and could work for some other fish or inhabitants that are herbivores.

 

[thatsruff]

Instead of growing algae in the display tank, why don't you set up a small container (a gallon or so) with a 3700K CFL bulb or place it in a sunny window. You can dose some nitrate and phosphate, or just add some food occasionally. Use it to grow algae on several rocks that you swap out as the urchin eats the algae.

That will minimize the nuisance algae in the display tank as well as ensure that you have a ready supply should the urchin end up eating the algae faster than it grows in the display. It will also allow you to maintain parameters that are more beneficial to the coral when you start adding them instead of trying to maintain non-ideal conditions to promote algae growth.

Nice idea indeed; would the 'algae tank' need a heater to thrive?

 

[Pete H.]

why not wrap a piece of nori around a rock with a rubber band and place that in the tank? My urchins love that stuff.

 

[Dalmatia]

Just put in some cheap florescent lights, like 3500k and you'll get hair alge, feed more too! This fells wrong telling people how to mess up their tanks! Usually people have problems with that

 

[Pete polyp]

I'm growing some crazy film algae in my old frag tank. Its so thick it literally comes off in a sheet about as thick as a business card. I just neglected it with no water changes and topping it off maybe once a week. My tang loves the stuff!

 

[Dalmatia]

I'm growing some crazy film algae in my old frag tank. Its so thick it literally comes off in a sheet about as thick as a business card. I just neglected it with no water changes and topping it off maybe once a week. My tang loves the stuff!

Lol your nuts
I love it

 

[gemini9]

It takes some time to grow algae doesn't it? I mean, my tank is 3 months old and I've had high nitrates from the beginning and I still don't have any kind of algae except maybe some ugly brown spots on my glass.

 

[Pete polyp]

It takes some time to grow algae doesn't it? I mean, my tank is 3 months old and I've had high nitrates from the beginning and I still don't have any kind of algae except maybe some ugly brown spots on my glass.

That is because you have no phosphate.

 

[gemini9]

That is because you have no phosphate.

Just read that in the nitrate post.