[dphilbert]

Im having an algae bloom on my sandbed so I added 4 nassarius snails (20 gal tank), but they aren't really taking care of the problem. I know that they airate the sand and will prevent more algae from growing, but will they eat the algae? If not, then what will?

[bugout]

How long have you had the tank up? did you use RO

[dphilbert]

Not that long about a month and a half but water quality is pretty close to perfect. Amm. 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate <5 (maybe about 2.0?), Spec. Grav is 1.0245, Temp about 79, Calcium 450. Whats RO?

[bugout]

Probably you have touch of phosphte in your water from the tap supply. This will make your diatom bloom worse than if you were to use RO water (reverse osmosis) I did this when I set up my first tank and not only was the diatom bloom horible but the green stuff to follow was worse. If I were you I would start making daily 20% water changes and check phosphtes often. You can buy a RO system or even beter RO/DI (deionization) system or try to buy water from your local fish store. Be sure and check water quality from fish store they tend to run the cartridges to long. Good luck.

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I would also drip it in when doing the water changes, dont want to shock your critters!

[dphilbert]

I would NEVER use tap water. Natural sea water from LFS (live in cali not to far from coast) and use RO water to replace evaporation. The bloom was even worse today. Since the tank cycled 2 weeks ago, I've changed the water in the tank (very slowly) about 40 gallons worth. Amm and Nitrite were already at zero, and now nitrate is at zero (maybe <1). I dont have a phosphate test kit but im using purple up which told me that phosphates hinder coraline growth, and the coraline is really starting to take off. Is it possible that with all the levels that low and coraline growing rapidly that I could have high phosphates? I could get a test kit on thursday if so.

[dphilbert]

I should clarify: the tank had finished cycling after a month, and its been 2 weeks since then.

Also, Ive been closely monitering levels (except phosphate) and the guy at my lfs who's advice i trust said it was fine to add my only fish, two ocellaris clowns that are both less than an inch long.

[bugout]

Every time you add a new critter you will have a little cycle. Tour tank is still new and it will do this for a little while, if your water params are within limits I would wait it out. I will say check your phosphates. I use 100% RO buffered there could be chemicals in your sea water that your tests wont reveal, better safe than sorry! Ask your lfs if they sell RO water . Also after the brown stuff comes the green and im not telling you this to frustrate you, I am just trying to help you be prepared for whats next. What about your lighting what is it and how long is it on?

[dphilbert]

Haha dont worry its not you making me frustrated its this algae. Yea the water i use is reverse osmosis from the store, i didnt pick up on the abreviation. My lights are 130 watt pcs, but the tank is only 24 inches long and 16 deep. The lights are on for 12 hours a day, followed by an hour of dark, 10 of lunar (1 watt blue), an hour of dark and then back to the daylights etc. I could shorten the time the daylights are on but will this affect the starburst polyps and green mushrooms that are in there? Both are doing really well with the current conditions. In fact, not even a single snail or hermit crab has died (4 turbos, 4 margaritas, 4 nassarius and 10 dwarf blue legs), or my peppermint shimp, I added them when the tank had finished cycling. I've had no problems except this algae bloom. Is it natural and does it happen even if water parameters are ideal?

[bugout]

12 hous of daylight is not bad you could run it for 10 without any problems to your corals. I run my full sun for 14 and algae stays in check. You asked if it was natural to get some bloom even if water is filtered, and parameters are right, it has always been my experience that I would get some brown and the green hair but it never took over the aquarium and it does fade off I keep lots of janitors and I do water tests keep temp around 80, and I dont feed but once a day. If you have a cannister filter you could vucum off as much of the diatoms as possible or siphon off. Dyeing algae is ugly and it could create more of a secondary bloom. I have gone thru this before so I feel your pain. I would check your RO, the cartridges might need to retire lfs like to hold on to the filters for to long sometimes because they are expesive. Bottom line if the bloom is not real thick, I would stick it out because some blooming is going to happen with cycle.Hope this helps ya.