algae control measures

[supernareg]

so i did a major revamp of my tank. i disconnected the sump (took up too much room) so now it's a stand alone tank with HOB skimmer. i took out all of my rocks, scrubbed them real nicely, stirred up the sand and let it sit then siphoned the top layer, did a 90% water change.

i had hair algae like MAD and cyano. i added some chemi clean for the cyano today.

all the fish have been sold. I'm going to go community with a bunch of smaller colorful fish, there is noething in there right now though except for my brittle star and urchin - i think i'm going to cycle (a small one) . I'll be getting a set of clowns, some firefish, blue chromis, clown goby, etc.

before: my mom used to feed trigger/wrasse/eel freeze dried shrimp and they were MESSY eaters and i had no clean up crew. lights were on 12 hours a day. no water changes made just top off.. (5 months).

now: community fish to eat pellets, every other day and a LITTLE bit. not as messy as dried shrimp. lights cut back to 8 hours. i'm adding a bunch of hermits, 3 turbo snails, and 2 urchins. i've also added a STRONG powerhead to make sure nothing settles and there is PLENTY of movement . mother instruction to not feed as much.

i want to get phosphate/carbon dual reactor, but i dont want to add anything else to the tank. how else can i get good algae control? can i just get phosban and put it in a bag in my Bakpak skimmer?

any other algae control measures?

 

[JohnnyB in SD]

Algae is a good thing, natural water filter / purification. Instead of trying to eradicate it with all sorts of marginally effective strategies, use it to your advantage.
Algae Turf Scrubbers are very effective and inexpensive if you can DIY. Grows the Algae in a controlled container instead of in your display. Look it up on this forum.

 

[Crush Coral]

I used Kent Tech M for years - never had a hair algae prob. I got a deal on Sea Chem mag and shortly after got a nice crop of HA. Went back to Tech M and two weeks later the HA was falling off the rocks. I pulled it off and will not go away from Tech M again.

 

[Dyzio545]

I used Kent Tech M for years - never had a hair algae prob. I got a deal on Sea Chem mag and shortly after got a nice crop of HA. Went back to Tech M and two weeks later the HA was falling off the rocks. I pulled it off and will not go away from Tech M again.

Can I ask how much you used for your tank? I have a 55 gallon reef tank and can't figure out how much to use. I'm battling green hair algae right now.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sk8r]

Hit the params in my sig and you'll have a pretty good mg level. Also in my blog I have several posts that discuss how to get rid of various algaes.