AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae

HighlandReefer,
I recently downgraded from my 90 to a 34gallon Red Sea Max so my tank is still very new maybe 2 months. My nitrates and phosphates are both 0, I can only assume the algae is consuming both at the same rate they being produced. I did add a closed loop refugium about 2 weeks ago filled with cheato so hopefully this will help. I also siphoned off the algae with a 4 gallon h20 change which is a little more than 10%. Cant think of anything else to do right now this is day two with reduced lighting schedule. We shall see first time I have had a problem with algae. Maybe its not even a problem just new tank?

Thanks Cliff
Chad
 
Chad,

Depending on exactly what pest you have, reduced nitrates and phosphates may not work in all cases. For example, If your pest happens to be a cyanobacteria, which resemble many of the algae, then reducing the nitrates & phosphates will help, but not completely eradicate the cyano in most cases.
 
Added 2nd dose of Alagefix today. I didn't notice the GHA being affected with the first dose. I really didn't think I would.
Hopefully by the 3rd or 4th treatment we will see some die off.
I did notice my diatom on the gravel is starting to die back.
 
It seems that most of the hobbyists who have used Algaefix Marine are seeing results after about 5 doses. Maybe you will see results sooner. ;)
 
:thumbsup: ME TOO!

I did notice a lot in my sump today when I was cleaning the socks.
I just pulled it out, it was easily removed, not like in the tank.
 
it will take a few doses before you see anything ,then you will notice that it will stop growing ,thin out and lose all its strength .at that point you can siphon it off your rockwork .
 
Thank you iamwrasseman,
correct me if I'm wrong.... didn't I read somewhere that you had great success wit this product?
 
let me just say it worked miracles for me !150 gal,35 wrasses,70 corals and a heapload of hairalgie six months ago .now i have 150gal,37wrasses 74corals and absolutly no hair algea !i have to add that i did also raise my mag level to 1650 for about three weeks before the algea fix and it was helping but after five or six doses of algea fix it was critically wounded and then i started pulling it off every thing ...........................it took some effort but worked miracles for me and there is no sign of it trying to grow back . i would work for that company,lol
 
I dosed Algaefix in a 90g and saw results after the first dose. The tips of my hair algae turned a lighter color as if dieing. By the fourth dose my algae was all dead. At that point I decided to stop dosing and start up a refugium to try and keep the algae away. Well, I wish I just continued with algaefix...
 
I have been using this product for 2-3 months. It is fantastic! My tank was 75% covered with hair algae (Derbesia I think). I was doing doses for about 30 to 45 days when I stopped. By this time there were only a few quarter sized spots left. I added carbon to remove any leftover chemicals but in two weeks the algae was coming back fast. I started using it again and it is finally almost gone. This stuff works great, it killed the hair algae and brown diatoms on the glass, but coralline, cheato, caulerpa, and halimeda were all unaffected. It seems like cyano is starting to grow in my sump and on the back glass, but I figured I would use chemi-clean to kill that off once all the hair algae is gone. My advice is make sure the hair algae is all gone before you stop using it. I tried to give everything in the tank a break from chemicals for a couple weeks, but that wasn't a good idea, and now its going to take longer to totally get rid of the algae.
 
if the algea returned quickly remember there probably are reasons that it is growing po4 and nutrient both add to the problem so waterchanges and GFO will certainly help removing them and it may be easier to controll with a weekly dose rather a daily regimine .
 
I really like what I have read regarding the hobbyists' experiences using AlgaeFix Marine in this thread, so far. ;)

In other threads on RC, I have read where one hobbyist lost some coral (he was not positive that the AlgaeFix Marine caused it). In another situation, a hobbyist lost some shrimp when using AlgaeFix Marine. He was not positive that the AlgaeFix caused it, but could not account for another reason. These shrimp had been in his tank for a number of years. :(

The manufacturer claims that it is safe for corals, shrimp, fish and all reef tank inhabitants. Obviously, they could not test every living organism in the ocean. The manufacturer has tested their product on a limited number of algae type pests and it did not kill all that were tested, although the positive percentage was high on those tested.

The active ingredient in AlgaeFix Marine is a broad spectrum biocide, meaning it can kill a wide range of micro-organisms. The active ingredient is labeled as a sterilant (I use this term loosely) at higher concentrations.

So far regarding my ongoing experience, I see AlageFix as a useful tool for hobbyists who have exhausted all other conventional means for eradicating their pests. Caution should be taken when using a pesticide, as there are usually some bad side effects for just about every chemical I have used in over 30 years experience in my field of expertise. That said, other means of eradicating algae type problems such as GFO, GAC, vodka dosing and other chemical products are not without risk, also.

An interesting aspect to consider is Randy's statement, "FWIW, this polymer will bind to calcium carbonate surfaces in seawater, as well as possibly GFO and anything with a net negative charge, including tissues and GAC". Perhaps, discontinuing the use of GFO and GAC while dosing AlgaeFix Marine is desirable. I'm not so sure about carbon dosing (vodka) either. I personally have discontinued my sugar dosing during my trial with AlgaeFix Marine. :)
 
Last edited:
interesting info ,thanks i have always wondered how others have experienced the product and how it works . i was using GFO at the time i dosed the algea fix and also carbon because the directions never stated to remove any of them .i also have heard the skimmer will remove it too so really API should have had better directions if all this is really correct . just for your info i did not lose a single organizm in my tanks but i really havent seen many pods after ,i do have thirtyish wrasses in that system though so the pod population is certainly at a major disadvantage.
 
Today is the 3rd dose of Alagefix.
We have not notice any real die off yet.....
Ed tried to pull some of the GHA off some of the rocks yesterday, he said it still has a strong hold on the rocks.
The GHA was easily removed from our sump area, maybe because it was on the acrylic, not rocks.......
We haven't given up on this product yet. I know a few reefers here on RC have had great success around the 5th or 6th treatment.
 
edandsandy give it a bit more time to work ,maybe a couple more doses . be patient your first and second doses were only two days apart so please follow the directions because i would hate to have something terrable happen from overdosing . please keep us posted on your progress please
 
As I have posted on other threads, the algeafix is working for me. I did a round of 7 total doses - stopped my GFO and activated carbon - and its working well. After the 7th dose I did a large volume water change and added back activated carbon and then saw a little bit of new growth so I am doing another round of 7 total doses. I expect to be algae free by the end of that 7 dose round. Then my plan is weekly dosing for a number of weeks. Using the chemcial was a last resort for me and its working and giving me new motivation to keep my tank when I was ready to tear it down and give up.
 
well you have to understand that the algea is fueled by something and the algeafix temporally breaks the food chain in a way . it supposidly locks up the sugar or stops the sugar from being useable . so when you stop its use the algea will probably return and the cause needs to be found and erradicated .the algeafix is a bandaid in a way .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Hair Algae - Help
Replies
8
Views
642
griss
griss
S
Low mag
Replies
12
Views
804
Scotty333!!!
S
Formulator
8 year old tank with 2.0 PO4 and zero Nitrate
Replies
7
Views
909
Scotty333!!!
S
A
Aquarium Temperature Control: How I Hacked My Air Conditioner to control my tanks temperatures
Replies
6
Views
260
Naso180
N
F
Invasive Algae in my tank
Replies
10
Views
537
Timfish
Timfish
Back
Top