AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae
- Thread starter HighlandReefer
- Start date
mos90
New member
yes i agree. i have added 2 cups of brs hi cap gfo and 2 cups of carbon in my 300g system. ive noticed some hair algae floating around after 1 dose and filter socks were loaded with it. i always keep my phos in the water column under .02
i think it is always a good idea to clean as much h/a out as u can before you start algaefix.
i think it is always a good idea to clean as much h/a out as u can before you start algaefix.
nicholasb
New member
Have heard nothing bad about this product apart from it dosn't always work 100%, and is's not so good with cyano. The funny thing is that A.P.I who make this product, cause algae problems. There phosphate test kit dosn't test low enough, to tell you if your tank has low phosphates!!.
Nice thread for one of the most common problems in this hobby.
I've been reading a lot from the beginning and still have loads of reading left. However, wanted to share that I've been fighting GHA for a few months now. I've tried everything as per good practices of maintenance. It's a 50g tank with LPS and softies. I run a ULNS System with NP Biopellets and GFO in reactors along with some Cheato and Red Grape macros in the sump. My system was already ULNS before I ran into GHA problem. I think I introduced it in my tank with some new Live Rock I purchased for more Aquascape work. I made sure it was visibly clean and ran them in quarantine for a week. But it probably had spores or traces. Hey, can't be 100% thorough with these things.
And since the GHA is in Display Tank, they get first hand access to nutrients in water column before reaching the sump. They grew wild for a while. However, with regular water changes, siphoning of gravel and manual removal, their growth seems to have slowed down in the past couple of weeks. Nevertheless, they are still there. So, I've thought of giving AlgaeFix Marine a shot.
I've done my first dose yesterday. I've learned from initial posts that AF can kill GHA but not its spores. I'm not sure if it was asked, but is it ok to UV Sterilizer while dosing AF? UV can probably take care of the spores and free flowing GHA from water column simultaneously. I don't know if UV can alter the chemicals of AF.
Here is a pic of the pest in my tank. Let's see the progress. Can anyone positively ID it?
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums...5488e1ce5acd6d2e4053f3dd17f22_zpsc2bf9a89.jpg
I've been reading a lot from the beginning and still have loads of reading left. However, wanted to share that I've been fighting GHA for a few months now. I've tried everything as per good practices of maintenance. It's a 50g tank with LPS and softies. I run a ULNS System with NP Biopellets and GFO in reactors along with some Cheato and Red Grape macros in the sump. My system was already ULNS before I ran into GHA problem. I think I introduced it in my tank with some new Live Rock I purchased for more Aquascape work. I made sure it was visibly clean and ran them in quarantine for a week. But it probably had spores or traces. Hey, can't be 100% thorough with these things.
And since the GHA is in Display Tank, they get first hand access to nutrients in water column before reaching the sump. They grew wild for a while. However, with regular water changes, siphoning of gravel and manual removal, their growth seems to have slowed down in the past couple of weeks. Nevertheless, they are still there. So, I've thought of giving AlgaeFix Marine a shot.
I've done my first dose yesterday. I've learned from initial posts that AF can kill GHA but not its spores. I'm not sure if it was asked, but is it ok to UV Sterilizer while dosing AF? UV can probably take care of the spores and free flowing GHA from water column simultaneously. I don't know if UV can alter the chemicals of AF.
Here is a pic of the pest in my tank. Let's see the progress. Can anyone positively ID it?
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums...5488e1ce5acd6d2e4053f3dd17f22_zpsc2bf9a89.jpg
agold11520
New member
After scrubbing rocks, constant testing, a seahare, and a 60 snail crew barely made a dent in my hair algae, I used algaefix marine and after two weeks my tank is free of any sign of hair algae. My cheato is fine but not growing so fast. Loved that stuff.
mos90
New member
i just finished the second dose of 25ml .my tank is closer to 300g total volume but im being cautious. ive noticed no new growth, some die off, and cleaner sand. no losses of livestock that i know of. i go in daily and remove as h/a as i can. i might vacuum the sand tonight with a water change.
TankCla
SPSychology
Think I spoke too soon. After 5th dose, my ha started to break free from the rock, and turned into dark green with rusty tint. Weird :hmm4:
AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae
Does anyone have a hint if running UV Sterilizer is ok while treating the tank with Algaefix marine?
It's been three days since my first dose and I see some very small changes. There are tiny areas on the rocks which I think got rid of HA. Probably needs more time and dosage. The livestock seems ok. However, my pH has gone up from 8.3 to 8.4 in the last few days. It could be a coincidence. Did anyone notice any pH change?
Just did my second dose.
Does anyone have a hint if running UV Sterilizer is ok while treating the tank with Algaefix marine?
It's been three days since my first dose and I see some very small changes. There are tiny areas on the rocks which I think got rid of HA. Probably needs more time and dosage. The livestock seems ok. However, my pH has gone up from 8.3 to 8.4 in the last few days. It could be a coincidence. Did anyone notice any pH change?
Just did my second dose.
Ok thanks. I'll run my UV occasionally. It's a 28W or 32... Can't remember.
Anyways, did my 3rd dose yesterday. So far, I've noticed that GHA have come off some parts of the rocks. And in most of the locations seem to be unhealthy and greying off. However, there are still other parts of the tank where I've noticed some new growth (very minor though).
A rock that I had manually cleaned last week still looks clean and free from GHA. Hence, today I've taken out a lot of GHA manually from the rocks and siphoned all that were on the gravel. I'll see how it goes.
Anyways, did my 3rd dose yesterday. So far, I've noticed that GHA have come off some parts of the rocks. And in most of the locations seem to be unhealthy and greying off. However, there are still other parts of the tank where I've noticed some new growth (very minor though).
A rock that I had manually cleaned last week still looks clean and free from GHA. Hence, today I've taken out a lot of GHA manually from the rocks and siphoned all that were on the gravel. I'll see how it goes.
dadummy
Active member
thanks guys
been battling what I believe is Lyngbya. Fish, hermits and snails wont eat the stuff. Been pulling out clumps, washing egg crate, dipping plugs in peroxide and not gaining on it at all. Read this thread and started dosing on Sunday. Two doses and the slime is receding already.
Algaefix Marine was cheaper by a few dollars than the FW algaefix at the local PMart, but still got my eyes gouged out
thanks again
been battling what I believe is Lyngbya. Fish, hermits and snails wont eat the stuff. Been pulling out clumps, washing egg crate, dipping plugs in peroxide and not gaining on it at all. Read this thread and started dosing on Sunday. Two doses and the slime is receding already.
Algaefix Marine was cheaper by a few dollars than the FW algaefix at the local PMart, but still got my eyes gouged out
thanks again
Two days ago, I took half of my rocks out and removed all HA with a brush under tap water. I let the water drain out from the rocks for a couple of hours and placed them back in the tank. The tangs are grazing the cleaned rocks more eagerly now. They are left with very small green spots, which could be GHA in its smallest length.
Of course, I took out the easy ones. Any manual removal of GHA (especially out of the tank) may help AF fight more efficiently. For the complicated rocks that I couldn't dare to take out, I used AlgaeMower to trim out the GHA. This tool makes manual removal within the tank a lot more easier and collects them nicely in a mesh bag.
Yesterday, did my 4th dose. The GHA seem to be thinning out in most of the places. But, still have some thick GHA in low-flow, hard-to-reach areas of rocks. Do you think that flow of water against algae helps AF work better? Should we install temporary pumps to cover flows in dead-spots between the rocks?
Of course, I took out the easy ones. Any manual removal of GHA (especially out of the tank) may help AF fight more efficiently. For the complicated rocks that I couldn't dare to take out, I used AlgaeMower to trim out the GHA. This tool makes manual removal within the tank a lot more easier and collects them nicely in a mesh bag.
Yesterday, did my 4th dose. The GHA seem to be thinning out in most of the places. But, still have some thick GHA in low-flow, hard-to-reach areas of rocks. Do you think that flow of water against algae helps AF work better? Should we install temporary pumps to cover flows in dead-spots between the rocks?
Two days ago, I took half of my rocks out and removed all HA with a brush under tap water. I let the water drain out from the rocks for a couple of hours and placed them back in the tank. The tangs are grazing the cleaned rocks more eagerly now. They are left with very small green spots, which could be GHA in its smallest length.
Of course, I took out the easy ones. Any manual removal of GHA (especially out of the tank) may help AF fight more efficiently. For the complicated rocks that I couldn't dare to take out, I used AlgaeMower to trim out the GHA. This tool makes manual removal within the tank a lot more easier and collects them nicely in a mesh bag.
Yesterday, did my 4th dose. The GHA seem to be thinning out in most of the places. But, still have some thick GHA in low-flow, hard-to-reach areas of rocks. Do you think that flow of water against algae helps AF work better? Should we install temporary pumps to cover flows in dead-spots between the rocks?
Of course, I took out the easy ones. Any manual removal of GHA (especially out of the tank) may help AF fight more efficiently. For the complicated rocks that I couldn't dare to take out, I used AlgaeMower to trim out the GHA. This tool makes manual removal within the tank a lot more easier and collects them nicely in a mesh bag.
Yesterday, did my 4th dose. The GHA seem to be thinning out in most of the places. But, still have some thick GHA in low-flow, hard-to-reach areas of rocks. Do you think that flow of water against algae helps AF work better? Should we install temporary pumps to cover flows in dead-spots between the rocks?
I did the fifth dose two nights ago and turned off the lights. This afternoon, the lights had been off for two and half days. I thought that making the GHA further weak with darkness, might help AF work better.
Anyways, turned on the lights at noon (GHA definitely looked weak) and did a 50% water change. Vacuumed the gravel, siphoned floors of some sections in the sump and replaced old media with fresh GFO and GAC in reactor.
Tonight will be my 6th dose. I have some loosely held GHA in hard to reach areas of the rocks. I hope to see them gone soon.
Anyways, turned on the lights at noon (GHA definitely looked weak) and did a 50% water change. Vacuumed the gravel, siphoned floors of some sections in the sump and replaced old media with fresh GFO and GAC in reactor.
Tonight will be my 6th dose. I have some loosely held GHA in hard to reach areas of the rocks. I hope to see them gone soon.
bif24701
New member
Honestly the best way to removed GHA is manual removal. If you can take rocks out and scrub off the algae with a brush in RO or water removed for a WC this will do wonders. If that is not possible get a plastic fine tooth comb and pick it off as best you can. You said it's already looking weak so this is your opportunity to male some real progress! Good luck!
