AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae

ctenophors rule,

I don't believe you have been dosing long enough to see results. Usually you start seeing the results around the 4th-5th dose.

The AlgaeFix Marine label states to dose every 3 days. Add 1 ml. per 10 US gal. of your actual tank water. The active ingredient straight from the bottle is 4.5% Poly(oxyethylene(dimethylimino)ethylene dichloride).

I believe that the AlgaeFix for fresh water has the same amount of the same active ingredient, 4.5%. I have not seen the label for the fresh. If my assumptions are correct, you should use the AlgaeFix for Fresh at the same amounts as on the label for the Marine. Both dosing labels may not be the same. The marine label states that it is ok for all reef inhabitants.

As far as whether the AlgaeFix Marine & the Fresh water version are the same, it is very possible they are the same. It is also possible that the manufacturer removed some of the contaminates from the marine version, which would not necessarily show up on the label or the MSDS sheet. ;)

I have read some threads on other sites where they have used the fresh water version in marine tanks with no problems. You are the first here that is using the Fresh version. If you decide to keep using the fresh version, I will be very interested in your results. :)
 
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yeah they are the same.

okay, i will keep dosing and see.

also the white stuff that was floating, i think it may be hair algae.

does it turn clear when it dies?

it doesn't appear to be a bacterium when i looked under the microscope, looks more like an alga.

also i got a bunch of other algae today (tooo many to list) i will ad those to the tank after qt, and hopefully they will out compete the hair algae.
 
Yea, the white/clear stuff may very well be dead algae (lost its chlorophyll). ;)

Good luck with your dosing and keep us posted on the results (good or bad). You are our first (for this thread) AlgaeFix for Fresh water Guinea Pig. :D
 
ctenophors rule,

Another important thing to do while using AlgaeFix, is to get as much algae out by hand removal, brushing & siphoning as possible.
 
i've always wanted to be a ginnea pig.....and eat one. (does that make me a cannabile?)

i am removing lots of it, the system i use that works, is to use the mag float and follow behind it with a brineshrimp net, if you turn the pumps of that works wonders on the glass.

i have trouble with the rocks though...
 
I went to the store and saw the labels for fresh and marine, they where different on some amount of ingredients and ingredients, man you are making me think here, i am going to double check, but i am pretty sure i saw something different and that is why i got the marine version.....

sana
 
I'm also having a hair alge breakout right now, and after reading this, i went and checked my RO storage tank.
Bingo! I actually found alge in the safety overflow tubing, right where it exited the tank.

Thanks everybody!

so now, what's the best way to clean a holding tank?

i also have some red sline alge starting too, and I used the "Blue Life Red Slime Control" and it worked great.
 
Diluted bleach will destroy the algae & bacteria. Vinegar is also a disinfectant if used at higher concentrations, but may not be as effective as the diluted bleach for your purpose.

You will want to triple rinse your container after treatment and if you use the bleach, you may want to use a product from the LFS to remove any possible amount left over after rinsing.
 
Sanababit,

From the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals website:

http://aquariumpharm.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=52

The active ingredients for both products are as follows:

AlgaeFix Fresh Water: dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate 31512-74-0 4.5%

AlgaeFix Marine: dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate 31512-74-0 4.5%

As I stated before the MSDS sheets do not list the individual contaminates found in the products or the manufacturing process used for each. Very likely they are identical, but one can't be positive with the information provided. ;)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14903749#post14903749 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer
Sanababit,

From the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals website:

http://aquariumpharm.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=52

The active ingredients for both products are as follows:

AlgaeFix Fresh Water: dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate 31512-74-0 4.5%

AlgaeFix Marine: dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate 31512-74-0 4.5%

As I stated before the MSDS sheets do not list the individual contaminates found in the products or the manufacturing process used for each. Very likely they are identical, but one can't be positive with the information provided. ;)
Click to expand...

Highland, i am pretty sure i saw something different, but your are probably right, i am going to double check the labels this week, and i remember seeing something about the fresh kind that made me not buy it, and it was cheaper too....

sana
 
I've ordered Algaefix Marine and will be starting treatment as soon as it arrives. I was just wondering about the "won't kill the algae spores" claim.

If someone was to put a UV online, wouldn't this take care of any algae spores still floating around after the Algaefix has cleared up the HA?

Any thoughts?
 
actualy the botle say "DO NOT USE WITH CRUSTACEANS"

this worries me slkightly, but so far all i have seen is more than usual molting.

my shrimp have molted 2 times this month, as apposed to once every three month, i will see when they molt next and report my findings promptly
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14906731#post14906731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctenophors rule
actualy the botle say "DO NOT USE WITH CRUSTACEANS"

this worries me slkightly, but so far all i have seen is more than usual molting.

my shrimp have molted 2 times this month, as apposed to once every three month, i will see when they molt next and report my findings promptly
Click to expand...

Since you're using the freshwater Algaefix, I've got to figure they mean not to use it with freshwater crustaceans. Marine critters must have different ways of coping with the active ingredient in Algaefix.

P.S.... Thinking of my own crustaceans, I started dosing Algaefix Saturday night. Today, a big porcelain crab is happily eating crud, my decorator crab is busy eating one of my rock flower anemones damn his eyes, and a wennerae mantis whapped my toothbrush when I was trying to clean the side of his rock. No crustacean problems here so far, knock on wood. :lol:
 
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I am in no way, condoning the use of the AlgaeFix for fresh water in any marine tank system. I recommend that you use the AlgaeFix Marine for reef systems. There may be some contaminates in the fresh water version. That said, it is possible the two products are identical. I am sure the manufacturer will not disclose any information about this. For one thing, the manufacturer had to pay for a lot of extra testing to prove that it was safe in marine systems in order to get the new EPA label as an algaecide to be used in marine systems. IMHO, the manufacturer is entitled to recoup their costs. ;)

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Sanababit,

If you come up with something, please let us know. Another name for the chemical ingredient as far as my understanding goes, is Poly(oxyethylene(dimethylimino)ethylene dichloride). This is the same as dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate. I am not a chemist, so any chemists reading this, please let me know if I am incorrect. :)

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Bruno,

When I contacted the manufacturer, they informed me that the AlgaeFix Marine would not kill the spore stage (I use this term loosely). IMHO, running UV will not help much with killing the spores. The problem with the algae spores is one reason why the manufacturer recommends to continue dosing on a weekly basis, to kill spores as they germinate and before the algae comes back again. Keep us posted on your results with AlgaeFix Marine. :)

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ctenophors rule,

I don't know what else to tell you, other than what I have stated above. ;)
 
Thanks for your response, HighlandReefer. I'll be posting before and after pics once I get going.

Just to expand a little bit on the UV idea. I know that UV filters are very useful for killing algae spores in pond applications. My thinking is that it might be helpful in a reef application also.
 
Bruno,

I am not sure exactly how effective the UV is on spores, given the strength & exposure time in most hobby grade systems.

Another problem is that the spores can become attached to substrate.....etc and are not necessarily free floating in the water column. Thus, the UV will not possibly have exposure with the spores in this situation. At the rate algae reproduce, it would not take many spores to eventually bring your system back to where it all started. :)

FWIW, I run UV myself. Every little bit helps. ;)
 
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A hobby grade reef system is a very complex ecosystem in itself, particularly when you look at its micro-diversity. I have not seen any studies regarding the diversity of bacteria, algae, cyanobacteria, protozoans......etc. found in the average system. Their reproductive capacity is phenomenal. Throwing some AlgaeFix Marine into this complex system, can have all sorts of effects on the individuals in your system, for both the good guys and the bad guys. It can kill most microbes. A lot will have to do with what the AlgaeFix actually comes in contact with and at what concentrations. When the AlgaeFix is dumped into one's aquarium, it will flow with the current and disperse through the system at different concentrations and to different areas. The AlgaeFix will attach to negatively charged things in your system. If enough of it attaches to your pest, it will kill it. The goal is to kill the pest and not the desirable organisms in your system. Undoubtedly, some of the good guys will loose out. Some of the organisms will be less susceptible to the effects of the AlgaeFix, while others will be more susceptible. It would be very interesting to know what these actual effects are on some of the organisms found in our system. This information would be very helpful in creating a proper pest control program using the AlgaeFix Marine.

Another useful fact that was disclosed during my inquiry with the manufacturer, is that the active ingredient in AlgaeFix Marine will brake down within 24 hrs.

Unfortunately, the studies answering my questions are normally made at Universities and not supplied by the manufacturers. It does not appear there is much interest in this type of research, perhaps due to the economics involved and the fact that AlgaeFix will not likely be used in the ocean to control algae.

IMHO, AlgaeFix Marine is a good tool to be used in a reef system, after all the standard recommended procedures have been exhausted. It is not a solution by itself, but an additional tool to be used in conjunction with other control methods such as reduced phosphate & nitrate; mechanical removal of your pest, proper lighting; proper feeding; good skimming........this list goes on. ;)

Randy's articles explaining these methods are an excellent source:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

What is Skimming?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php

Reverse Osmosis/Deionization Systems to Purify Tap Water for Reef Aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.htm

Organic Compounds in the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/rhf/index.htm

The Complete Nitrogen Cycle
http://web.archive.org/web/20030510...iers+--+Biochemistry+of+Aquaria&RecordNo=3090
 
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