The Puffer Forum

So, I come home after a week and a half away and there is brown algae on the glass in some spots and it looks horrible!! What would be the best creature(s) I can get to eat it? The obvious choice is snails but puffers pick on snails.

MagFloat.

I agree... IDK of any SW tank that doesn't have a Magfloat sitting in the corner. I wipe the glass daily.

Other things to consider to reduce brown algae would include running actinic lights mostly vs. white/10000K as the whiter light tends to encourage algae in a SW tank from my observations. Also does the tank get direct sunlight? Although that usually encourages more green-type algaes. Check your water source for phosphates because those contribute to marine algae grown. Finally, you could increase your water changes because high nitrates will also encourage algae.

At the end of the day, a MagFloat will make it easy to clean the algae off and sometimes you will get it over time regardless of the above factors.

Diatoms are highly dependent on soluble silicates in the water supply. If you us tap water for mixing your saltwater, call your utility and ask them for the diatom content. If your water supply is high in soluble silicates, you will have diatom problems in the tank. If you operate the tank as FOWLR the diatoms will fade as the water is changed less and the soluble silicates are used up more easily.

Pufferpunk's solution is the commonest and does work.

The water may also be pretreated with phosphate remover (before marine mix is added). Commercial phosphate removers also remove soluble silicates. You cannot do this after the salt mix is added, it must be done before the salt mix is in.

HTH

Yes, by all means, use RODI water!

Ok thanks

Is there algae anywhere else?

There is a little bit in the sand. I have snails that are taking care of the glass, Lila is slowly realizing that she can't get to them lol. They stay mostly under their shells.