xenia growth

[VAreef]

I only have 5 turbo snails in my 65 but also have a few stomalla(sp?), and a few astrias? No where near the 1 per gallon rule and my tank has very little of an algae problem. My phosphates and nitrates test out at zero though and I do a 10 gallon water change with di water I make at home weekly and I use a sump with a lot of macro algae in it. I did have a bad brown algae problem shortly after the tank cycled but some big water changes followed by regular weekly water changes and testing have ensured that algae problem didn't return. Don't have a TDS meter but I use my DI filter for make up water and water changes and always run it way below its 10 gallon/hr spec. I think the best defense against algae is taking away its food source vice adding in things that eat it after it has grown. I'm not exactly your most qualifed person on the subject though just what I have seen so far in my experience. If there isn't any food for the algae it won't grow. Good water chemistry and a slow methodical approach seems to be the key in this hobby.