AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae

Okay Jonathan. I was hoping someone had had the experience. I was thinking with the die-off of the algae and the subsequent nutrient spikes that maybe starting the Prodibio now might help? I didn't want to introduce the BioDigest especially if the AF has a harmful effect on the bacteria...I'll wait to begin dosing after I get to a maintenance dose :) Thanks for the response as I wasn't sure if you or Cliff had seen my question :)
 
terri_ann said:
Okay Jonathan. I was hoping someone had had the experience. I was thinking with the die-off of the algae and the subsequent nutrient spikes that maybe starting the Prodibio now might help? I didn't want to introduce the BioDigest especially if the AF has a harmful effect on the bacteria...I'll wait to begin dosing after I get to a maintenance dose :) Thanks for the response as I wasn't sure if you or Cliff had seen my question :)
Click to expand...

I saw your post and hoped someone with experience would chime in. ;)

Hobbyists including myself have kept using carbon sources while dosing AF without problems. I noted good bacteria numbers in my skimmate during this time. Obviously bacteria will reproduce during use of AF. However, AF can act on bacterial. With the low numbers of bacteria in these additives (relative to those in your tank), perhaps adding bacterial sources would not be a good idea during AF dosing. I don't think it would hurt anything, but may kill these suspended bacterial you try to introduce. :)

Using carbon sources may be a good thing during AF use.
 
Been using AF for about a month now, and it seems to be working slowly but surely.
FYI, I do have two urchins (I believe Tripneustes gratilla, but not sure) that seem to be "stunned" every time I dose. They extend their legs into the current, and if they are on the rock or a hanging on the glass, fall off. Recovery is within about an hour or so. Other than that, all shrimp, hermit crabs, and feather dusters, etc seem fine.
Thanks for the experience of all the folks who have contributed to this thread so far!
Cheers,
Ray
 
HighlandReefer said:
I saw your post and hoped someone with experience would chime in. ;)

Hobbyists including myself have kept using carbon sources while dosing AF without problems. I noted good bacteria numbers in my skimmate during this time. Obviously bacteria will reproduce during use of AF. However, AF can act on bacterial. With the low numbers of bacteria in these additives (relative to those in your tank), perhaps adding bacterial sources would not be a good idea during AF dosing. I don't think it would hurt anything, but may kill these suspended bacterial you try to introduce. :)

Using carbon sources may be a good thing during AF use.
Click to expand...

Thanks Cliff for responding:D I wondered where you went:lolspin:

I've been tagging along for several weeks now. I had used AF several years ago when my tank was FOWLR and it worked well, even no reoccurance of HA. I tore the tank down about 2 years ago and since setting it back up, I've had nothing but problems with high nitrates. I finally resorted to vodka dosing but the trates wouldn't go below 20ppm. When I started to get cyano, I decided to stop dosing. Moved all corals into my frag tank and decided to go Prodibio. After 1 dose, the lightbulb went off...AF:facepalm:

I'll do the 5th dose of AF tomorrow. So far, no sign of dieoff but all the algae is in the hidey-holes of the rock. I had manually removed what I could some time back. I plan to start dosing vodka, vodka-vinegar or just vinegar again once I find the formula. The nitrates will skyrocket when the die-off begins so hopefully the carbon dosing will keep the trates around 20ppm, then I'll start the Prodibio.

My plan will be to dose the BioDigest at least 24 hours after dosing AF. Then 24 hours after dosing BioDigest, I'll dose either BioPTim or vodka/vinegar. I hope that will give the bacteria in the BioDigest a fighting chance and the fuel they'll need to consume the trates.
 
Sounds like a reasonable approach. ;)

FWIW, I saw less cyano problems when dosing vinegar alone vs vodka and some other hobbyists have report the same, like Randy. :)
 
Im going to start using this. I have some chaeto I want to keep alive. Reading through this thread I gather it is safe after 24 hours. Can I keep the chaeto in a bucket of old water for 24 hours then reinsert it for 2 days. Then before I dose again do another water change keeping the old water for the chaeto for another 24 hours then reinsert for 2 days. Rinse repeat? Has anyone had any luck doing something similar?
 
Most hobbyists don't have problems with their chaeto until after 10 doses from what I have gathered in this thread. My concern would be that your chaeto is infested with the algae as well and would re-inoculate the tank after treating with AF.
 
I dont remember if anyone else has experienced this or not but less than and hour after I dosed the snails all came out and began attacking the rocks. Something they havent really done much in the past. Hopefully a sign that the algae now taste better :-)
 
RiddleEagle18 said:
I dont remember if anyone else has experienced this or not but less than and hour after I dosed the snails all came out and began attacking the rocks. Something they havent really done much in the past. Hopefully a sign that the algae now taste better :-)
Click to expand...

AlgaeFix breaking down algae may make it more palatable to snails. ;)
 
Well it worked! After about 5 treatments the HA is gone. Problem is it killed my chaeto. The chaeto became white on the ends and then slowly broke apart and died. Now that its gone, im fighting a bit of a cyano problem but Im thrilled the HA is gone.

Probably just going to go buy a nice big ball of chaeto and chalk up the $10 loss to beating the HA.
 
First, thanks to all of those that have contributed to this thread...
After reading this thread I put my new found knowledge to work. It has been 11 doses and I have to say that things are better now. What do you think?


Before
<a href="http://s782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/?action=view&current=DSCN3817.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/DSCN3817.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

After
<a href="http://s782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/?action=view&current=DSCN3925.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/DSCN3925.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Before
<a href="http://s782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/?action=view&current=DSCN3815.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/DSCN3815.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

After
<a href="http://s782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/?action=view&current=DSCN3924.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/Geospicsatphotobucket/DSCN3924.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My phosphate was keep low about 0.10ppm or less for the last month. Algae that the fish and snails would only nibble on became favorite food when Algaefix was dosed.
 
I received a PM but I don't have enough posts :lmao: to reply so I will do it here.

I keep LPS mostly and about two weeks ago I added a Montipora. The Monti has done well with the treatment with no noticeable effects. Favites, Favia, and Echinophyllia will contract within minutes of dosing and then not extend their feeding tentacles fully for a night or two. So for the corals I have I would say after 11 doses there has been no lasting effect that I can see.
 
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