Hardscape heavy aquascapes algae control on the hardscape

[Pepere]

I was so happy to pull out rocks and driftwood as I pursued Dutch Style aquascaping. After all, the rocks and the driftwood takes up space that could be better served growing plants after all…. And while my plants were growing free of algae, my rocks were busy growing algae…

So, now I have a basement Tiger Barb and Red Tail Shark tank and rock caves are appreciated by the RTS…and those rock caves are growing algae….



I have read @Dennis Wong about running lean wc ferts and using aquasoil to provide nutrition to the plants to avoid algae growth on the rocks…. That would involve redoing the whole tank setup for me which is not terribly appealing in this caes.

George Farmer seems to regularly scrub the rocks with stainless steel bristled brushes to keep them clean…

I am thinking I might add some shading between the lights and the rocks….


Looking for any other tips and tricks… people might have…

 

[Kwyet]

I don’t know how practical it would be with what you have, but I periodically flip my rocks so the algae is underneath. Then they can start growing a new layer on top, lol! It also lets you clean under them though. It’s amazing to me how much crud builds up underneath them.

 

[techman81]

This is why I wish nerite snails would last longer in CO2 injected tanks. As long as I have at least 5 or 6 healthy nerites in my 49 gallon, they do a great job keeping the seiryu stone clean.

 

[Pepere]

This is why I wish nerite snails would last longer in CO2 injected tanks.

The state of Maine bans all freshwater invertebrates.

I do have bladder and Ramshorns that both hitched in on plant purchases and I spent months trying to eradicate before throwing in the towel.. I would eliminate them if I could, but I was running as hard as I could and making no headway…

 

[Koan]

George Foreman

Aka Farmer

 

[techman81]

The state of Maine bans all freshwater invertebrates.

Wow, so aquarists in Maine can't have shrimp in their tanks either?

 

[Pepere]

Aka Farmer

Your right. 60 year old brain let me down on that one…

 

[Pepere]

Wow, so aquarists in Maine can't have shrimp in their tanks either?

Well, if you keep a salt water tank you can. Just not in fresh water…

Except…. You can collect native freshwater shrimp and keep them in an aquarium so long as it does not mingle with any non native fish. Ie tropical fish bought from a store….


And you can not collect wild fish…. Except, if you have a Maine Fishing license you are allowed to live catch somewhere around 15 species of minnows as bait fish…. And you are allowed to maintain them in a tank. between fishing trips….. and nothing says how frequent your fishing trips need to be…….

You can not comingle them with hobby fish, or return them to the wild except if they are on a hook for fishing purposes….

Yes it is rather convoluted…

The Department of Inland Fisheries is quite proud of the fact that the state has the most restrictive laws in the country regarding what fish we are allowed to keep in home aquariums. No new species has been added for something like 20 + years iirc…. And fish have been removed… most notably Hillstream loaches used to be ok to keep and then they were banned….

The State wants to be hyper vigilant about protecting the sport fishing money maker…. Interestingly nearly all of the sport fish are non native and were introduced to our lakes and waterways….

 

[Pepere]

Wow, so aquarists in Maine can't have shrimp in their tanks either?

Well, if you keep a salt water tank you can. Just not in fresh water…

Except…. You can collect native freshwater shrimp and keep them in an aquarium so long as it does not mingle with any non native fish. Ie tropical fish bought from a store….


And you can not collect wild fish…. Except, if you have a Maine Fishing license you are allowed to live catch somewhere around 15 species of minnows as bait fish…. And you are allowed to maintain them in a tank. between fishing trips….. and nothing says how frequent your fishing trips need to be…….

You can not comingle them with hobby fish, or return them to the wild except if they are on a hook for fishing purposes

 

[techman81]

Well, if you keep a salt water tank you can. Just not in fresh water…

Except…. You can collect native freshwater shrimp and keep them in an aquarium so long as it does not mingle with any non native fish. Ie tropical fish bought from a store….


And you can not collect wild fish…. Except, if you have a Maine Fishing license you are allowed to live catch somewhere around 15 species of minnows as bait fish…. And you are allowed to maintain them in a tank. between fishing trips….. and nothing says how frequent your fishing trips need to be…….

You can not comingle them with hobby fish, or return them to the wild except if they are on a hook for fishing purposes….

Yes it is rather convoluted…

The Department of Inland Fisheries is quite proud of the fact that the state has the most restrictive laws in the country regarding what fish we are allowed to keep in home aquariums. No new species has been added for something like 20 + years iirc…. And fish have been removed… most notably Hillstream loaches used to be ok to keep and then they were banned….

The State wants to be hyper vigilant about protecting the sport fishing money maker…. Interestingly nearly all of the sport fish are non native and were introduced to our lakes and waterways….

So this is a challenging hobby in Maine.

 

[Pepere]

So this is a challenging hobby in Maine.

Well, given that my interest in this hobby lies more in the plant side of the hobby, its not all that bad.

But no Celestial Pearl Danios, Emerald Rasboras, green Kubatoi, chili Rasboras, cherry shrimp, nerite snails…are amongst several popular species that are not allowed…

Better to simplychoose from what is allowed. There are plenty of allowed species I have never kept yet…

 

[Phish Tank]

I’ve done the ‘flip the rock’ thing like @Kwyet , and another thing that I’ve done in the past is top a rock with a ton of java fern like the petrified wood bit on the right….

And I’ve also found certain rocks for whatever reason are absolute algae magnets. Maybe try a different type of rock?

 

[Burr740]

Every 2-3 weeks you could do a big enough water change to expose the rocks. Direct spray only the rocks with peroxide and let it sit 30-45 minutes. That would knock it back a good bit...I think

 

[Pepere]

Direct spray only the rocks with peroxide and let it sit 30-45 minutes

Yesterday I pulled one of the rocks and the hollow ceramic cave and scrubbed and then sprayed on peroxide…

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Stainless steel brush works well for sure, I have some and they work. It’s tedious but it’ll clean em up the best. Some bristlenose may help too.

 

[BigWave]

So, now I have a basement Tiger Barb and Red Tail Shark tank and rock caves are appreciated by the RTS…and those rock caves are growing algae….

Turn your light intensity down if you can not do that raise the light up higher.
I would invest in some Hydrocotyle tripatita or similar. Let it float on the surface providing some shade. Use airline to make a circular loop so as to anchor the floating plants where you want them placed, aka above the rock and cave.

 

[Dennis Wong]

George Farmer seems to regularly scrub the rocks with stainless steel bristled brushes to keep them clean…

what a ridiculous approach....

 

[Pepere]

what a ridiculous approach....

Short of adding aquasoil and running lean in wc, what might you suggest?

I have three rocks. Scrubbing the algae off three rocks weekly is a bit more attractive than pulling everything out to put in aquasoil and re planting everything…

 

[DutchMuch]

what a ridiculous approach....

Just wanted to point out that AquaDesignAmano has been doing this forever.

They actually sell the brush itself here.

 

[Dennis Wong]

You can try winning by plant mass. Allow the tank to mature and grow in to the point that green dust does not spawn on any surface in a meaningful way (you will know this if your glass remains relatively clean). Around 70% of the substrate planted and grown in is a good amount for this effect to start setting in. It is a longer process than most folks think - measured in months rather than weeks. I think filter/microbial maturity plays a very a large role. Then add the rocks in, they should remain clean or green only very very gradually. Or you could do the Tom barr suggestion and use bristlenose plecos ?