Should I get a starfish?

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

I have this green algae built up on my glass and it takes some serious scrubbing to get it off. Just wondering if this is something a starfish would take care of for me and be happy healthy and fat doing it. I have a 29g with HOB refugium, 2 occ clowns, 2 chromis and some hermit crabs. Corals are zoas, gsp, orange mushroom and I think it's a birdsnest.

Thanks,

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 9, 2017

No, a seastar won't do it. Is it a coralline?

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

here are some pics of what i'm talking about.

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 9, 2017

Thats just your particular uglies my friend. And yea, Im getting that in my 30g right now too. (high po4)
keep at it and itll pass esp as the rest of the biofilter and coralline comes up to speed.

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

Cool. Glad to hear that it will eventually pass.

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 9, 2017

saltnewb said:
Cool. Glad to hear that it will eventually pass.

yep, How big is the fuge? are you getting growth in there?

Tahoe61 · Mar 9, 2017

Are you using a decent mag float?

A starfish will not resolve that issue. Try some phosguard used passively in the HOB, and a decent mag float. If this is a glass tank I would scrape it down with a new razor blade, add phosguard and clean with mag float daily. Sometimes you just have to use the old elbow grease method since the algae has taken hold to knock it back.

When my tank has adequate nutrient control I do not have to clean the glass nearly as often. Removing collecting detritus has proved beneficial for me. How long is the photo-period?

ahiggins · Mar 9, 2017

I get that too, the mag float or other mag cleaners only take off film algae. If you dont get the film algae off that day, it will turn to this. I run a razor blade attachment and just scrape it off during water changes. It comes off with no problem. put some elbow grease in it

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

i have a nice one, but using one side to hold up my nano skimmer.

The fuge is about 3-4 gallons I believe, it's by CPR Medium Aquafuge (older model), new one here.

the DT lights are one for ~12hrs a day and the fuge light is on for 12hrs.

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

I'm pretty bad about using the mag float and I'm not surprised this is what happens. My snails went over it a few times, but didn't seem to make a difference.

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

oh and the lights are alternating, fuge at night, DT during the day. The lights are 4 T5's.

Dancingmad · Mar 9, 2017

I use my flipper! The flipping action takes some practice and its more than a mag float but has a built in razor.

A fun way to approach this problem would be to take note how often you you MUST clean the glass. Great indicator of nutrient uptake/levels (does it reach the point of needing cleaning every day? Every other day? 3 days? Etc). Just another way to learn your tank / ecosystem inabox!

**no CUC will remove the chore of cleaning glass IME.

saltnewb · Mar 9, 2017

It's been like that for a while now....cough...cough...2+ weeks...cough...cough...., but it hasn't gotten any worse. Got an elbow injury from scrubbing with my mag float today, but it looks soo much better. Here I was thinking I was storing up food for some little critter as if the apocalypse was coming.