Natural Algae Control

NickTheIrish · Mar 12, 2021

So, I just did a water change / gravel vacuum a week ago, and this algae is back in full force...

I realize some algae is inevitable, and that there is a good amount of the responsibility to control it that rests with me...but I was wondering if there were any critters I could add to help slow the growth. I have between 7 and 10 hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, 5 nasarrius snails (though I haven’t seen them in a while...), 3 margarita snails, and a sand-sifting starfish. I have damsals, but this is my cleanup crew.

I look forward to hearing what you all recommend!

guylaga · Mar 12, 2021

That looks like Cyano to me.

You should be able to vacuum it up as it grows sort of like a mat. Or you could suck it up with a turkey baster / blow it off the sand and net it out or let it get caught in a filter sock.

Otherwise run carbon and try to increase flow in the tank.

NickTheIrish · Mar 20, 2021

Update: I just wanted to thank you for your advice! I’m looking into some power heads to increase flow!
I also read about ChemiClean, and MAN; did it do the job! Within 48 hours the “red slime” algae was completely gone from my tank! Now I just have to replace my carbon and do a water change to get all the dead cyano out!
Thank you for identifying the issue, as I had never heard of it before, but now I’ve read up on it and have a lot of ways to help prevent it.

Dkmoo · Mar 20, 2021

As with most kind of "kill XYZ" chemical based treatments, it is often a short term treatment of the symptom than a long term fix of the cause

A cyano outbreak is caused by excess nutrients and immature/unstable bacteria microfauna. The latter takes time to mature naturally and the impact of chemical additives to this natural process is not complete clear. However, what is clear is that the chemical ingredient is erythromycin, while the product claim that it does not impact nitrifying bacteria, it certainly kills many types of other bacteria. So, it does suggest that there may be some kind of impact to the natural balance of the bacteria microfauna and long term tank stability.

This seem consistent with some tanks where cyano comes back after stop using the product. And others where tank is still not naturally stable after 2 years because of consistent applications of these "quick fix" products

:Edit: "bacteria microfauna" is not just the "bad cyano" vs "good nitrifying bacteria", there's a vast number of different strands, some good. Some bad, some neutral. All this contributed to the diversity and stqbility of the tank via the natural nutrient competition and check/balance among themselves

NickTheIrish · Mar 20, 2021

Well, that’s grim news! Welcome, nonetheless. I appreciate the input, I’ll definitely think twice before using it in the future, and continue to read about it. What would you suggest to combat it in the future?

Dkmoo · Mar 20, 2021

Well its not really grim news, its just more of "right tool for the right job" and understanding why something works, what its doing to yiur tank, and what approach you want to take.

At its core cyano is a nutrient and stability issue. You can either tackle it with the "nature" approach by let things stabilize via the diverse microfauna and nutrient competiton, or you can go with the artificial approach by using more and more technology to create and control for stabikity with periodic application of "kill agents", using gfos, uv lights, and other products out there. I lean towards "natural" but both can be successful if done properly. I think best practice is somewhere in the middle bc no matter how much we want "nature" we just don't have the water volume to truly replicate it.

NickTheIrish · Mar 20, 2021

Yes, I personally would rather do things “naturally” as much as possible! It’s why I initially ask about animals that will help take care of it, but I’m learning that there are a lot of different schools of thought when it comes to tank care and maintenance.

Because I am new to the hobby, I’m trying to research and ask people I trust for advice and information, but I am still only BARELY three months into the hobby (again) and impressionable. I’m currently torn between two LFS’ that couldn’t be offering me more differing advice. It’s what wound me up here.

At any rate, I certainly appreciate any and all guidance you and the community have offered, thus far! I would really like to learn how to cultivate the most pristine tank I can!

NickTheIrish · Apr 11, 2021

guylaga said:
That looks like Cyano to me.

You should be able to vacuum it up as it grows sort of like a mat. Or you could suck it up with a turkey baster / blow it off the sand and net it out or let it get caught in a filter sock.

Otherwise run carbon and try to increase flow in the tank.

Update: I bought a couple of power heads from Current, and after running for only a day and a half, the cyano has cut WAY back! Now I just have to get the “mat” out.
Thanks so much for the advice! Now to just figure out how to place them and adjust their flow so as to not move all the sound out of the front two corners of my tank. Haha!

NickTheIrish · Apr 22, 2021

Update: it’s back in full force. Getting discouraged. Gonna do another water change ASAP and get my levels tested again.

FLReefer101 · Apr 22, 2021

Cut your lights back 50% and cut your feeding in half of what you feed now. Run some gfo and carbon. Cut the nutrients out and add some good bacteria. How old is the system?

NickTheIrish · Apr 22, 2021

FLReefer101 said:
Cut your lights back 50% and cut your feeding in half of what you feed now. Run some gfo and carbon. Cut the nutrients out and add some good bacteria. How old is the system?

I’ve already gone from feeding every day to feeding 4 days a week. I added a bag of chemipure a few weeks ago. I don’t know what GFO is. How do you cut nutrients out?
The system will be 4 months only in two days.

krash7172 · Apr 23, 2021

Only 4 months? Cyano is common in a new tank. Increased flow is good but use a turkey baster to blow it off and mechanical filtration will catch it. In the end, a mature tank with good params is the solution.

Shmollica · Apr 23, 2021

There are several types of algae/bacterial blooms in the picture. Are you using rodi water? Like others have said this looks pretty standard for a 2-3 month old tank....maybe a little more than I’d like but nothing I’d panic about.

FLReefer101 · Apr 23, 2021

NickTheIrish said:
I’ve already gone from feeding every day to feeding 4 days a week. I added a bag of chemipure a few weeks ago. I don’t know what GFO is. How do you cut nutrients out?
The system will be 4 months only in two days.

Granular ferric oxide. Reduce you lighting in half or if you have no coral turn them off for a week or two. Your tank is only 4 months old so it’s normal for this to happen. There’s not enough good bacteria in your tank yet. This process could take several more months depending on how you started your system what kind of water you are using in your ato and water change.
There’s many ways and options on how to start a system and what works for one may be different for another.

When I started my tank I had my rock in a drum cycling in bacteria for 2 months. I then started my tank with with the rock with no lights on for four months. When I started my lighting it was for two hours for the first months and then increase each week by 30 minutes.
I use RODI for my ato and water changes. I can tell you that I have not have any nuisance algae and never had any yet and it’s been 10 months now running.
The most important advice I can give you is be patient and don’t get discouraged. Stay on top of your maintenance and be consistent. Good luck and there’s plenty of resources on this site to guide you in the right direction.

Dkmoo · Apr 23, 2021

Its only been 1 months since you first posted the problem. Stay patient and stay the course. Tanks take 8 to 12 months to mature without using any chemicals that may "nuke" the system and set the maturation process back.

Its still a nutrient issue - also I don't think you posted your params and what filtration you have? In ur current tank age, "feeding less" may not be the only source of nutrients thats fueling the cyano. It could be from detritus or nutrient absorbed in the rock/substrate, or from other places depending on your filtration set up.

Do you deep clean your sand? What does your rock currently look like? A full tank pic would give us a better idea of where you are in the maturation road

Let's start with posting your params, nutrient export system, tank picture, husbandry routine, and how much you feed,

NickTheIrish · Apr 23, 2021

krash7172 said:
Only 4 months? Cyano is common in a new tank. Increased flow is good but use a turkey baster to blow it off and mechanical filtration will catch it. In the end, a mature tank with good params is the solution.

About how long into a tank’s life is considered “mature”?

NickTheIrish · Apr 23, 2021

Shmollica said:
There are several types of algae/bacterial blooms in the picture. Are you using rodi water? Like others have said this looks pretty standard for a 2-3 month old tank....maybe a little more than I’d like but nothing I’d panic about.

Great! As long as everything is normal, I’m fine being patient. I was just curious.

NickTheIrish · Apr 23, 2021

Dkmoo said:
Its only been 1 months since you first posted the problem. Stay patient and stay the course. Tanks take 8 to 12 months to mature without using any chemicals that may "nuke" the system and set the maturation process back.

Its still a nutrient issue - also I don't think you posted your params and what filtration you have? In ur current tank age, "feeding less" may not be the only source of nutrients thats fueling the cyano. It could be from detritus or nutrient absorbed in the rock/substrate, or from other places depending on your filtration set up.

Do you deep clean your sand? What does your rock currently look like? A full tank pic would give us a better idea of where you are in the maturation road

Let's start with posting your params, nutrient export system, tank picture, husbandry routine, and how much you feed,

I’m a n00b, so you’ll have to forgive my ignorance. I’m not familiar with some of your requests, though I’ll get you current parameters tomorrow!

krash7172 · Apr 25, 2021

NickTheIrish said:
About how long into a tank’s life is considered “mature”?

Mature is a vague term. It basically means mother nature has caught up with what you are trying to do. Every time you make a change, the tank has to adapt. In the beginning, it's like warp speed to replicate the ocean in a glass box and it comes with uglies. The ocean wasn't built in a day.

NickTheIrish · May 22, 2021

NickTheIrish said:
I’m a n00b, so you’ll have to forgive my ignorance. I’m not familiar with some of your requests, though I’ll get you current parameters tomorrow!

Sorry for the delay; work picked back up after being shutdown for over a year!
Here is some of the information you requested:

4.28.2021
ph: 8.0 - 8.2
Ammonia: .50 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 - 30 ppm

I’m not sure about the other requests you mentioned…or even what they are.
I’m planning on doing another water change sometime next week and re testing.