Cleanup Krew for SANDBED!

[pvn228]

Ok so my 20gal is about 4 months old now,
and i have a lot of brown filmy algae covering my sandbed.

The questions is which kind of cleaner should i get that doesnt kill benficial organisms?

Right now im thinking:
1. Blue legged hermits
2. Nassarius snails

What do you guys think?

 

[mr_X]

that is a diatom bloom. that algae is feeding on something. you need to find out what is fueling it's growth. do you use R.O. water? do you feed heavy?
how do your water tests come out? what is the level of phosphate?
i don't think hermits or nassarius will eat the brown diatom algae.

 

[pvn228]

I dont use RO water cause i cant afford RO unit right now.
But i use conditioned tap water, i know this not good.
I guess i should buy some filtered drinking water for top-offs?

I have only 1 fish to feed and i feed only very few pellets.
Also i dont test phosphate, i thought that was unimportant.
But all my other params are perfect/nearperfect..

SO... ther is nothing that eats diatom?

 

[mr_X]

i don't use R.O. either. but when i went(hopefully it's in the past) through the brown blooms, nothing i had (nassirus, sand sifter star, tiger tail cucumber, algae blenny, assorted snails) would eat it.
some might argue this, but believe me, i've tried every living thing.
i had to cut the source- cut light down, stop feeding so much, more water changes...

 

[mr_X]

phosphate is fuel for the brown algae. test it.

 

[herpencounter]

Hi!
About oh 3 weeks ago I had a big diatom bloom.

If you don’t use RO/DI use that.
Diatoms thrive on silicates I would get PhosGuard pack (removes Phosphates & Silicates).
Red hermit crabs (Scarlet Reef Hermit, Red Reef Hermit, Red Legged Hermit) and Astrea snails will eat this 8 to 10 of each (for now).

How long is the light on for?

Im telling you what I did...
Your scenario is probably different.

Hope this helps!

 

[herpencounter]

You can get RO a the grocery store.

Phosphates are not a big problem with diatoms its silicates.

 

[mr_X]

i think you are mistaken.
again, i would like to see the source of your information.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

 

[pvn228]

Ok i will definately use purified water now and im gona try to do something about the phos.
Because i have seen my coralline growth decline so that might be why..

On the other hand im gona go ahead and get some scarlet hermits.

 

[herpencounter]

Here you go X.


http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaec ... 071103.htm

http://www.reeftank.com/modules.php?nam ... ticle&id=1

http://www.netpets.org/fish/reference/r ... atoms.html

Thats just a few of the sites that i read...

And i did not save any of the sites .

 

[mr_X]

good work!
silicates are also an issue as herps' stated. but again, in one of his supplied links(which is very helpful to me and anyone reading)-

Nutrients: Diatoms are most responsive to silca/silicates, but DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds), nitrates, and phosphates are food sources as well.
so, you must remove the source of food. do that, and the brown algae will disappear. :wink:

 

[herpencounter]

Siphon the sand bed well.
Blast the rock.

My diatom where gone in about 2 weeks.
If you do what I say I don’t think you will have that much of a problem.

Good luck!

 

[herpencounter]

Oh I forgot to note I had no phosphates and low nitrates.