Algae Control, Valonia?

[Anonymous]

OK. On my 15 nano. I am battleing a hair algae and Valonia (Green Bubble Algae). I started dripping Kalk and it seems to have slowed the hair algae but it still is growing.

I also have removed most of the LR and scrubbed the hair algae off and picked off the valonia. 2 weeks later alot is covered again. I haven't tested for phosphates.

I have done some water changes but no luck.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Nano's been running for over 6 months.

RO water. Main 46 gallon tank ALgae free.

10 lbs of LR. 3 in DSB.

Fish:

False Pecula Clown
Scooter blenny
Blue damsel (I know but it is not agressive and it is my wifes and we have had it for almost 2 years).

Corals:

Branching hammer
Frogspawn
green striped mushrooms

5 hermits
6 Astrea Snails
1 bumble bee snail.

Modified Lee's skimmer, Penguin HOB filter no bio-wheel.
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[GSchiemer]

Given it's a 15 gallon aquarium, that rules out tangs for algae control. In addition to adding 15-20 blue-legged hermit crabs, I suggest trying a few emerald crabs. The combination should help you get both types of algae under control.

Greg Schiemer

 

[Anonymous]

Damn I wanted to get a large tang for the tank. Kidding. Tang Police I am kidding.......

Anything else besides the emerald crabs?

Thanks
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[GSchiemer]

You're really limited to small critters for algae control in a 15 gallon aquarium, which is why I didn't suggest tangs and urchins. Additional crabs and snails should do the trick. Of course, you need to address the issue of why the algae has gotten out of hand. Is your skimmer adequate? Are you doing water changes? Are you overfeeding? Did something die behind the rocks? Etc.

Greg Schiemer

 

[Anonymous]

My Skimmer is not adequate. I will be mving my backpak from my 46 to the 15 in a week or 2 when I upgrade to a new 58.

I feed every other day.
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[Crockett]

I had between 20-30 valonia bubles in my 5 year old 150 reef, and finally decided to go with an emerald crab. One emerald crab, 3 months and no valonia. The crab eats volania and coralline algea. I never see my crab unless I really try to find him for several minutes, but he does his job. Never has touched LPS,SPS or any other corals or clams. HTH.

 

[Anonymous]

Check for phospahates. I use Phosphate sponge in my tank and replace it every two weeks with my carbon.

 

[dgin]

I used to have the occasional valonia but my 2 emerald crabs seem to be taking care of them. Its helpful to pull them out yourself as well - never had any problems with them bursting either.

 

[Will C1]

check youre alkilinity if you have good calcium and good alkilinity the coraline should out compete the hair alge, also have you added magnesium to youre system at all? what kind of light cycle is on the tank? try cutting it down.

 

[Anonymous]

Get a fighting conch.........mine is constantly cleaning my sand. I also use a Brittlestar. I think these do much more for the sandbed than crabs.

 

[Anonymous]

The coraline has only covered the plastic stiff like the powerhead and HOB intake. Not too much on the LR.

I have a green star(not a brittle star) that does a good job on the sand.

I will look into a emerald crab.

Thanks
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[Anonymous]

Get the Conch too! I can't believe how hard he works.

 

[trigger1]

You may want to measure TDS out of your RO unit or test for phosphate.
I did everything a few years back turns out my membrane needed replacing.

 

[LA-Lawman]

You can actualy physicaly remove it while it is small. if the buble is small and a dark shade it is still juvenile and unable to reproduce. I have actually popped them when they are small. then removed the husk.... If you have too many of them...get a mithrax crab. just one or two. they will scavenge the tank until they find it....


HTH

-ben