Choices

[toy4x4]

Hmmm,

1. Spend more $ to put in a closed looped system cause I hate these power heads. (doesn't help my hair algea)

2. Spend a lot more time cleaning hair algea and then watching it regrow?

3. Give away my fish and sell my chiller.

I'm really leaning toward #3 at this point. Wish I had just bit the bullet when I moved and never set the damn thing up again.

 

[wade1]

There are other alternatives... but first we have to know a little more about the system.

What skimmer are you using?

How much are you feeding?

How many fish in what size tank?

What is your water source...?

Other filtration?

Use phosphate sponges?

What is your pH, alk, ca?

All of those things play into algal outbreaks. Being active and cleaning regularly and using the highest quality water you can (as well as active skimming) will get rid of almost any algae given enough time. Stick to it if you can give it the time it will need until its over the hill.

Wade

 

[Anonymous]

I like green hair algae. Look on the bright side, it sure beats cyano. :wink:

 

[toy4x4]

Can probably look most of this up in my 3 hair algea threads, but here we go again.

I have a 55gal tank.

I have a Clown, Purple Tang(hoping it would feed on some of the hair algea), Flame Angel, Lawnmower Blenny and a Skooter.

I have a Urchin Proskimmer in the sump which has produced very very little foam/crap in a month and a half.

I feed my fish very little mysis shrimp every other day. Very little is say less than a dime sized chunk. Yes, the fish look healthy.

I have a Kent RO/DI filter that I replaced my filters about 3 months ago.

I have a ViaAqua canister filter which contains TLF HydroCarbon 2 and PhosBan

All parameters are normal with the exception of my Phosphates showing .4. Will test my RO/DI water again and let you know.

My lights I have on for about 6 hours a day and as a matter of fact, I have it set to off today after I fed my fish.

 

[toy4x4]

As expected, the phosphate reading from the RO/DI was 0.0.

 

[wade1]

Phosphate is only a minor portion of the equation. It sounds like the lack of skimming is your largest issue. Thats solved either by a good skimmer or by weekly 10% water changes (constantly and with good quality water and salt).

Whats the TDS on the RO water?
What lights you using?

I'd stop feeding meaty foods so often, the tangs should be able to graze for much of their food, but will always prefer the mysis.

You can lick this issue in time. It took my tank 3-6 months of recovery time after my hair algae/bryopsis outbreak, but since that time (and a great fergy built beckett skimmer) I have never again seen hair algae.

Wade