Algae eaters

jacknife · Post by **jacknife** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:32 pm

Hi all,

I have a Brackish tank (1.010 sg) with 2 Ceylon Puffers in and have a fair bit of algae (both the hair type and surface covering type), any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of it? Would prefer to use fish/inverts not chemicals.

Cheers

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:01 pm

Not too many algae eaters that like mid to high brackish (that are readily available, and puffer compatible).

What are you tank parameters...Nitrate, phosphate, iron in particular
How often do you do water changes (and how much)

Best solution (IMHO) would be to increase your water change sched...and get the nutrients causing the problem outta the water column. Reduced feedings, vacuum gravel, clean filters, manual removal of the algae will all help...but if you don't address the cause it will keep coming back

The addition of a of a phosphate, and nitrate absorbing resin to the filter may also help (if this is the cause)

manutius · Post by **manutius** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:39 pm

I agree, water changes and look to see if you are overfeeding at all

Norway Reef · Post by **Norway Reef** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:46 pm

At that specific gravity your options are pretty limited. Mollies would eat some of the algae, but certainly won't be pleco-like. As jackknife said, a phosphate binding resin (or even better a reactor) should help as will more frequent water changes.

If you like plants, Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima) is the plant for brackish aquaria. Widgeon Grass is fine in any conditions really, from near freshwater to even hypersaline. A refugium with a DSB of at least 4" and plenty of light would certainly be an algae killer. Also, macro algaes such as Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca) and Chaetomorpha (Chaetomorpha sp.) are fine mid range brackish water.

Good Luck,
Jon

jacknife · Post by **jacknife** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:43 pm

Thanks all, I will check the parameters and look to get a phosphate removing additive to the filter.

OraLacerta · Post by **OraLacerta** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:54 am

As Norway Reef suggested, Mollies will eat some algae, but they will only pick at it in-between feedings, they will not eat enough to make any visible difference.

Your plan sounds good. Get back to us if the algae problem doesn't improve.

jacknife · Post by **jacknife** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:13 pm

OraLacerta wrote:Be sure to enter in this month's puffer & tank of the month contests! We want to see your pictures!

I plan on doing so when I get round to uploading some more pics.

OraLacerta · Post by **OraLacerta** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:39 am

Good! And now that you've said something I'm holding you to it!

jacknife · Post by **jacknife** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:28 pm

Hehe, once I get rid of this algae I will

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