I've got bad news. Your Cleanup Crew Won’t Fix Everything

Añadido: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Some people think their cleanup crew will solve every algae issue. I got bad news, they won't. [music] Here's why. A good cleanup crew is essential, but they're not miracle workers. Snails, [music] hermits, urchins, and blennies eat specific types of [clears throat] algae like a film algae, [music] diatom, or a light hair algae, but there are entire categories they won't [music] touch such as turf algae. Typically too hard. Dinoflagellids are usually toxic.

[00:00:23]Cyanobacteria is toxic [music] and slimy. And if your nutrients are out of balance, even the best cleanup crew will give up. Worse, an oversized cleanup crew can backfire. [music] They compete for food, starve, and even start nibbling on your coral polyps. So, make sure to build up your cleanup crew as you need them. [music] Now, the real solution to algae lies in water chemistry, nitrate and phosphate balance, [music] good flow, and the right lighting spectrum. The cleanup crew is part of the solution, but not the whole solution. So, use them [music] to support the system, not to fix the root problem. Regular maintenance, nutrient export, and proper lighting will take you [music] much farther than an army of snails. So, tell me, what is one type of algae your cleanup crew completely ignored? And [music] how did you finally beat it? Don't forget to subscribe for more reefing tips, and happy reefing.

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