Algae Control...

[Brian5000]

I have a 3 month old 29 gallon aquarium. My lights are on about 13 hours a day because of my schedule and a LPS hitch hiker I'm trying to help grow. I have 4 fish (2 perc clowns, 1 six line wrasse and 1 royal gramma), 1 cleaner shrimp and a couple mushrooms. My clean-up crew cosists of astreas, hermits and a sand sifting star. The star I bought a week ago to mix up the sand that had turned kinda brown (it looks pretty good now).

My problem is that algae seems to grow really fast in my tank as it frosts over the grass in about a day and half. I have a couple different kinds of macro-algae that grow really well too.

How can I reduce their growth rate?
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[Anonymous]

Besides feeding less and reducing the photoperiod, I recommend doing almost nothing. Some tanks go through an algae cycle and they usually come out of it in a month or two when they use up whatever nutrient they are using. Oh, I would harvest the algae because that gets the nutrients out of the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Algae control is generally about nutrient control. I'd suggest giving it some time, as a 3 month old tank is still trying to find a balance. As long as the macros are growing well, you should be able to get them to win that little nutrient battle over the micros a bit better within another 3 months or so (my guess).

Watch for the sandsifting star (Archaster typicus, I'm assuming). They require a LOT of sand to sift in order to remain healthy.

If it turns out that your lighting schedule is the problem (which I would want to target just yet), then I wouldn't reduce it by more than two hours, using a timer. You haven't mentioned the type of lighting, that may be an issue.

 

[Brian5000]

My light is twin 65W with one white and on actinic sold to me by my LFS as a good all purpose system for a tank of that size.

On a side note, what's the difference between Archaster typicus and Astropecten polycanthus?
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[Anonymous]

I overfeed my system and can't get algae to grow. :?

 

[Anonymous]

I overfeed my system and can't get algae to grow. :?

All that means is that you are exporting the nutrients before they can break down into a forum that the algae can use. Good job!

 

[Anonymous]

My light is twin 65W with one white and on actinic sold to me by my LFS as a good all purpose system for a tank of that size.

On a side note, what's the difference between Archaster typicus and Astropecten polycanthus?

Astropecten polycanthus

Archaster typicus

Besides being different genus/species, and being sandsifters, I honestly couldn't tell you.

 

[Anonymous]

Astropecten polycanthus are carnivores though they tend to feed primarily on algae while Archester typicus are carnivores and will deplete your live sand of beneficial critters.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[SnowManSnow]

Are you pouring RO or tap water into your system... I hear this can make a differance.

B.

 

[Brian5000]

Well, by the pictures seamaiden posted, mine looks more like A. typicus in that it doesn't have those huge spines along the arms. I guess I'l find out if there's enough here to feed it or not.

Since I have such a small tank, I just buy distilled water from the local Kroger store. I'm not sure how pure it is, but I'm sure it's a ton better than my tap.
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[Anonymous]

Astropecten polycanthus are carnivores though they tend to feed primarily on algae while Archester typicus are carnivores and will deplete your live sand of beneficial critters.

Regards,
David Mohr

Hmm, everything I'd read/heard says that Archaster typicus is a detritivore. :?

 

[Anonymous]

Astropecten polycanthus are carnivores though they tend to feed primarily on algae while Archester typicus are carnivores and will deplete your live sand of beneficial critters.

Regards,
David Mohr

Hmm, everything I'd read/heard says that Archaster typicus is a detritivore. :?

Marina and David,

i need to know where each one of you got those informations from!

here is my Archater typicus. i bought it as a detritus eater and was told lately thet it will feed on my microfauna! 8O

which one of you should i believe? :wink:

so far it keeps my aragamax sand shining


antoine

dp