Good clean up crew?

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:00 pm

What would the best thing for cleaning algae off rocks? I have a few scarlets and a few turbos and astreas. I might even have and emerald, but I haven't seen it in a while. I don't have hair algae, it is more of a thin growth of algae only on rocks that are not coralline encrusted.

What would you consider the best overall clean up crew?

Thanks,
Scott

evermann · Post by **evermann** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:28 am

Well if it isnt covered in coralline or polyps and it started getting bad, I'd use a toothbrush

ShagMan · Post by **ShagMan** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 7:12 am

The toothbrush method doesn't work... I say that, because it'll get the rock clean, you put it back in, and boom, the algea grows right back, it'll be back to it's original shape/size within a week. We tried this. We ended up having to actually solve our water quality problem (charcoal/plosphate sponge and mechanical filtration added) to make ours go away.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:41 pm

Well, I don't think I have any water quality issues. Both of my frogspawns have great expansion, my Acropora millipora has great polyp expansion, even my Goniopora looks good. I have just done two water changes totalling only about 8 gallons and am going to do another 5 gallons change tonight or tomorrow. The algea in question is a normal growth (I think) on bare LR that snails/hermits usually eat. It is not long enough to pick off and is isolated to a few rocks. I probably only have 3 scarlets and 6-8 turbos/astreas and one emerald that I haven't seen in a month or more. I rarely see snails on the rocks, only the glass and powerheads. So, what will keep the rocks clean? Should I just buy 10 more scarlets and another emerald or what?

Thanks,
Scott

ShagMan · Post by **ShagMan** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:59 pm

I would add at least one emerald; of any of the creatures that ate algea, emeralds and to an extent, queen conchs, were the best I've had.

Amyjoe · Post by **Amyjoe** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 3:58 pm

how are you on snails?

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 5:46 pm

My snail population is pretty low. I was going to order some but the hot temperature and the last experience I had shipping snails in the summer made me want to wait. I am going to check around local and see what the prices are like. I am going to call Mike and see what he has. Has anyone been to Rich's recently? I may wait an order this: http://www.reefermadness.us/RM-HelpersMedium.htm if I can't find anything local.

Xster · Post by **Xster** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:55 am

Hey scott, ReeferMadness guarantees it will be alive for 5 days after you receive it, they honestly do have great customer service after the sale. That is hard to come by nowadays. I have personally dealt with them a couple of times before. But, that is a different thread.

IMHO, I like a huge assortment of different type of snails also. And I do believe in a big number of them. A very few of them do die off for no given reason at any given time. I have had no problems with them, except for them "bulldozing" frags trying to get algae in hard to reach areas. But if you glue your frags down, then you should have no problems.

Scott, you should always "try" to keep your glass clean. The only time I see my snails on the glass is when I have been lazy and a layer of algae is on my glass. After I clean it, the snails are forced to move to other areas of algae growth (the rocks). The are never on my glass if it is clean, unless just to move accross it.

Hey Scott, YGM!

Just my two cents,
John

lzb3 · Post by **lzb3** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 8:14 pm

I bought mine from www.reeftopia.com. I got an incredible deal and ALL 300 or so critters arrived alive and stayed that way. I have REALLY good luck with the Mexican Turbos. They are large but do an incredible job. Just make sure you are buying the warm water species and not the cold water ones. They are the only snails I will buy any longer for algae control.

Good luck!

Elizabeth

Post by **snoopdog** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 8:18 pm

Yeah but god they are bulldozers, you just have to watch them on frags and stuff !

Fishfood · Post by **Fishfood** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 4:53 pm

I have to agree with the mexican turbos. all but eliminated any traces of algae in the tank. But then again the purple tang might have helped out with that.