Algae Question

[DiSkuStiNg]

I seem to be getting some unwanted brown algae on the floor of my new reef aquarium. I was wondering if there is any fish/crustations that specialize in eating algae off the bottom of the aquarium. I know tangs and madrine fish eat algae but would they eat this type of algae ?

Also:
Ive noticed purple algae in other tanks and I heard thats the type of algae you want, How to you produce purple algae instead of brown. Is there a special light that helps. Right now i just have a normal flourescent light bulb.

PLEASE HELP IM A NEWB

[BubbaWPB]

Welcome to Reefland!

Since your tank is new, it will go through some changes. The brown algae is most likely diatoms. This is a normal phase of a new aquarium and it will pass as lng as your top off water isn't high in silicates (silicates boost diatom growth).

The purple algae (coralline algae) grows much slower than diatoms (months versus hours/days). You'll need a source of coralline algae such as live rock or coralline scrapings. Keeping your calcium up, yoiur nitriates and phosphates down will encourage coralline algae growth.

Good luck!

[sihaya]

I agree with Bubba... tanks go through phases and you're bound to get blooms of different kinds of algae/cyano from time to time. After almost a year of having no cyano in my tank, I just got a bloom of it about a week ago...now it's starting to receed again.

There is something called "slime x" (or something like that) that's pretty good at wiping cyano out, but I don't know how good it is a for a reef tank. I used it once when I was just starting out, worked really fast and I didn't see any negative affects. But just in general, I think it's usually better to just wait these blooms out rather than resort to "unnatural" intervention.

[DiSkuStiNg]

I heard tangs are a good way to control untwanted algae growth. Do tangs also eat this brown algae or do they only graze on the purple algae?

Also: Ive been trying cleaning off the algae off the side of the tank alot, and now i am am starting to mix the sand around so the algae doesnt get light and that slows its growth on the floor of the tank. Is this good for the tank or bad for it.

[BubbaWPB]

Tangs graze on macroalgaes (seaweed-like stuff). They don't eat diatoms or slime algae (cyanobacteria). They don't eat the purple coralline algae, either.

[sihaya]

There isn't anything commonly available in the hobby that eats cyano. You just gotta fight it with high water flow and patience. ;-)

[optical]

lots of snails will help. get an algae magnet and be prepared to use it every day. after a while your brown(bad) algae will turn to green.
only add RO/DI water to the tank. dont use tap water-that will give you algae blooms like crazy! ive tested my tap for phosphates and it was off the charts. you can add a tang after your tank cycles. it will graze on the rocks and stuff but you still have to feed it seaweed food. i use julian sprungs sea veggies, and all my fish seem to love it.

[DiSkuStiNg]

How many snails and Hermit crabs are recomended for a 75 gallon reef? Is a cleaner shrimp a good idea?

[sihaya]

How many snails and Hermit crabs are recomended for a 75 gallon reef? Is a cleaner shrimp a good idea?

NO HERMITS! Cleaner shrimp and peppermint shrimp are cool. Get lots of snails of different kinds... just makes sure they're all warm water snails. The ones that reproduce in tanks are usually your best friends.

[DiSkuStiNg]

Why no hermits? Dont snails eventually take over and run your tank thats why i have stayed away from them.

[fish outa wata]

Hermits can be quite destructive to a reef. I love my snails.

[Jim Williamson]

All three of the keys are here. Make sure you have good flow, Don't use tap water, new tank takes time