AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae
- Thread starter HighlandReefer
- Start date
ReefTron5000
Member
kjboggs
New member
I am waging war on my hair algae. Scrubbed all my rocks, siphoned out the crap, and added regular algae fix last night since I could not get the marine for a couple days. I saw a difference the next day dosing 5ml in my 55 reef. The green haze on my back glass turned white, and my sand has never been whiter. At this pace as long as I don't lose anything will be a lifesaver for me.
ReefTron5000
Member
Since I started using this stuff to battle a minor hair algae problem my phosphate readings according to a Hanna checker have gone up quite a bit. Before I started using Algaefix phosphates measured .08, after 3 treatments they are .18. Is this normal?
Big E
Premium Member
Yes, you have killed tha algae that was taking up the PO4. The PO4 was always there on a constant basis.
I'd wait for a few weeks to see if it works it's way back down. Sometimes your tanks bacteria will adjust............if it doesn't, you'll have to fix your export system, which was probably the problem in the first place.
Decadence
New member
I just started dosing this stuff tonight into a heavily stocked SPS tank. I dosed 9ml into a 90 gallon display with a 20 gallon sump, estimating 90 total gallons of water. I noticed no immediate signs of any problems dosing the regular, non-marine Algaefix. Polyp extension is stellar tonight.
I'm dosing to combat what has been dubbed "ghost algae", the extremely fine whitish-tannish filamental algae, bacteria or fungus (I don't believe it was ever actually determined). I keep an extremely low nutrient level in my tank and this stuff seams to be thriving as it very easily traps detritus. Even with heavy carbon dosing, heavy skimming, weekly detritus cleanings and a lot of GFO usage, this stuff is taking off. I had a small amount of bryposis, grape caulerpa and chaetomorpha algae which have all died off. We will see if this Algaefix can kick the ghost algae.
I'm dosing to combat what has been dubbed "ghost algae", the extremely fine whitish-tannish filamental algae, bacteria or fungus (I don't believe it was ever actually determined). I keep an extremely low nutrient level in my tank and this stuff seams to be thriving as it very easily traps detritus. Even with heavy carbon dosing, heavy skimming, weekly detritus cleanings and a lot of GFO usage, this stuff is taking off. I had a small amount of bryposis, grape caulerpa and chaetomorpha algae which have all died off. We will see if this Algaefix can kick the ghost algae.
Reeferz412
Coral Hoarder
I used the freshwater algaefix. Same additives as the Marine Algaefix. It worked well in my tank but it does take time. I ended up just solving the root of the problem in the long run though.
Decadence
New member
It isn't always that simple. I'm BB with 100x flow, huge skimmer, carbon dosing, GFO and weekly detritus removal. The stuff that I have is thriving even when every other type of algae in the system which I wanted has died. Inorganic nutrients in my tank are undetectable. This stuff just traps detritus in it because the filaments are so fine. All of my rocks are covered in acro colonies so scrubbing it off and spot treatment aren't an option.
Very true to the rock.
My phosphates were extremely low too, because the GAH was uptaking it before it really got in the water column. Once the Sea Hare started to run everywhere my ATS started taking in more and started to bloom more/quicker.
I tried crabs and hermits and they would try to tackle it but could not keep up sometimes.
My tank has gone from green waving hair algae lush forests to a nice cured rock teaming with life and energy. All this over the past month. I am surprised and happy that the hare was employed in my tank.
My phosphates were extremely low too, because the GAH was uptaking it before it really got in the water column. Once the Sea Hare started to run everywhere my ATS started taking in more and started to bloom more/quicker.
I tried crabs and hermits and they would try to tackle it but could not keep up sometimes.
My tank has gone from green waving hair algae lush forests to a nice cured rock teaming with life and energy. All this over the past month. I am surprised and happy that the hare was employed in my tank.
Decadence
New member
I did my second dose yesterday of freshwater Algaefix and am still very impressed with the results. I had very little detritus to syphon today because there wasn't any more of the ghost algae on the rocks, trapping detritus. I have still seen no negative effects of dosing other than slightly decreased PH (8.2 instead of 8.4) which is likely because of all of the additional organics in the water fueling bacteria. For those interested in knowing, I have noticed absolutely no negative impact on 100+ SPS corals thus far.
Decadence
New member
Are any of you guys doing a maintenance dosage after the algae is all gone?
I'm very interested in setting up Algaefix on a dosing pump to keep my SPS reef looking fresh all the time. The difference in trapped detritus is like night and day. My corals have actually never looked better.
On a side note, Algaefix seams to be knocking out colonial hydroids. This is kind of cool since this was the next pest which I was planning on tackling.
I'm very interested in setting up Algaefix on a dosing pump to keep my SPS reef looking fresh all the time. The difference in trapped detritus is like night and day. My corals have actually never looked better.
On a side note, Algaefix seams to be knocking out colonial hydroids. This is kind of cool since this was the next pest which I was planning on tackling.
Johnic
Premium Member
I'm doing it once or twice a week and I notice my skimmer picking up more stuff
Decadence
New member
So this is after the algae is all dead?
I was thinking about getting a 1.1ml BRS doser and using my reefkeeper to dose once a week like the instructions say to do. So you are doing it more than once per week as a maintenance dosage? Have you noticed any negative effects with inverts, fish or corals? I'm worried, being the active ingredient a biocide, that it would have a negative impact on zooxanthellae and affect SPS.
Decadence
New member
How long have you been dosing it?
Decadence
New member
Good to know. :thumbsup:
