Innovative Marine 30L

[Jenaleigh1]

Updated pic. I think it's still growing, but is just a very unhealthy color? How does that even happen?? My water is still pristine. (Headdesk)

 

[Ahruk]

I don't know why the algae keeps growing but I've had AMAZING results with manual scrubbing and turbo snails (not sure if they'll eat it once it gets long). I know they're big but they're super great snails.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

I've pulled it all out and scrubbed it before and that really cut it down. (See earlier pictures) I tested my water and my alkalinity was low again and so I went ahead and switched out the clear fx pro media and it seems to be turning brown again. I don't have any turbos in there, but I did buy 4 more red striped snails today, and they seem to be working on it.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Finally allowed myself to buy a couple things after a month of water stability. I was really hesitant to spend until I got the algae under control but it looks like we are going to have to live with each other a while longer. I've been wanting the gorgonian for a long time.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

These are existing stuff, but I'm finally seeing some good growth.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

More... you see that huge zoa colony? It's a large piece of rock, got it for 20 bucks. Yes, algae. I know. Ok already.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Look at that. I love it.

 

[Ahruk]

I love gorgs.... almost picked one up last week but still too worried about killing them.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

I know. I hate to spend money and not be sure it has a good chance of survival

 

[Flameback Pair]

I have a 30LIM also. I bought a build-your-own clean up crew from liveaquaria.com. You can get $75 worth of CUC and the shipping is $0.00--free! The only problem is you have to get $75 worth. I had a medium bio-load in my tank I figure so I had to feed extra for all the inverts. I got some really odd ball stuff too but mostly snails and hermits. There is a list of stuff you can pick from and it is quite a list.

 

[BradT]

75 seems pricey for clean up crew for a 30l

 

[Flameback Pair]

It's not pricey considering you can choose from:

6 spicie of hermits, 11 spicie of snails, 3 spicie of shrimp, 4 spicie of crab, 2 spicie of sea slug, 2 spicie of brittle sea star, and 2 spicie of urchins.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Agree with the 75 dollar thing, but considering some of the things you'd pay more for like the Mexican turbos or urchins, it all seems about even, and you don't have to wait on the lfs to get more of something in stock. Added three big turbos last week and no change at all in the algae. Did a five gallon water change last night but this time used the boxed seawater, so maybe that will help.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Bowl of algae, anyone? I'm pulling more out tonight. I think that regardless of how much cuc I'm adding, there really won't be much improvement unless I can get down to where the roots of this junk are holding all the waste from the tank. My clown fish have started biting now when I pull out algae because they've started hosting it. Yep.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

This is war.

 

[Ahruk]

Wow... so sorry to hear that. Although it's kind of entertaining how the clowns are hosting. Have you tested your tds recently?

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Yes, testing weekly and adding supplements according to directions. My water is perfect. That's why I'm so perplexed.

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Oddly enough, everything else in the tank is growing, including the gorgonian. No clue.

 

[Ahruk]

Have you looked into hydrogen peroxide dosing or algae cides?

 

[Jenaleigh1]

Ahruk, sorry I did not see this earlier. I haven't looked at algaecides because I'm wary of what it may do to the other stuff in my tank and I haven't researched much to get a good understanding of it.