Hair Algea Part 3(maybe 4)

[toy4x4]

Ok, bought a tang. No difference. Got a lawnmower Blenny, No difference. Sally Lightfoot, no difference.

What now?

I'm ready to put algea killer in the tank and just about don't care what happens after that. I'm tired of buying salt for the water changes. I really think the Urchin Pro SUCKS as I've not gotten any real crap in the cup.

 

[investigator1]

Here's what I did to win the algae war:

1) Lowered Salinity to 1.023
2) Reduce light time to 6 hours
3) Overstocked tank with cleanup crew
4) Skimmer on 24/7
5) Removed all fish and non-photosynthetic corals

 

[mountainbiker619]

I am aslo battling green hair algea. Steps that I have taken within the last 48 hours is installed a UV sterilizer, changed all filters in Ro/Di unit, started feeding fish once a day every other day and feeding corals every third day. Gee I hope this works. I have also cut my MH lighting time down to 3 hours and running VHO acentics for 8 hours. EuroReef CS8-2 is always on 24/7

 

[danmhippo]

Which tang? Did you feed the tang?

Have you tried the stiff steel brush trick? Hehehe.......

 

[liquid]

I'm assuming you're using RO/DI water? If so, do you have a TDS meter reading? Hair algae is typically from a lot of excess nutrients in the tank. Also, have you tried dripping kalkwasser?

Shane

 

[toy4x4]

Which tang? Did you feed the tang?

Have you tried the stiff steel brush trick? Hehehe.......

Purple Tang and yes, I scrub with a stiff brush.

 

[toy4x4]

I'm assuming you're using RO/DI water? If so, do you have a TDS meter reading? Hair algae is typically from a lot of excess nutrients in the tank. Also, have you tried dripping kalkwasser?

Shane

Yes, have had my water tested with a TDS meter. No problem there.

Never heard about the benefits of Kalk water in regards to hair algea..

 

[liquid]

Kalkwasser will precipitate phosphates which more than likely is one of the culprits here.

Shane

 

[mountainbiker619]

I have tried dripping kalk...did it every night for four months...no dent in the green hair algea

 

[Anonymous]

Do large water changes and pull as much as you can by hand.

 

[mountainbiker619]

will carbon help assist in this battle?

 

[liquid]

Maybe. Maybe not. Some carbons leech phosphates.

Shane

 

[mountainbiker619]

Shane,
It will be two little fishies carbon.

 

[Anonymous]

How about snails? I would consider them highly important. Urchins are good too. Any tank, no matter how well skimmed would probably have an algae problem without snails.

 

[liquid]

Go ahead and use TLF. I know the cheap stuff you can find at Walmart would definitely be suspect in my book.

Shane

 

[mountainbiker619]

Dan,

I have some snails in there already..but I believe in order to keep the algea under controll would require a mass population of snails. Its pretty freak'n thick and you can sit there and just watch it grow..atleast so it seems..lol

 

[Lurshy]

FWIW - You certain its 'hair' algea? Some green algea is avoided by most clean up crews. Do a search on Bryopsis.