Will a blenny eat this?

[Jerad81]

I've been having issues with this algae since I set my tank up back in January. I'm now on my third round fighting this stuff. The first two times I got rid of it with extended blackouts and a lot of water changes. Now though I finally have coral in my tank and don't want to kill them off with another blackout. I've accepted that this will probably be a never-ending battle so now I'm trying harder to find something that will eat the stuff. I'm leaning toward a blenny, not sure what kind yet but am open to suggestions or if something else will work better. I have a 20g tank with three trochus snails and a zebra hermit crab who all seem content to ignore it.

It's hard to see in the pic but it is brown hairy/stringy stuff that is starting to cover my rocks. Any help, ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jerad81]

Don't worry, I haven't stopped my water changes!

 

[JGT]

Don't worry, I haven't stopped my water changes!

Cyano or dinos, nothing will touch it including blennies. Need to check and adjust your water parameters. To start, are you using RODI water?

 

[Jerad81]

Cyano or dinos, nothing will touch it including blennies. Need to check and adjust your water parameters. To start, are you using RODI water?

That's good to know, thank you! Yes, I am using RODI water but I did use tap water to top it off for a while after the covid-19 issues started. I don't have a RODI system and my lfs was shut down so I couldn't get any. I'm assuming that probably got it started or encouraged it?

My current water parameters are:
pH=8.2
Phos=0.1
Ammonia=0
Alk=7.5
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=30-40 ppm

I know my nitrates are high, I've been fighting that battle as well. I was hoping adding coral to my tank would help. Could that be helping the cyano or dynos grow?

 

[62518161]

.

 

[JGT]

That's good to know, thank you! Yes, I am using RODI water but I did use tap water to top it off for a while after the covid-19 issues started. I don't have a RODI system and my lfs was shut down so I couldn't get any. I'm assuming that probably got it started or encouraged it?

My current water parameters are:
pH=8.2
Phos=0.1
Ammonia=0
Alk=7.5
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=30-40 ppm

I know my nitrates are high, I've been fighting that battle as well. I was hoping adding coral to my tank would help. Could that be helping the cyano or dynos grow?

Yes, tap water can have all types of things you don’t want in your tank. Your nitrates are not high, they are through the roof and are def contributing to if not the sole cause of your algae problem. Water changes with tap water won’t help and could only make it worse. I know your tank is small but if you want to be successful and not have these types of headaches you should consider getting yourself an RODI unit. People sell them used on R2R for less than $200.

 

[Jerad81]

Yes, tap water can have all types of things you don’t want in your tank. Your nitrates are not high, they are through the roof and are def contributing to if not the sole cause of your algae problem. Water changes with tap water won’t help and could only make it worse. I know your tank is small but if you want to be successful and not have these types of headaches you should consider getting yourself an RODI unit. People sell them used on R2R for less than $200.

That is good to know. I have stopped using tap water when my lfs re-opened a couple months ago and have been doing weekly water changes since. I will start keeping an eye out for a used RODI system now. I didn't realize people sold them here, thanks for the heads up!

 

[Jeffcb]

Maybe

 

[JGT]

That is good to know. I have stopped using tap water when my lfs re-opened a couple months ago and have been doing weekly water changes since. I will start keeping an eye out for a used RODI system now. I didn't realize people sold them here, thanks for the heads up!

Yes follow the dry goods forum under Marketplace. All kinds of cool stuff for sale and reduced prices.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

That is good to know. I have stopped using tap water when my lfs re-opened a couple months ago and have been doing weekly water changes since. I will start keeping an eye out for a used RODI system now. I didn't realize people sold them here, thanks for the heads up!

I blame the tap water, not the high nitrates and phosphates.

Fwiw I bought rodi water from my lfs once and it tested worse than my tap water. I had to toss it. Get an rodi or buy distilled water from the drug/grocery store.

 

[JGT]

Yes follow the dry goods forum under Marketplace. All kinds of cool stuff for sale and reduced prices.

Also as a point of reference, you want to shoot to have your nitrates < 10ppm.

 

[Grimreefer89]

im not entirely sure its dinos with that high of nitrates. my experience with dinos started when i lowered my phos. and nitrates. but since that horrible battle ive added a cheap uv filter and its been the best money ive spent its this one if your interested. and as far as RODI water on a 20 gallon this system is cheap but works if your only running that small of a tank. just my 2 cents good luck. what ever it is it can be beat.

 

[Jerad81]

Also as a point of reference, you want to shoot to have your nitrates < 10ppm.

im not entirely sure its dinos with that high of nitrates. my experience with dinos started when i lowered my phos. and nitrates. but since that horrible battle ive added a cheap uv filter and its been the best money ive spent its this one if your interested. and as far as RODI water on a 20 gallon this system is cheap but works if your only running that small of a tank. just my 2 cents good luck. what ever it is it can be beat.

That is great to know, thank you!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Also as a point of reference, you want to shoot to have your nitrates < 10ppm.

Your nitrates are not high, they are through the roof and are def contributing to if not the sole cause of your algae problem.

OK your bold words inspired me. I haven't tested nitrates in 7 or 8 yrs.

Everything is thriving...

 

[Grimreefer89]

ya i wasnt gonna say anything but some reefers have tons of success with high nitrates. although as newbie i shoot to keep them around 5-10 but i will never bottom them out again. just out of curiosity how old is that test kit kenny90?

 

[JGT]

ya i wasnt gonna say anything but some reefers have tons of success with high nitrates. although as newbie i shoot to keep them around 5-10 but i will never bottom them out again. just out of curiosity how old is that test kit kenny90?

Sure, there’s always exceptions to the rule. But generally ~10 or less is a good general rule of thumb, esp for newer tanks.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

ya i wasnt gonna say anything but some reefers have tons of success with high nitrates. although as newbie i shoot to keep them around 5-10 but i will never bottom them out again. just out of curiosity how old is that test kit kenny90?

Lol good question! Just for fun I ordered this Nitrate test a couple weeks ago so it's brand new. But until now I didn't have the motivation to actually try it out

 

[JGT]

Lol good question! Just for fun I ordered this Nitrate test a couple weeks ago so it's brand new. But until now I didn't have the motivation to actually try it out

Glad I could inspire you. it seemed to work well. Color seemed spot on.

 

[Grimreefer89]

i think we hi jacked jerad81's post. sorry about that but i do agree TDS meter and your own rodi system and some time and this will work its self out.

 

[Jerad81]

i think we hi jacked jerad81's post. sorry about that but i do agree TDS meter and your own rodi system and some time and this will work its self out.

It's all good, I'm enjoying the conversation!

So far having really high nitrates hasn't appeared to have any negative effects on my tank yet. Although I am considering getting a macroalgae. I was going to get one to help with trying to introduce copepods to my tank but now I'm also thinking it could help me with my nitrate battle. Either way, it sounds like I'm having a good newbie experience lol.

I'm glad I asked about it instead of just running out and buying a blenny hoping it would do the job.