onefrayedbass

Hey everyone-

I recently restarted my tank after a lost battle with unicellular algae. In my case, the better the tank params, the better the algae grew! Anyway I have tried again and this time have added 4 nassarius snails and two turbos.

I think I have a good handle with the nassarius' as far as I have seen them eating around the bottom of the tank- never more than 2 at a time, but I seem to have a healthy 'pod population and I am sure that they are having a feast.

The turbos are a different matter- my girlfriend got them because the LFS told her that they eat algae. Problem is that my tank doesn't have ANY algae at the moment! I also have a product in the filter called algone that should be preventing it at this stage. I am going to remove it at the next water change, but in the meantime I have read that dried seaweed should work for now. I bought some and the one devoured most of what I put in- about a 3in x 3in square-- I have to reload the clip and put it near the other guy-

Questions-

How often do i need to feed the turbos?

What kind of waste to the 'waste eaters' produce? Do I need to take any special matters other than regular water changes?

The one turbo has a pretty purple and blue green coraline(?) algae growth on its shell-- will this populate the tank by itself or are their measures I can take to help it propagate? I would love to have this grow in the tank for aesthetic reasons as well a a deterrent to regular green algae

Appreciate any help

Brian

P.S.- I have also read that the turbos should be one per 30gals. I have a nano 10 gal setup. As long as I am supplimenting ther diet, should I have any problems?

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10gal tank

1 blue damsel (Trooper)
2lbs live rock
20lbs live sand
4 nassarius snails
2 turbo snails



Brian

las4444

Just because you say you have no algae is most likely not the case. Not all algae is clearly visible. I would watch how much of the algae sheets you give them. They can live a long time with very little food.

The waste they produce is a tiny bit of the bio load so I would not worry about that. In a small tank you will need to keep up with water changes anyway.

The Coraline algae on the snail may help colonies grow, but I would buy a good piece of live rock with established colonies. I bought a two pound rock that was covered from one end to the other.

Remember, most everything in your tank is an opportunistic eater. The more you feed the more they will eat. Someone else will need to let you know about the qty.

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Tank: 75 Gallon Reef, 20 gallon wet/dry, Quiet1One 4000 pump, 250 watt heater, Milwaukee PH monitor, Coralife 125 skimmer, Coralife 260 watt light.

Fish: Golden Wrasse, Sailfin Tang, Convict Gobbie, Tomato Clown, and Foxface Rabbit, CCStar, BTA, Colt coral and a cleanup crew including a camel shrimp.

onefrayedbass

Thanks for the info las4444.

Even though the one turbo devoured the seaweed, the other hasn't touched it although I placed it next to him.

I'll look into the live rock, I have one piece, but there is no algae on it


Does anyone know if the turbos filter algae suspended in the water? Just trying to be proactive in preventing my previous problem!


Thanks

Brian

__________________
10gal tank

1 blue damsel (Trooper)
2lbs live rock
20lbs live sand
4 nassarius snails
2 turbo snails



Brian

chadf

No they don't filter algae from the water.

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My 90 gallon reef

Striped bristletooth tang, Coral beauty angelfish, Royal gramma, 2 Occelleris clownfish, Lyretail anthias, Tongue coral, Green frogspawn, Palythoa colony, Orange and green ricordeas, Green striped mushrooms, Crocea clam, About 40 snails of 11 different species, Sand sifting starfish, Emerald crab, 130 lbs live rock, 240 lbs live sand