How do you keep out nuisance algae

rocksaus · 06/01/2016, 04:29 PM

Hi, I have a heavily planted macro tank and was wondering how everyone else promotes macro growth while keeping nuisance hair, turf, and bubble algae at bay?

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Michael Hoaster · 06/01/2016, 09:12 PM

Cerith snails reproduce in your tank, giving you lots of tiny snails to keep your macros clean.

peterbuff · 06/01/2016, 09:13 PM

hi i am new

peterbuff · 06/01/2016, 09:15 PM

i need some help getting around the forum

rocksaus · 06/01/2016, 10:16 PM

I have a ton of cerith snails and they won't touch the turf or bubble algae

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Michael Hoaster · 06/01/2016, 10:29 PM

Is it mithrax crabs that eat bubble algae? For turf, tangs and the like should work, but they'll go after your macros as well.

I'm guessing most of the work will have to be done by you, with manual removal, water changes and excellent husbandry practices, until your macros take over and suck up excess nutrients before the yucky stuff can get to it.

Devaji108 · 06/02/2016, 12:14 AM

you know I was wondering that same as my tank get up and going here.
so the macros will out compete micors like GHA etc?

rocksaus · 06/02/2016, 01:12 AM

The only thing my emerald crab has eaten is one of my neon orange shrooms and I was not a happy camper.

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Michael Hoaster · 06/02/2016, 07:22 AM

One of the tricks fresh water planted tank people use is to plant heavily when setting up a new tank. The idea is to have plants in place before algae makes an appearance, sucking up excess nutrients, so that algae lacks food to grow. Sounds great doesn't it? In my experience, I've never been able to skip the "algae phase". You just have to fight with it for a while (manual removal, water changes), until something clicks and your macros kick in and take over. It just seems to be an inevitable phase of the maturation process of every aquarium. In the meantime, try out lots of snails, to see which ones work best in your tank. Also, you can acclimate Mollies to salt water pretty easily. Don't feed them at all, so you don't indirectly feed algae too, and the mollies will go after a variety of algae, even some cyanobacteria.

I've often wondered how much more popular our hobby would be, if someone figured out a surefire way to avoid the algae phase. At least with planted tanks, we are working WITH Mother Nature, rather than trying to conquer her, which never works. Good luck!

rocksaus · 06/02/2016, 10:57 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I was able to keep my water clean enough to nearly eradicate all algae, but my macros and softies wouldn't grow. So I've been heavily feeding to get good growth out of them. And a couple spots popped up. It's no where near a problem or unsightly. I'm just a perfectionist

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lifeoffaith · 06/02/2016, 11:50 AM

I would not do an emerald if you have macros. Manual removal is your best bet. You can syphon bubble algae when they're small with an air hose. Put the hose right over the bubble, start the syphon and bump the base of the bubble so it pulls off of the rock. With the syphon going, you shouldn't release any more spores.

06/01/2016, 04:29 PM	#1
rocksaus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 74	How do you keep out nuisance algae Hi, I have a heavily planted macro tank and was wondering how everyone else promotes macro growth while keeping nuisance hair, turf, and bubble algae at bay? Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

06/01/2016, 09:12 PM	#2
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Cerith snails reproduce in your tank, giving you lots of tiny snails to keep your macros clean. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/01/2016, 10:29 PM	#6
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Is it mithrax crabs that eat bubble algae? For turf, tangs and the like should work, but they'll go after your macros as well. I'm guessing most of the work will have to be done by you, with manual removal, water changes and excellent husbandry practices, until your macros take over and suck up excess nutrients before the yucky stuff can get to it. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/02/2016, 07:22 AM	#9
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	One of the tricks fresh water planted tank people use is to plant heavily when setting up a new tank. The idea is to have plants in place before algae makes an appearance, sucking up excess nutrients, so that algae lacks food to grow. Sounds great doesn't it? In my experience, I've never been able to skip the "algae phase". You just have to fight with it for a while (manual removal, water changes), until something clicks and your macros kick in and take over. It just seems to be an inevitable phase of the maturation process of every aquarium. In the meantime, try out lots of snails, to see which ones work best in your tank. Also, you can acclimate Mollies to salt water pretty easily. Don't feed them at all, so you don't indirectly feed algae too, and the mollies will go after a variety of algae, even some cyanobacteria. I've often wondered how much more popular our hobby would be, if someone figured out a surefire way to avoid the algae phase. At least with planted tanks, we are working WITH Mother Nature, rather than trying to conquer her, which never works. Good luck! __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

06/01/2016, 09:13 PM	#3
peterbuff Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 2	hi i am new

06/01/2016, 09:15 PM	#4
peterbuff Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 2	i need some help getting around the forum

06/01/2016, 10:16 PM	#5
rocksaus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 74	I have a ton of cerith snails and they won't touch the turf or bubble algae Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

06/02/2016, 12:14 AM	#7
Devaji108 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jackson Hole Wy Posts: 3,430	you know I was wondering that same as my tank get up and going here. so the macros will out compete micors like GHA etc?

06/02/2016, 01:12 AM	#8
rocksaus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 74	The only thing my emerald crab has eaten is one of my neon orange shrooms and I was not a happy camper. Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

06/02/2016, 10:57 AM	#10
rocksaus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 74	Thanks for all the advice. I was able to keep my water clean enough to nearly eradicate all algae, but my macros and softies wouldn't grow. So I've been heavily feeding to get good growth out of them. And a couple spots popped up. It's no where near a problem or unsightly. I'm just a perfectionist Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

06/02/2016, 11:50 AM	#11
lifeoffaith Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Grand Rapids MI area Posts: 737	I would not do an emerald if you have macros. Manual removal is your best bet. You can syphon bubble algae when they're small with an air hose. Put the hose right over the bubble, start the syphon and bump the base of the bubble so it pulls off of the rock. With the syphon going, you shouldn't release any more spores.