Algae?

[caseyz]

I am like everyone else, and waiting on the next LR haul down in Tampa. In the mean time, my first shipment has been in the tank for a little over three weeks and it looks great. I do however have a pretty good outbreak of hair algae. I also have patches of diatom's and what I think is a hint of cyano in the fuge. I know this is all normal, but I have ALOT of hair algae. Some up to 8" long.

I am only running the lights in the display for 5 hours a day and I don't want to go any less as I have an encrusting gorgonian that I am pretty sure is photosynthetic.

Anything I can do to fight this hair algae before the cleanup crew arrives? I have been scraping it off the glass, but it is pretty well stuck to the sand all over the place.

BTW, my params are Ammonia 0, Nitirite 0, Nitrate 0, PH 8.0, SG 1.0255, temp 80F.

Thanks,

Casey

 

[hdtran]

Test your alkalinity; try to bring the pH higher (anecdotally alkalinity and pH in the higher ranges are less favorable for hair). Don't worry, the cleanup crew (and time) will make it go away. My back wall was covered in it; then, in 2-3 nights, it mostly went away.

 

[caseyz]

Any suggestions on how to safely raise PH?

 

[8~LiQuiD~8]

If you didn't have a 36, I'd say go get yourself a Tang to graze on it while you await your second shipment like I have done. Mine took care of all the algae in a few days and now, when not eating the Nori I throw in for him, grazes on anything that tries to pop up on the rock while I am awaiting the final shipment. Then again, a 36 isn't that small and you might be able to get away with a Tang.

 

[hdtran]

Try 1 tsp of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup of (fresh) water; top off your tank with that. You could safely do a 2 tsp dose in your tank; Fenner's book says something like 1 tsp/20g. You could instead use a buffer powder or solution, which brings your pH to the desired pH (and also increases alkalinity).

Do buy an alkalinity kit if you're going to do this, because you also want to test the alkalinity, to make sure it's high, but not sky-high. Use a kit that returns a number, not "low/normal/high." I have Seachem (I think); it's a "count the number of drops & divide by two when the color changes from blue to yellow."

Don't try to adjust everything all at once. Patience. You'll be amazed as to how quickly your hermits and snails will mow down the algae once you get them! (And do the good weather dance while you're at it...)

Hy

p.s. Liquid8--my Tang ate all the red macro, nibbles at the green looks-like-grape-caulerpa, eats flake, and sneers at just about everything else... I think Tangs are a bit hit-and-miss. But not good in a 36. Lawnmower blenny? But only after 2nd half has landed and cycled.

 

[caseyz]

Man, I am dancing like a prom queen!

I have had the salifert tests on order since mid december. Supposedly I will get them next week. I can't test for ALK till then so I will hold off on any PH changes till I get a good ALK baseline.

As far as the Tang goes, I would love one, but the overall opinion seems to be a 36 is too small.

 

[shanekennedy]

get a small tank & sell/trade him off or when he gets to big.

 

[Bruddah Chrispy]

My hair algae has gotten totally out of control. I've heard rumours that gulf rock leaches phosphates, but not sure if I believe it.

I recently began an irradication program that consists of:

- Dripping Kalk to raise pH and precipitate phosphorous out of the water.
- Buying a lawnmower blennie (who died in quarrantine).
- Skimming 24x7 (I was already doing this) and emptying the cup every day.
- Adding Phos-ban.
- Weekly 10% water changes.
- Once-a-week blackout.
- Removing and Scrubbing the worst rocks.

I'm on a mission!

 

[caseyz]

Most of my algae is on my sand so I am hopeful the clean up crew will take right to it. I do have some on my gorgonian and a couple of spots on the rocks here and there that really annoy me though.

Guess I am going to just be calm till the rest of my test kits arrive and I can check for phosphorous, etc.

 

[8~LiQuiD~8]

You could always grab a toothbrush and spend a few minutes scrubbing it clean if it is buging you.

 

[caseyz]

Nope, it won't come off the sand, I have tried.