Algaefix

[Steve W]

Does anyone know if Algaefix will hurt macroalgae? I know it's a temporary solution, but I'm trying to prevent a hair algae growth on a single rock from getting out of hand. I have a beautiful red macroalgae that I really like, so I don't want to kill it, but I'd like to knock this hair algae back while I work at fixing the cause. I think the macroalgae may be a Halymenia sp., but it doesn't look exactly like anything that I can find on the web.

I'm a little confused as to what is feeding this growth, as my water quality parameters keep testing 0 for nitrates and phosphates to the limits of my test kits. I'm also have a Polypad filter in my sump and am running AC. I'm wondering if the phosphates are leaching out of this particular rock, since it is the only place in my tank where I have hair algae and it is growing prolifically on it. I also have a little cyanobacteria growth on the sand, again only around this rock. The rock is a piece of Tonga branching coral I got at a LFS.

Also, I've tried increasing the flow around it. I have a powerhead pointed directly at this rock. I would just remove the rock but I have two colonies of deepwater zoas and a palythoa attached to this rock.

Steve W

 

[worldnewsmap]

I've used algaefix in the past with it doing wonders you have to use it for like 6 weeks tho for it to work keep up with the water changes because at it kills off the algae it will still be in the water and with less algae in the water to soak up the nutrients the worse your water will become but no i did not have any ill effects on my macros at all i was battling hair algae for months and i hate putting in chemicals in my tank but i had enough finally so i used it and i swear by it got it under control none in my tank now at all love the stuff

 

[macclellan]

This stuff kills crustaceans, probably 'pods too. I tried it in FW once, lost some fish and plants. Never again, and would not even think of putting it in a reef tank. The MSDS says "harmful to aquatic organisms." - 'Nuff Said.

 

[Flavum]

Im looking at a bottle right now and it reads right on the front WILL NOT HARM FISH, CORALS OR OTHER INVERTEBRATES. I did reference the msds and it does read harmful to aquatic organisms but that would include algea right?

 

[macclellan]

I wonder what the difference between the freshwater and marine is then, such that the freshwater kills inverts and the marine doesn't, probably some copper.

 

[macclellan]

I compared the MSDS out of curiousity.

Freshwater: 4.5% dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate
Marine: 4.5% dimethyliminoethylene dichloride, ethoxylate

I wonder why the freshwater product says "not for use with crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp, or freshwater lobsters" and the same active ingredients are 'reef safe.'

 

[worldnewsmap]

from what some people say the fresh and marine is the same I have used both and the freshwater is junk in my opinion but the marine does work great have used it but most remind to stay up on water changes when using it so you don't have alot of organics in your tank when the algae dies off

 

[Flavum]

hmm thats strange Joel, seems fishy. I googled both ingredients. found this on thechemblog

"You’ll find little information on the compound if you google it and you’re going to run into a **** load of environmental journals and trade journals if you seek for it on SciFinder. After doing some investigating (more than I probably should have) I found that the trade name is Busan 77, and it’s a cationic polymer microbicide which has utility in metalworking fluids. I assume it works on diatoms because they’re encased in that sexy silica shell which is clearly going to cause clumping around cationic polymers. It’s also obviously going to complex anions once it gets into living organisms, which is generally poorly tolerated by the living organisms."

I googled Busan77 and some scary results show up. All of which say NOT to put into lakes streames or bodies of water as it toxic to fish....

 

[Steve W]

Interesting.