Algae Control

[Jeffrey1]

My tank is about 4 months old and having the typical algae blooms. My cleaning crews, however, can't keep up with the growth. I have several hermit crabs and turbo snails. Since my wife can't live with the algae growth, I am thinking of a blenny or maybe a sea urchin or starfish to help clean up. Any suggestions?

Also, the temperature in my tank is ranging from about 79 in the morning to just over 82 degrees during height of the day. I have a 45 gallon with 196 watt power compact lights. I also have a 12 volt fan built into the canopy. Should I be worried about the high temp or the variation in the temp????

 

[Anonymous]

So far those temperatures are fine. A tuxedo urchin will work on the algae, and a blenny might help somewhat5. What I would really do is get maybe a dozen turbos, and make sure skimming is functioning optimally.

Don't know of any starfish that will do anything serious about algae.

 

[tangir1]

Well, if you wife likes the coralline algae, she may get upset when the urchin is scraping away the purple color.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, if you wife likes the coralline algae, she may get upset when the urchin is scraping away the purple color.

Just a quick point.
There have been numerous studies, if I recall they were done with Limpets though, that the scraping off of the first few layers of coralline algae actually enhances the growth of coralline sort of like pruning bushes.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[qwiksilver]

Get a sea hare! They look like a big sea poo, but they do the job on the algae. Cleaned my 54 up that my Kole and Lawnmower wouldn't clean, as well as my cleaning crew being unable to keep up. They blend in really well when they are on the rock.