The Puffer Forum

For the past 3-4 months I am having trouble controlling the algae growth in my aquarium. I leave the light on for approx. 10 hours of light and 14 hours of darkness a day approx. I just dont like the algae that grows on the crushed coral. I have to everyday move the crushed coral around to take away that algae. In my aquarium I have 3 clown fish, 1 fox face, 1 yellow tank, 1 peacock puffer (jewel puffer). I want to get some sort of creature that will eat the algae on the ground but i dont know what to get because i am in fear that my puffer might eat it. any suggestions on whats compatible? thanks

How is your nitrate level? CC in a SW tank usually is a nitrate factory. Are you stiring it up weekly during WC?

Pufferpunk wrote:How is your nitrate level? CC in a SW tank usually is a nitrate factory. Are you stiring it up weekly during WC?

I just did a water test and nitrate levels is showing 0-10. I do stir it up every week when i do water changes but it comes back within a day. alot of it grows on my live rock.im not really sure on how to get it off my live rock. i dont think my fox face or my yellow tang are eatting enough of it to stop growing.

You could try a sand-sifting starfish but I'm not sure how they fair in CC & not sand.

Pufferpunk wrote:You could try a sand-sifting starfish but I'm not sure how they fair in CC & not sand.

its argonite im not sure if thats the same as cc. is it?

You mentioned crushed coral in your 1st post.

Pufferpunk wrote:You mentioned crushed coral in your 1st post.

When I bought it the bag said argonite. i think that is the right spelling. im not sure if thats the same thing as crushed coral though.

Does it looks like sand?

Pufferpunk wrote:Does it looks like sand?

no. it looks more course. it isnt as fine.

Sounds like crushed coral then. I prefer sand for SW.

I had a heck of a time using crushed coral, it kept growing green hair algae. Couldn't get rid of it.

When I switched over everything to the 75, I threw out the CC and used agronite, no more algae growing on the substrate! A little on the rocks, but the coraline is winning that battle easily.

Crushed coral is bigger pieces.. almost more like flakes of white rock. Argonite comes in sand and a larger sand that's almost gravel like. If the bag said argonite, then that's what it is.

I bought 3 yellow headed sleeper gobies and a serpent star today. They are doing a good job swifting the substrate. im pretty sure they will get rid of the algae growth in my tank