Is this okay

[putemup]

Verse picking algae off the rocks with my hands, I was considering using a new unused toothbrush to simply brush across the rocks (while still in the tank) and letting the algae simply float into the sump where it will be captured (eventually) by my screens. Is this okay or does someone have a better idea?

Keep in mind that I do have a CUC but they only seem to eat a minimal amount before dying off leaving me the empty shells.

Thanks

 

[jdavid]

Shouldn't be an issue. I would do it in water change water but if you don't want to mess your scape up I can understand that. Shouldn't be an issue IME

 

[rdnelson]

Doing that will promote spreading in my opinion depending on what type of algae. At the very least, keep a siphon hose next to it while you scrub so it doesn't remain in the tank.


I know you all think I have no heart but now I have an ultrasound to prove it.

 

[jeffmuse]

rdnelson99;937840 wrote: Doing that will promote spreading in my opinion depending on what type of algae. At the very least, keep a siphon hose next to it while you scrub so it doesn't remain in the tank.


I know you all think I have no heart but now I have an ultrasound to prove it.

When manually removing algae, I always do it in conjunction with a water change/ siphon. I had a hair algae out break a few months ago and I used a tooth brush to manually remove the algae from the rock. I then had a siphon hose moving right behind the tooth brush to suck up the discarded algae.

I have done this several times, it is an easy method of manual removal.

 

[putemup]

How could scrubbed off algae in the sump increase the amount of algae in the display tank? While in the sump I would assume that the algae would simply die off due to the lack of light needed for growth and nutrients.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Bits and pieces of algae go everywhere and attach. Not All of it will even end up in the sump. Much of it will stay in thd tank. It will attach to rocks and clog powerheads. Even if it does go down to the sump, it can clog your screen idea, settle and take up home in your fuge if you got one only to make it back into the tank.

So, like said before, it is a good idea to remove as much as you can with a controlled siphon if you can not remover the rock from the tsnk to remove and treak outside the tank.

 

[jc_k]

PutEmUp;937824 wrote: Verse picking algae off the rocks with my hands, I was considering using a new unused toothbrush to simply brush across the rocks (while still in the tank) and letting the algae simply float into the sump where it will be captured (eventually) by my screens. Is this okay or does someone have a better idea?

Keep in mind that I do have a CUC but they only seem to eat a minimal amount before dying off leaving me the empty shells.

Thanks

I did this..... It actually solved my algae problem lol. Haven't seen I spec of hair algae in my tank in almost a month.

 

[tbub1221]

PutEmUp;937824 wrote: Verse picking algae off the rocks with my hands, I was considering using a new unused toothbrush to simply brush across the rocks (while still in the tank) and letting the algae simply float into the sump where it will be captured (eventually) by my screens. Is this okay or does someone have a better idea?

Keep in mind that I do have a CUC but they only seem to eat a minimal amount before dying off leaving me the empty shells.

Thanks

I had to do this after some elevated nitrates , it caused no issues even running over soft coral on the rock was fine and comes off very easily .
If you can go for the reach toothbrush its easier to get in the grooves.
In my case I found once I got it off it didn't come back solong as I keep up with water change and don't feed too heavy.

Also using airline siphon with one hand wile scrubbing with the other will catch a lot of the biggest pieces without pulling a large amount of water