AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae

[hhaase]

I may or may not be jumping into the fray on this one. I've been fighting GHA in my 90g for.....well..... 2 years now? I just can't figure out at this point what is causing it to grow. My API test kits I can't even tell if anything is registering on them for nitrates or phosphates. I was running an EV-180 skimmer, just swapped that to an SWC 160 cone. RO/DI water. GFO/GAC had no effect. I can't even tell you how many turbo snails I've put in the tank, which don't even seem to have an impact on the stuff.... neither did a sea hare. I just started acclimating in some Warner Marine eco-bak in place of the GFO, but I'm considering the algaefix as well.

This stuff is driving me totally insane, and it's got me on my last legs about giving up and going back to freshwater. But I refuse to give up on the tank, but this algae has been totally devastating on my livestock. I really wish I had a photo of how bad it gets at times before I do a major removal, it covers every square inch of rock, sand, my powerheads. I take it out by the pound! The thing is, I hate doing the chemical option to take care of this kind of problem, I'd rather deal with the source.

-Hans

 

[HighlandReefer]

"The thing is, I hate doing the chemical option to take care of this kind of problem, I'd rather deal with the source."

Well, AF does not work on all species of algae. If it does work on your species than great.

FWIW we have not seen very many problems when hobbyists have used AF according to the label. I've seen more problems posted from vodka dosing trying to control algae. :lol:

Still, this is a personal choice you need to make and it's your tank and you have to live with the consequences for any decisions you make whether they be good or bad.

 

[bermuda reefer]

i have had the worst hair algea problem and have spent the last two weeks using a combination of Algeafix marine ( thats seems to work, but slowly) and magnesium
and phosx.
I have been scrubbing all the rocks with a toothbrush, siphoning thru a filter and removing any rocks that i could and scrubbing them under fresh water.
i have about 10 urchins in the tank and they have plowed thru the tank grazing most of the rock down to white, they seem to love the coraline algea.
i think i have almost won my battle as i was ready to strip the tank down,
the Algeafix seems to be the winner with no adverse effects seen. i mean the algea was killing my corals anyway. dont let the stuff get ahead of you or you will have a huge battle ahead. My rocks looked like yours in the begining and it quickly ravaged the whole tank. i have also changed out my water almost completely twice now in the last two weeks.
the Algeafix did not seem to touch patches of Cynobacteria but after syphoning it off the rocks it hasnt reappeared yet.
good luck.

 

[hhaase]

Well, even though it's showing signs that I may be turning the tide against this stuff already, I opted to give the Algaefix Marine a try anyway. As mention earlier, I've barely been registering any phosphates or nitrates on my API tests, but that just means there isn't any in the water column.... god only knows what's in the rock and sand.

Here's what I'm dealing with, and keep in mind that about two weeks ago I did a major culling of the algae. It was covering all of the substrate in a thick matted layer. This is the algae I've had for the past year or so, prior to this I had a more brownish stuff that really loved to cover the glass but was still quite stringy.

I know my 4x55 PC retrofit's bulbs are overdue for replacement too, they're a touch more than a year old, but no sense in replacing them now as I plan on going to LED's in about a month.

 

[legendboy]

I am into my 3rd week of dosing and have not seen much improvement except for a big growth slow down.....

 

[shelby_cos]

What type algae is this?

What type algae is this?

I have started AF week or so ago, and approaching 5th dose tomorrow, ive attached some pictures, does anyone know what type this is and if AF will work on it?

Not sure if related to HA or not but have had hard time keeping KH up, it hovers around 5-6KH and mag is 1200, I have up the auto dosing amount of alk and mag to slowly raise it.

 

[SimonSKL]

Shelby, it seems you have the same kind of algae that I have (Derbesia/Bryopsis).

Unfortunately and not trying to discourage you, after trying to kill it with AF at recommended dose but on a every other day schedule PLUS keeping my Mg at >1600 for over a month with Kent Tech M, I still cannot get rid of this awful hair algae. The amount of algae has decreased but still growing. I am not sure if the decrease was due to my continuous pruning and brushing them off the rock or effect of the AF/high Mg. I came to the conclusion that AF does not have a significant impact in getting rid of my type of algae

 

[moliken]

i 'm ready to begin using the a/f on a red h/a. this will be the third time i have used it in 2years. successful the first two times w/no side effects at all. first time took 4-5 doses, 2nd time a few more, but those were both green.
i know i'm gonna get treat the cause not the symptom, but i feed rod's and cyclops 2-3 times a week fairly sparingly w/ a low bio load , use rodi at 0, old bulbs that need replacing, fine salt, phosguard, don't dose, and all params except alk [varies 6-7.5] are fine. yet the tank is this:

 

[shelby_cos]

Will AF work?

Will AF work?

A better pic of my hair algae, from what I've seen isn't bryopsis/derbersia fernlike or branching? Mine is just like hair!

 

[HighlandReefer]

A better pic of my hair algae, from what I've seen isn't bryopsis/derbersia fernlike or branching? Mine is just like hair!

It's certainly worth a try.

There are a lot of species of algae that fit the description for hair algae. AF does not kill them all, but will kill many.

 

[radiava]

algaefix

algaefix

Hi all and especially HighlandReefer

I have not read the whole topic, but I want to ask some questions

Algaefix and I to use;


1) Should I active carbon removal system?

2) Can I remove resin antifosfatos?

3) Should I continue additive, through vodka, vinegar, sugar, etc..?

4) How do water changes?

Thanks for your answers and your help

 

[HighlandReefer]

1) Should I active carbon removal system?

I would continue to use activated carbon (GAC).


2) Can I remove resin antifosfatos?

I would continue to use antifosfatos (GFO type product). Keeping phosphate (fosfatos) low is important when controlling algae.


3) Should I continue additive, through vodka, vinegar, sugar, etc..?

I would continue with the additives, but would not dose any iron.


4) How do water changes?

I would change your water just before any AlgaeFix dose, since the AF will brake down within 24 hrs.


Thanks for your answers and your help

De nada

To Reef Central

 

[radiava]

Follow your instructions, thank you very much.

Of it and keep informed.

I'll post after pictures of my process

Saludos desde México, amigo HighlandReefer te mando un abrazo.

 

[bertoni]

The Antifosfatos seems to be an aluminum based product. If it's white pellets, I'd remove them, personally, and look for a GFO.

 

[radiava]

Hello bertoni

Seachem Phosguard use and Seachem matrix carbon

these products are good?

 

[bertoni]

I would avoid the PhosGuard, since it's aluminum-based, and might irritate corals. The SeaChem carbon is good. I used it for a few years, at least.

 

[radiava]

Very well, then I would put rowaphos or Tropic Marin ELIMI-PHOS Longlife and how they'll put some pictures and comment the results of AF

Thanks

 

[HighlandReefer]

Buena suerte.

 

[hhaase]

Well, dose #5 went in on Sunday. I decided to give the AF a bit of a helping hand, and for the third or fourth time I took the rock out in stages, went outside and blasted all the GHA off of it with a garden hose and scrub brush. Some sections it seemed to be easier to clean off, but a lot of it was just as stubborn as always.

This time around I flipped most of the rock over to expose the cleaner sections and shade/bury the areas that were affected by the algae. Normally I know this wouldn't work, as any algae that died off would just decompose and cause fresh stuff to grow elsewhere. But I've also taken to a bit more aggressive water change schedule, and I do a 12 gallon water change every 3 days now, right before I dose the AF. I'm hoping that the algaefix is going to at least slow down the new growth enough that the skimmer/biopellets/waterchanges can finally get all the nitrates/phosphates out of the tank.

-Hans

 

[Vandal996]

Well, I read this entire thread and decided to give it a whirl since it was that or toss all the rock and start over. I didn't have any coral in the system and had 150 pounds of rock stewing. I did the scheduled dosage every three days. By the 4th dose the algae was turning more translucent and looking like it was dying. The 5th dose went in and by the end of the day my clam was deader than Elvis. It did not seem to like Algae Fix at all and would withdraw into his shell. All of my crabs and pods survived but my patience were worn through.

I pulled all of my critters and tossed them in the quarantine. I tossed all of the rock in the flower garden, pointed all 4 power heads and returns at the sand to stir the crap out of it and fired up my Vortex water polisher and let it storm for three days with the skimmer running. I also hand stirred the sand a bunch also. At the end, I bleached all the power heads and started over. So far so good.

That was my experience. I think the product would probably work and reading this thread it has worked. My advice would be to move the clam if you can. I should have and could have but didn't. My fault. Live and learn.

Good luck to all of you with the algae problem.