Did We Beat the Algae and Slimes? What the SR GTR 150?
We had three big questions.
Did the algae disappear from the softy tank? Did the brown slime in the future LPS tank finally go away? And what exactly are we building toward?
The answer is mostly yes—but how we got there is the useful part.
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Did We Beat the Algae and Slimes? What the SR GTR 150 Is Becoming
We had three big questions.
Did the algae disappear from the softy tank? Did the brown slime in the future LPS tank finally go away? And what exactly are we building toward?
The answer is mostly yes—but how we got there is the useful part.
The Softy Tank: Three Algae Problems, One Simple Fix
This tank avoided most of the classic ugly-stage issues like dinos, cyano, and diatoms. Instead, we battled three nuisance algae:
Lettuce algae
Bryopsis
Bubble algae
Manual removal wasn't enough, and the cleanup crew wasn't keeping up. Before reaching for chemicals, we tried something simpler.
The Foxface Changed Everything
Adding a foxface completely transformed the tank.
Within days it was mowing through lettuce algae, bryopsis, and even bubble algae. One fish solved what looked like several separate problems.
It's a good reminder that the right grazer is often more effective than the right bottle.
Tank Size Matters...But So Does Context
The tank already housed a bristletooth tang, yet there was no aggression.
A foxface isn't a forever fish for a tank this size, but by creating long, open swim lanes it has plenty of usable space for now. The long-term plan is simply to rehome it when it outgrows the system.
Sometimes solving today's problem responsibly is the right decision.
One Important Warning
Foxfaces have venomous spines.
Instead of chasing one with a net, shut off the pumps, hold open a large fish bag, gently guide the fish into it, and lift it out. Less stress for both you and the fish.
The Future LPS Tank
This tank is testing whether sand from an established reef can replace ocean-sourced live sand for biome cycling.
We started with lights off for a week, then slowly ramped them up.
At first everything looked great.
Then brown slime appeared.
The Simplest Fix Was the Best One
Because there were no corals yet, we could use one of the strongest tools available:
Turn lights off for 3-4 days
Let the slime collapse
Siphon it out
Blow debris off the rock
Catch it with filter socks
Slowly ramp lighting back up
The goal isn't just darkness—it's physically exporting weakened pests.
What Happened Next
After the blackout, the tank looked excellent for about a week.
Then a light dusting of slime returned—but only on the sand, not the rock.
That's progress.
A little slime doesn't mean failure. Many tanks experience some version of the ugly stage. The key is preventing it from becoming a months-long battle.
The Biggest Lesson
Don't add coral too early.
Without coral, we can simply black out the tank and reset photosynthetic pests. Once coral is added, every decision becomes more complicated.
Patience keeps the simplest solutions available.
What's Next?
For now we're monitoring.
If the slime worsens, we'll repeat the blackout. If established-tank sand ultimately isn't enough, we'll add a proven biome source like TBS live sand and restart the light ramp.
Testing ideas is worthwhile—but eventually reliability wins.
What the SR GTR 150 Is Becoming
The next build is an SPS-dominated mixed reef.
The goal isn't simply to showcase equipment. It's to build around biology first.
Instead of asking, "What gear do we need?" we'll ask:
What do these fish need?
What do these corals need?
How much can husbandry accomplish before technology?
Gear should support the animals—not define the system.
Where We Stand
The foxface effectively solved the algae outbreak.
The LPS tank is improving but isn't ready for coral.
Established-tank sand shows promise but may not equal a stronger biome source.
The next build will focus on biology-first reefing with an SPS-dominated mixed reef.
The biggest lesson is simple:
Great reef tanks rarely come from forcing progress. They come from solving the right problem at the right time, using the simplest effective solution, and keeping the animals at the center of every decision.
Common Sense Disclaimer https://www.seriousreefs.com/disclaimer This is the gist of the link above. Content is based on personal experience, not professional advice. Do your research and reef responsibly. Serious Reefs should not be your sole source of information on any topic. By watching, you agree that Serious Reefs and its creators aren’t liable for how you use this info. Don’t utilize any of our information if you are not ok with this.
