algae controlling fish?

Hi Jeff!  Something I have learned about algae problems is that adding more fish doesn't really help the problem.  In fact the added bio strain might worsen the problem.  When I first started my tank I had a huge algae bloom with all kinds of gunky algae growing all over the place.  My largest tank is a 75 gallon and I have a lot more fish than you so I'm certain that your tank is capable of handling the strain of added fish, but water quality is the key with the algae.  Assuming that you are talking about the bad kinds of algae, using Reverse Osmosis water for water changes and top off water seems to be key, sometimes.  You should do a phosphate test on your water in the tank to rule out that.  Phosphates feed algae.  You should have almost no phosphates in your system.  When I started my tank I thought that getting algae eating fish would help the problem, and after spending a lot of money on them and having it get worse, I started looking at water quality.  Make sure you test all the essentials, no ammonia, no nitrates or nitrites, and the ph should be around 8.0 to 8.4.  Oh, and one thing, your tank should have lots of snails and hermit crabs.  They help.  (assuming that you don't already have any) 

Now if you are talking about calerpa and the likes, I hear yellow eye tangs and other fish with downturned mouthes like that are good.  I always keep some calerpa growing in my tank and I just pull it out by hand when it starts to overrun the tank.

I hope that this has helped, and I also hope that I didn't insult you with any suggestions because I don't know how long you have been in the hobby.  If you have been in it for a while then you would know most of the stuff I have told you.  Anyway take care!

thanks for the replies.  Caulerpa is the main offender - 3 or 4 different types.  Not much hair algea, but there is a different type that I can not identify.  I will bring a sample to the next meeting.  The algea is practically smothering the rock.  I am leary of getting another tang because of size limits.  I have stayed away from crabs except for one emerald.  I have lots of snails though.  I always use RO water and my parameters look great.

Jeff

I'm always trying to introduce new types of caulerpa into my refugium. I'm working on the diversity theory.  So if you want to get rid of some just let me know and I'll be happy to come mow some out of your tank.

Kirk

Kahuna,

I will bring a small rock to the meeting this Thursday for you.  It is one of the rocks we picked up from Aragonite and has been in my tank for months now.  It has some calurpa growing on it.

Jeff

Jeff, if it is a fish you want, then the Foxface seems to do a great job with caulerpa and other types of algaes.  I own one, and am very happy with it's addition to my reef.  It is very calm and has gotten along with all other fish and corals that I own.

Here is a link with more info on the Foxface:

http://www.reeftalk.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB5&Number=17607&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

Hope the helps. - Jared.