HighlandReefer
Team RC
Several hobbyists in my local club reported good results for controlling Dictyota with AlgaeFix Marine. I would say it's worth a try.
AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae
- Thread starter HighlandReefer
- Start date
Snookster
New member
I thought I would throw in my results since this thread pretty much convinced me to try it.
I managed to get a case of HA AND bryopsis from a frag I got off of a local reefer. I managed to defeat the bryopsis by removing the frag, salvaging about 10 polyps (zoas) from the infected frag and "transplanting" them to a new frag.
A few weeks later, HA started showing up in the same area the old frag was located. It soon spread outwards at a pretty quick rate since I was pretty lax in doing anything about it.
I went on vacation for 10 days, came back to a very hairy tank. War on.
I set up another tub, transferred the most infected rock, brushed, scrubbed - not quite a cooking, but not far from it. Most of my frags are young, so moving rock around wasn't an issue yet.
I did this for several weeks and got it down to a low level and need something to finish it off. I started dosing the algaefix on 4/15/10, as instrcuted and after about 2 weeks, I started seeing positive results.
I skimmed wet throughout the process, dosed vodka, ran rowaphos and did not do any water changes. I made a focused effort to feed less too. I also pulled any ha I saw I could get my hands on manually.
I did notice an increase in skimmate, I lost my cleaner shrimp (caused by af?), and after 4 weeks, my chaeto is starting to fall apart a little.
As of today, there are 2 little patches left that I can see and they are looking pretty weak. My corals (a few SPS) and zoas are doing great. I feel it worked for me.
Here's a couple of pics that show progress...
taken 12/29
4/20
5/5
I managed to get a case of HA AND bryopsis from a frag I got off of a local reefer. I managed to defeat the bryopsis by removing the frag, salvaging about 10 polyps (zoas) from the infected frag and "transplanting" them to a new frag.
A few weeks later, HA started showing up in the same area the old frag was located. It soon spread outwards at a pretty quick rate since I was pretty lax in doing anything about it.
I went on vacation for 10 days, came back to a very hairy tank. War on.
I set up another tub, transferred the most infected rock, brushed, scrubbed - not quite a cooking, but not far from it. Most of my frags are young, so moving rock around wasn't an issue yet.
I did this for several weeks and got it down to a low level and need something to finish it off. I started dosing the algaefix on 4/15/10, as instrcuted and after about 2 weeks, I started seeing positive results.
I skimmed wet throughout the process, dosed vodka, ran rowaphos and did not do any water changes. I made a focused effort to feed less too. I also pulled any ha I saw I could get my hands on manually.
I did notice an increase in skimmate, I lost my cleaner shrimp (caused by af?), and after 4 weeks, my chaeto is starting to fall apart a little.
As of today, there are 2 little patches left that I can see and they are looking pretty weak. My corals (a few SPS) and zoas are doing great. I feel it worked for me.
Here's a couple of pics that show progress...
taken 12/29
4/20
5/5
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Snookster,
Thanks for posting your results and pics.
It's always nice when you win the war.
Thanks for posting your results and pics.
It's always nice when you win the war.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
As far as I know, Chemi Pure Elite contains a GAC and a GFO. I would think this would not be a problem combined with using AlgaeFix.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Brando,
Don't give up hope yet.
It usually takes around 5-7 doses to see results.
Make sure you remove as much algae as possible before each dose of AF.
Don't give up hope yet.
It usually takes around 5-7 doses to see results.
Make sure you remove as much algae as possible before each dose of AF.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Brando,
I guess you are aware the dosgae rate for AF is 1 ml per 10 gallons of actual water volume. I assume you are dosing on the safe side. If you have an actual water volume (minus rock and sand...etc) of 160 gallons, then you could be dosing 16 ml. every three days.
I guess you are aware the dosgae rate for AF is 1 ml per 10 gallons of actual water volume. I assume you are dosing on the safe side. If you have an actual water volume (minus rock and sand...etc) of 160 gallons, then you could be dosing 16 ml. every three days.
Maybe I'll up the dose then my tank is 135 gallons + 60 gallon sump = 195 gallon volume.
Figure about 160 or so pounds of live rock + a 4" sand bend + 6" sand bed in the fuge.
I'll up the dose to 16ml
, also I'm running my skimmer + my carbon reactor during the dosing after reading through the thread it seems to be safe. I hope it helps
really do lol, getting to the point where I want to smash the tank and punch the algae.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Sounds Good.
Algae problems are at the top as far as many reefers frustrations.
I'm a firm believer in using a quarantine tank for preventing algae & many other pest problems.
Algae problems are at the top as far as many reefers frustrations.
I'm a firm believer in using a quarantine tank for preventing algae & many other pest problems.
Sounds Good.
Algae problems are at the top as far as many reefers frustrations.
I'm a firm believer in using a quarantine tank for preventing algae & many other pest problems.
I'm almost at the point where the way I setup my tank to take it down and re-do it completely lol.
I'm not the expert by any means... but I seriously just brought my tank back from 2.5 years of algae take over, after trying numerous products. I finally talked with melev in depth on some issues, and I'm happy to say my tank is 100% algae free.
First I tried the lights out approach. It really did nothing against it. I was running high nitrate levels, and wasn't even testing phosphate, so I'm sure it was through the roof as well. I had a bad mix of GHA and cyano.
Then I tried the algone packets. I still use them to this day as another form of export, but they as well really did nothing to it.
Then I tried the algaefix marine. Again, 3 months of using it, nothing. Tank was still covered in algae.
I fixed it by good old hard work. I did an 85% water change on the tank twice in 2 days to knock out all the nutrients in the tank. Then went in with some airline tubing to siphon out detritus and all in and behind the rock work. I built a refugium and stuffed it with chaeto to absorb anything that was going into the tank, and reduced my feedings to 2-3 times a week. I can't find a spec of cyano or hair algae in the tank at all anymore, and I'm very very happy with that.
It sucks, and it's alotta work, but if you're fighting with it that bad trying to get rid of it all, sometimes drastic measures are needed
First I tried the lights out approach. It really did nothing against it. I was running high nitrate levels, and wasn't even testing phosphate, so I'm sure it was through the roof as well. I had a bad mix of GHA and cyano.
Then I tried the algone packets. I still use them to this day as another form of export, but they as well really did nothing to it.
Then I tried the algaefix marine. Again, 3 months of using it, nothing. Tank was still covered in algae.
I fixed it by good old hard work. I did an 85% water change on the tank twice in 2 days to knock out all the nutrients in the tank. Then went in with some airline tubing to siphon out detritus and all in and behind the rock work. I built a refugium and stuffed it with chaeto to absorb anything that was going into the tank, and reduced my feedings to 2-3 times a week. I can't find a spec of cyano or hair algae in the tank at all anymore, and I'm very very happy with that.
It sucks, and it's alotta work, but if you're fighting with it that bad trying to get rid of it all, sometimes drastic measures are needed
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Servo,
Good to hear the AF worked on your Dictyota.
I'm curious as to how many doses it took to gain control?
Good to hear the AF worked on your Dictyota.
I'm curious as to how many doses it took to gain control?
I've been fighting Dictyota for 6 months and was at my wits end with it.
I started using AlgaeFix Marine last week, and after the 3rd dose I started to see an improvement. Now after the 4th dose it really is starting to receed properly.:dance: I've had such a struggle with it I still can't quite believe it !
I should point out this is the first chemical "quick fix" I've tried. Until now I've tried to address the root of the problem with good husbandy as well as changing all filters on my RO unit, changing the lights and reducing the period, reduced feeding, Rowaphos and carbon. This stuff seems to spread even with very good water quality which is why I resorted to a chemical as a last ditch attempt.
I'm going to do a water change tonight and siphon out the loose stuff before the next dose tomorrow.
I started using AlgaeFix Marine last week, and after the 3rd dose I started to see an improvement. Now after the 4th dose it really is starting to receed properly.:dance: I've had such a struggle with it I still can't quite believe it !
I should point out this is the first chemical "quick fix" I've tried. Until now I've tried to address the root of the problem with good husbandy as well as changing all filters on my RO unit, changing the lights and reducing the period, reduced feeding, Rowaphos and carbon. This stuff seems to spread even with very good water quality which is why I resorted to a chemical as a last ditch attempt.
I'm going to do a water change tonight and siphon out the loose stuff before the next dose tomorrow.
helpinsmepls
New member
I picked up a bottle of the fix. I'm starting today. I run a 5 stage spectrapure r/o, instant ocean reef crystals, SWC 160 cone skimmer, Nova extreme T5 8x54, 70 gallon tank, 35 gallon sump, hob refug with chaeto which will not grow and the stuff is a month old.
As far as I know water tests out fine. I have a few different brands of tests but admittedly all are expired except for the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite tests which all read fine. Even phosphate test was not showing up even after adding additional drops, but like I said this test is expired.
I will admit something is wrong as you will see in the pictures but I have tried to correct the problem with no avail for the past month.
With water changes, brs reactor running gfo, also a bag of chemi pure elite, a bag of purigen, a bag of seachem phosphate remover, nothing is hitting this stuff. I have tried 3 day's no light in the DT and nothing, the stuff seemed to grow better lol. I have my fish on a 3 to 4 day wait period between feedings. I even purchased 2 babby bottle brushes to scrubb the crud off and it just grows back.
My shrimp are mad, my fish are mad, my corals are mad, my snails seem ok with the situation as do my crabs.
I don't think im overstocked. I have 100lbs live rock, 2 clownfish, 2 firefish, 1 female mandarin, 1 clown goby, 1 yellow watchman, 1 brittle starfish, 2 cleaner shrimp, 4 peppermint shrimp, 3 to 4 small hermits, and about 20 or so snails. 1 bubble coral, 1 frogspawn, 1 xenia, a few gsp, and 2 zoa.
I'm not sure where my problem is cumming from but I do have one.
Please feel free to laugh.
As far as I know water tests out fine. I have a few different brands of tests but admittedly all are expired except for the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite tests which all read fine. Even phosphate test was not showing up even after adding additional drops, but like I said this test is expired.
I will admit something is wrong as you will see in the pictures but I have tried to correct the problem with no avail for the past month.
With water changes, brs reactor running gfo, also a bag of chemi pure elite, a bag of purigen, a bag of seachem phosphate remover, nothing is hitting this stuff. I have tried 3 day's no light in the DT and nothing, the stuff seemed to grow better lol. I have my fish on a 3 to 4 day wait period between feedings. I even purchased 2 babby bottle brushes to scrubb the crud off and it just grows back.
My shrimp are mad, my fish are mad, my corals are mad, my snails seem ok with the situation as do my crabs.
I don't think im overstocked. I have 100lbs live rock, 2 clownfish, 2 firefish, 1 female mandarin, 1 clown goby, 1 yellow watchman, 1 brittle starfish, 2 cleaner shrimp, 4 peppermint shrimp, 3 to 4 small hermits, and about 20 or so snails. 1 bubble coral, 1 frogspawn, 1 xenia, a few gsp, and 2 zoa.
I'm not sure where my problem is cumming from but I do have one.
Please feel free to laugh.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
That is a nasty algae.
I agree, you should get as much of the algae out of your tank as possible before each dose. Otherwise, the dead algae will add lots of nitrate and phosphate back into your water column.
The feathery branching on the stalks resembles the growth behavior of Bryopsis. It may be a Bryopsis, but I am not certain.
I would really like to know how the AF works on this algae. Where did you buy your live rock from?
I agree, you should get as much of the algae out of your tank as possible before each dose. Otherwise, the dead algae will add lots of nitrate and phosphate back into your water column.
The feathery branching on the stalks resembles the growth behavior of Bryopsis. It may be a Bryopsis, but I am not certain.
I would really like to know how the AF works on this algae. Where did you buy your live rock from?
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SERVO
New member
Servo,
Good to hear the AF worked on your Dictyota.
I'm curious as to how many doses it took to gain control?
Well, I should have detailed it a little better. I had an aquacultured coral in my frag tank that had some small dictyota at it's base. The LFS's store owner was plucking it off. He cleared out his system later with the product and told me to try it. I was SUPER scared to put a pesticide in my tank, so I procrastiated for about 6-8 months until it was EVERYWHERE in my frag tank. Finally, after losing corals by overgrowth, I took the plunge. I had about 3-4 doses to my memory to clear out the dictyota algae. The only problem that I had is it may have caused a drop in my alkalinity. I'm not sure if that was serendipitious to another issue.
It also cleared up my cotten candy algae. (my poor turbo snails!)
I'm thrilled!!!
