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TNaisbitt 
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Joined: November 04 2005
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 Topic: Sand Bed Algae Eaters
Posted: November 14 2007 at 10:41am |
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My nano (12 gal) has developed a bit of an algea problem along the sandbed. I have increased the flow and I am hoping that will help. I have a particular area where there is a flow "shadow" that always seems to accumulate the algae.
Is there a good snail/crab/critter that is reef safe and is nano sized that would be a good helper to get rid of this algae?
Thanks
Travis
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"Water which is too pure has no fish."
90 Gal Reef, 12Gal Nano Reef
West Jordan, UT
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Debbles
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 11:13am |
What kind of algae is it? There are different solutions to different algaes. I have a red algae going on in my sandbed right now 
Deb  |
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Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!!
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TNaisbitt
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 11:20am |
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There is a bit of green (really dark green & short) and a little brownish red that is long like hair algae. I don't think it is cyano, but I have had that before too and managed to get rid of it. I'm thinking about running the fuge light 24/7 and maybe going a couple of days without main tank lights to see if my Calurpa will catch up. Seemed a bit strong, but maybe not.
Lately, I've been pulling it off the sand bed when I do my water changes, but I'm sure I'm not getting it all so it just keeps coming back. I am also going to try bi-weekly water changes for a while and see if that does it.
Thanks for your help.
Edited by TNaisbitt - November 14 2007 at 11:21am
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"Water which is too pure has no fish."
90 Gal Reef, 12Gal Nano Reef
West Jordan, UT
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Shane H
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 11:27am |
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Sea cucumber.
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TNaisbitt
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 11:34am |
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Shane,
I hadn't considered a Sea Cucumber since I have heard they can be a ticking time bomb. In a nano would it be a recipie for disaster? It seems like it could wipe out everything really fast if it decides to implode? Am I misinformed?
Edited by TNaisbitt - November 14 2007 at 11:34am
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"Water which is too pure has no fish."
90 Gal Reef, 12Gal Nano Reef
West Jordan, UT
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Debbles
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 11:41am |
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I have had one in my 30 gal for about 6 months.
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Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!!
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TNaisbitt
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 11:46am |
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What type do you have? Is it pretty small? I guess I need to do a bit more research on them. I'll break out my invert book tonight and do a little reading.
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"Water which is too pure has no fish."
90 Gal Reef, 12Gal Nano Reef
West Jordan, UT
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Mike Savage
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 1:00pm |
 TNaisbitt wrote:
Shane,
I hadn't considered a Sea Cucumber since I have heard they can be a ticking time bomb. In a nano would it be a recipie for disaster? It seems like it could wipe out everything really fast if it decides to implode? Am I misinformed?
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Yes you have been misinformed. One of our speakers told us that after about 5-6 weeks in our tanks they no longer have the ability to poison the tank due to the fact that they are no longer eating anything that puts the toxins into their bodies.
Mike
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Dion Richins
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 1:53pm |
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I have a black one in my 24 nano and 3 tigertails in my 125.
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Kevin
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Posted: November 14 2007 at 3:37pm |
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It depends on the cucumber. The sea apple will nuke your tank if it does die, but otherwise I think most of them are safe.
Another option might be a fighting conch snail. I have always loved mine. They just scoot across the sand bed eating algae within their reach.
Edited by Kevin - November 14 2007 at 3:38pm
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