Removing pests and decking out biocube

Mike628 · Mar 21, 2016

Ok reefers I have decided to start another thread. All the help I can get would be great. I have some aptaisa, bristle worms, and some kind of algae that grows through the rock. How can I get rid of these pests? Also I want to deck out my biocube. I want to add a skimmer, circulation pumps, an ato, and other gadgets. Please post suggestions and pics if you have them. Thank you in advance, and happy reefing!!!

Mike628 · Mar 21, 2016

@cameronh Can you help out, and call in the reef squad please?

sbash · Mar 22, 2016

Well... Bristle worms are usually a good thing, but I hear you can build traps with cheese cloth or women's stockings...

I keep peppermint shrimp, they seem to take care of aiptasia and other nuisance anemones.

For the algae, feed less, have your lights on less, and do more water changes. Algae grows from phosphates and nitrates, you need to eliminate these. This is potentially a much more complex issue. Please describe your set up and post some pictures of the problems to get the best recommendations...

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

sbash said:
Well... Bristle worms are usually a good thing, but I hear you can build traps with cheese cloth or women's stockings...

I keep peppermint shrimp, they seem to take care of aiptasia and other nuisance anemones.

For the algae, feed less, have your lights on less, and do more water changes. Algae grows from phosphates and nitrates, you need to eliminate these. This is potentially a much more complex issue. Please describe your set up and post some pictures of the problems to get the best recommendations...

Here is a picture. Its in my 29 gallon biocube. I will post more pics when i get home. Its like a vine it grows through the entire rock.

sbash · Mar 22, 2016

It is hard to make out. Is it slimy looking?

twilliard · Mar 22, 2016

Superglue the aiptasia
Manually remove the algae and keep doing so and it won't come back as long as you remove it.
Over time the roots will die off

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

sbash said:
It is hard to make out. Is it slimy looking?

I believe its caulerpa.

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

twilliard said:
Superglue the aiptasia
Manually remove the algae and keep doing so and it won't come back as long as you remove it.
Over time the roots will die off

What kind of superglue? And what about the bristle worms?

twilliard · Mar 22, 2016

Any superglue is fine. Pull the rock out of the water and when the retract glue them in place. I like to use the gel glue for this method.
The bristle worms may die off if the tank is not fed to heavy.
Also a freshwater dip gets them out of the rock

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

twilliard said:
Any superglue is fine. Pull the rock out of the water and when the retract glue them in place. I like to use the gel glue for this method.
The bristle worms may die off if the tank is not fed to heavy.
Also a freshwater dip gets them out of the rock

I only have that one massive rock. If i remove it im afraid my tank will crash.

twilliard · Mar 22, 2016

Taking the rock out for a few minutes won't harm the tank one bit

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

twilliard said:
Taking the rock out for a few minutes won't harm the tank one bit

What if I was to replace that one rock with new dry rock?

twilliard · Mar 22, 2016

You can do that just will reduce your bacterial load a little till the rock gets colonized.

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

twilliard said:
You can do that just will reduce your bacterial load a little till the rock gets colonized.

So if I remove the one massive rock that I have, thats the only one in there and replace it with dry rock it will be ok?

twilliard · Mar 22, 2016

Yes because the bacteria remains on all other surfaces in the tank

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

twilliard said:
Yes because the bacteria remains on all other surfaces in the tank

Ok sweet man. Thank you!

cmcoker · Mar 22, 2016

I've got the bc14, I use an avast ATO in the 3rd chamber it fits nicely and works well so I'm sure it would fit in yours.
I upgraded my return pump to a mj900 (increased gph by about 100 iird) , and swapped out the power compacts for leds.
No skimmer for my little tank, just water changes, it's a softie tank now anyway and they aren't too fussed about dirtier water.
Use a koralia powerhead, though have seen people go with a MP series from Ecotech.
Just reset the tank about 2 months ago. Current pic and from about a year ago

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

cmcoker said:
I've got the bc14, I use an avast ATO in the 3rd chamber it fits nicely and works well so I'm sure it would fit in yours.
I upgraded my return pump to a mj900 (increased gph by about 100 iird) , and swapped out the power compacts for leds.
No skimmer for my little tank, just water changes, it's a softie tank now anyway and they aren't too fussed about dirtier water.
Use a koralia powerhead, though have seen people go with a MP series from Ecotech.
Just reset the tank about 2 months ago. Current pic and from about a year ago

What do you mean you reset it?

cmcoker · Mar 22, 2016

It had been a bit neglected, I moved the tank, pulled out all the rock and gave a good swish in old saltwater l, rinsed the sand bed with the hose till it ran clear, moved the clowns to my 120g display, rearranged the rock and added a couple small pieces, removed a bunch of pulsing xenia, let it run a couple weeks and moved in a goby/shrimp pair from a 5g nano.
So it got an overhaul.. So the first shot with less xenia is the recent pic

Mike628 · Mar 22, 2016

cmcoker said:
It had been a bit neglected, I moved the tank, pulled out all the rock and gave a good swish in old saltwater l, rinsed the sand bed with the hose till it ran clear, moved the clowns to my 120g display, rearranged the rock and added a couple small pieces, removed a bunch of pulsing xenia, let it run a couple weeks and moved in a goby/shrimp pair from a 5g nano.
So it got an overhaul.. So the first shot with less xenia is the recent pic

It looks good. I may end up restarting the tank. It depends on how I feel.