CoralBeautyII
New member
It made mine worse too, I was better off not using it and just pulling it out and waiting it out
Lesson learned
AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae
- Thread starter HighlandReefer
- Start date
It made mine worse too, I was better off not using it and just pulling it out and waiting it out
Lesson learned
jason2459
Well-known member
GHA takes a lot of patience. Even if these products work for the type of algae you have it's still not going to be over night. There could still be more growth immediately after use. Pulling and patience is key no mater what route you go. GFO, carbon dosing, AlgaeFx, raising magnesium levels, pulling, ATS, etc. Combine them or use one at a time either way it all takes time.
I'm on my 3rd or 4th round of dealing with a tank wide algae out break. GFO and carbon dosing worked best for me before along with some pulling and doing the same again. Slowly and surely the algae is going away.
And remember if you use a particular product and the algae dies all it's doing is putting back into your system exactly what allowed it to grow in the first place. That's why pulling should still be done and possibly some other means of reducing nutrients like phosphates and nitrates. Also, if you don't change any habits or maintenance then after using a particular product that algae will just come right back with a vengeance as there's most likely dormant spores just waiting to come right back.
I'm on my 3rd or 4th round of dealing with a tank wide algae out break. GFO and carbon dosing worked best for me before along with some pulling and doing the same again. Slowly and surely the algae is going away.
And remember if you use a particular product and the algae dies all it's doing is putting back into your system exactly what allowed it to grow in the first place. That's why pulling should still be done and possibly some other means of reducing nutrients like phosphates and nitrates. Also, if you don't change any habits or maintenance then after using a particular product that algae will just come right back with a vengeance as there's most likely dormant spores just waiting to come right back.
CoralBeautyII
New member
I worked on it for over four months. It would subside here n' there but i couldnt never get it out 100%, and the teeny bit that was stuck on the rock was all it took i guess to take over several times.
I turkey basted my rocks several times after 99% of the algae was gone, i think this was a mistake as i must have spread the spores.
I up'd my water changes almost to the point of 50% weekly and in the end i still lost
I've had reef tanks for more than a decade and never once had anything this extreme..it was also the first time i used algaefix...i kinda think it just added fuel to the fire :thumbdown
I am reviving this thread because I am thinking about going the Algaefix route after several months of battling THIS stuff.
As you can see, it is not your typical, HA though every bit as resilient. I've have already tried most every commonly suggested form of nutrient export even though this really doesn't seem to be the issue [Po4 and NO3 are well within the range of NSW according to both Hanna and Triton]. Therefore, I am here at my next to last resort*.
Anyone here think this product would work on this algae? This would be a 500g 'sps' dominant reetank, part of a 650g system.
As you can see, it is not your typical, HA though every bit as resilient. I've have already tried most every commonly suggested form of nutrient export even though this really doesn't seem to be the issue [Po4 and NO3 are well within the range of NSW according to both Hanna and Triton]. Therefore, I am here at my next to last resort*.
Anyone here think this product would work on this algae? This would be a 500g 'sps' dominant reetank, part of a 650g system.
fishresponse
New member
That looks like algae my tangs eat. I have some on my rocks but has been manageable.
spoofer
New member
I have used this product periodically to help ward off blooms and it has helped in tackling tanks completely covered. It was one of many elements that worked. I found this biggest game changer was using hydrogen peroxide to burn areas of trouble. My process would be to check levels- if tank is stable enough dose algae fix 1-2 times in a week to 10 days. As well in tandem check mag level and raise using kent tech m to around 1500 or more. At this point I would prepare a 20% water change and physcially remove as much rock as I can and directly drop hydrogen peroxide to area of trouble after finger scraping all obvious chunks off. Hydrogen peroxide will kill coraline but I have applied it directly to zoa gardens , LPS stalks and base area of sps with little to no harm. Note- most effective when using a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide. . Of it's been open and sitting around it is less effective - don't known why but it isntrue, so buy a few bottles it like. 97 cents. Cheapest way to destroy ur algae problem overnight. Physically siphoning and pick all chunks off under water and if possible drain tank level down to areas where peices not removable can be directly applied too. Using area towel dab at infected area and then with area dropper apply a few drops and wait about 2-3 minutes. There is no need to rinse - some people like to sonif u want go for it, but I've never had any problems. I hope this helps .. I was about to throw in the towels many timesnov we because of problems like this. Good luck. Ensure that u have located the source of the phosphates to avoid build up again.
Way way back in this thread I used AlgaeFix Marine. It worked on some algae but didn't on the big menaces in my tank so I gave up on it. Direct application of hydrogen peroxide to problem algae (you have to take the rocks out of the tank to treat) is the most effective method I have found. It works in less that 7 days from one 2.5 minute treatment. Combining that with vinegar dosing, ramping up to .6ml/gal has eradicated all the problem algae in my tank (if you don't have a nutrient export counter measure, the algae WILL grow back). I found all the information in this forum so if you're still struggling with algae I suggest you search these topics.
DrexelLake
New member
Just finished my second week of treatment using AlgaeFix Marine as directed on the bottle. The first week the GHA started to sloth off, but doesn't look like it's working anymore.
I'm still running the skimmer and using chemi-pure. I've read conflicting info on this and the bottle doesn't say to do anything but add it. I'm also still doing 25% weekly water changes with RO/DI water with instant ocean reef crystals. I'll be changing the Kent Marine salt next weekend. Going to keep dosing AlgaeFix for now. Any advice?
I'm still running the skimmer and using chemi-pure. I've read conflicting info on this and the bottle doesn't say to do anything but add it. I'm also still doing 25% weekly water changes with RO/DI water with instant ocean reef crystals. I'll be changing the Kent Marine salt next weekend. Going to keep dosing AlgaeFix for now. Any advice?
Aquarist007
New member
You have to harvest the dead algae or it releases phosphates back into the water keeping live algae growing
jason2459
Well-known member
That's the easiest, quickest, and most sure fire way. Other wise you're relying on some other method of export that has to compete with the unwanted algae in the tank.
It is time to try out the AlgaeFix. I have been dealing with this algae problem since october... I have tried everything other then the Algaefix. My tank has been up for a year and a half. I just switched out the bulbs, got a new thing of chemi-pure elite, the AlgaeFix is on its way. I have seen it work in person with a friends tank so I am hoping it works for me, the friend told me to make sure i pick at the algae everyday when using this product. He said if I did that it would work like gold.
For the people using hydrogen peroxide(would be my last resort if this does not work), do you put it in the bucket and go over the rocks with it then rinse, how do you exactly do it?
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For the people using hydrogen peroxide(would be my last resort if this does not work), do you put it in the bucket and go over the rocks with it then rinse, how do you exactly do it?
DrexelLake
New member
I mixed about 1 part peroxide to four parts water then used a dropper to it directly with my rock removed from the tank. Let is sit about 5 minutes, then rinsed it with tank water from a water change and put the rock back in. Killed about 80% of it. I'm still using AlgaeFix and may do the peroxide again. It really slowed it way down. I also added biopellets and a Nano tumbler.
spoofer
New member
In use it similarly ^ but i don't water it down -fresh never used bottle HP . Take rock out using a syringe or dropper or even slow pour infected problematic area .. let it sit for a 3-5 minutes then rinse with tank water or most of the time I put it right back in. In some pet shops they actually use HP to raise oxygen levels in the tank so don't worry that u will nuke ur tank. I've put ounces at a time over rock and put it directly in with no ill effects. I'm serious when I say this was the best way of erraticating nuisance algae once nub have found the source of ur problem and corrected whatever it is -this is how u remove unwanted clumps and get ur self back on track. Goodluck
awesome, i might do this and AlgaeFix. You pretty much answered everything on that, I was scared it would kill everything in the tank, coral, fish, inverts. Thank you!
mos90
New member
I had a bad hair algae problem also and algae fix did work but not without some losses. I lost most of my snails and all of my shrimp. Including my mantis that I've had for years in my sump.
You will need to manually remove h/a along with algae fix for it to really work. I bought an electric algae remover. Forgot what it was called but it works.
I would weekly clean out as much as I could. Was a lot of work.
You will need to manually remove h/a along with algae fix for it to really work. I bought an electric algae remover. Forgot what it was called but it works.
I would weekly clean out as much as I could. Was a lot of work.
I planned on attacking it everyday with a wire brush and tooth brush. Did you have a skunk shrimp at all? I'm not to worried about the snails.
