In the pond hobby, we use liquid and powdered hydrogen peroxide for hair algae. For standard drug store hydrogen peroxide...we use 2 quarts per 1,000gal of pond water....in a very green pond. It kills the ponds algae almost immediately. It also increases oxygen levels for the fish...as well as reducing organics. Any idea if this is safe in a reef tank? My other thought was to make this dosage in a bucket...and dip each live rock in there, one at a time. Kill off the hair algae and put them back in the tank. Any opinions on the subject are appreciated.
Anyone try hydrogen peroxide for hair algae??
- Thread starter brutuscz
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RockStarFish
New member
interesting I wuld like to see how this turns out
jansenwrasse
New member
I would not do it either at least not with out an ORP probe and even still the process could take hours to get to where you want to be(Dose, probe leveling, dosing). Generally fish are going to be more tolerant of extremely high ORP levels than corals are.
The problem is much of the hair algae is overgrowing my corals...and several have died or receded because of it. I have tried water changes, cleanup crews, phosphate resins, macroalgae in the sump, feeding less...no real luck. Slight improvement..but that is all. My tank is 90gal with 10in the sump. So..If I figure 80gal of water, then 5.12oz is the pond dosage. The one thing I was considering is adding 1 oz per day. That way..I can gradually see the effects. Probably not go over 3oz total in a 3 day period.
jansenwrasse
New member
If you are going to add H2O2 I would add drops. I would start with 3 drops in 90 system and add it to the skimmer and monitor ORP over the next 2 hours. Personally 600mv would be my limit.
Good Luck
Good Luck
<<< I have tried water changes, cleanup crews, phosphate resins, macroalgae in the sump >>>
I would manually remove as much as you can and stick with using a high quality phosphate media like Warner Marine Phosar or Rowa or similar and grow lots of macroalgae like grape caulerpa and just be patient and not dose hydrogen peroxide.
I would manually remove as much as you can and stick with using a high quality phosphate media like Warner Marine Phosar or Rowa or similar and grow lots of macroalgae like grape caulerpa and just be patient and not dose hydrogen peroxide.
Ok...I added the 1oz of hydrogen peroxide. I added it to my top off water...then into the sump. Absolutely no issues so far. I figured if it went bad..I would see snails,hermit crabs, urchins and starfish falling to their death. Tommorow...I add another 1oz.
Is it a risk....maybe, but I'm taking one for the team. If I solve this problem safely...It's going to help a lot of people here.
I do use phosphate resin (iron based). I just ordered a 1 lb container last night. I also use algone..which has done nothing. To keep it away...the phosphate resin will hopefully do the trick.
I understand all the good husbandry ideas...and have used them all. I find that when summer hits...my tank goes from 78 to 80f. Then, I get red slime...which then becomes green hair algae. I want a quick fix to beat it...then husbandry to keep it away. I have had enough of using a turkey baster and brush!!! It really takes away from the fun of the hobby. Time to cure the problem...and prevent the reoccurance!! Wish me luck!!
Is it a risk....maybe, but I'm taking one for the team. If I solve this problem safely...It's going to help a lot of people here.
I do use phosphate resin (iron based). I just ordered a 1 lb container last night. I also use algone..which has done nothing. To keep it away...the phosphate resin will hopefully do the trick.
I understand all the good husbandry ideas...and have used them all. I find that when summer hits...my tank goes from 78 to 80f. Then, I get red slime...which then becomes green hair algae. I want a quick fix to beat it...then husbandry to keep it away. I have had enough of using a turkey baster and brush!!! It really takes away from the fun of the hobby. Time to cure the problem...and prevent the reoccurance!! Wish me luck!!
<<< I get red slime...which then becomes green hair algae. I want a quick fix to beat it...then husbandry to keep it away >>>
This is most likely due to excess nutrients and detritus building up on/in your your substrate over time.
Good luck with your peroxide dosing, however I think if that was a safe and reliable cure for hair algae it with no other side effects it would be in widepread use by now as it's been discussed here before.
This is most likely due to excess nutrients and detritus building up on/in your your substrate over time.
Good luck with your peroxide dosing, however I think if that was a safe and reliable cure for hair algae it with no other side effects it would be in widepread use by now as it's been discussed here before.
The detritus thing is true. I have a sand sifting starfish to help this. I have also increased my water flow cosiderably. Plus..I'm blasting it with a turkey baster. I only have 5 fish in this 90gal tank. But...one is a lionfish, and another is a harlequin tusk. They have been there for over a year. I was overfeeding for a long time. Twice per day!!! now, I feed twice per week. I have a good protein skimmer that takes out lots of gunk. The problem is better than it was a few weeks ago....but, I'm willing to take the risk. too many nice corals were overgrown and died. My only real concern is tthat my fish live...so, I will watch closely.
What kind of sandbed are you using and how old is it? The sand sifting starfish(atropecten sp.) will eat all of the fuana in the sand bed such as worms snails sea cucumbers and smaller animals, They often staarve after decimating the sand bed.
Good Luck and let us know how it turns out.
Good Luck and let us know how it turns out.
A.T.T.R
Active member
gravel catches alot of junk so it cant be removed mechanicaly and it just rots..
also..
sand sifting stars dont do any good.
HEAT AND LIGHT CANT CAUSE algae... no way around that.. EVER
you ARE over feeding.. or using bad water.
you dosing hydrogen peroxide will most likely do nothing for the algae. and if it does.. it will be short term
why cover the problom when you can fix it
if you want to experiment.. find out if the pool store lanthium chloride is reef safe.... if so.. it IS a phosphate binder( lfs sell this in tiny bottles for about 25 bucks) pool store has a jug for about 15... may or may not.. have BAD impurities
also..
sand sifting stars dont do any good.
HEAT AND LIGHT CANT CAUSE algae... no way around that.. EVER
you ARE over feeding.. or using bad water.
you dosing hydrogen peroxide will most likely do nothing for the algae. and if it does.. it will be short term
why cover the problom when you can fix it
if you want to experiment.. find out if the pool store lanthium chloride is reef safe.... if so.. it IS a phosphate binder( lfs sell this in tiny bottles for about 25 bucks) pool store has a jug for about 15... may or may not.. have BAD impurities
Do NOT be playing with hydrogen peroxide unless you have a very good O2 kit like a HACH and a ORP unit. H2O2 converts really fast to O2 and you can burn the gills right out of fish and inverts. DO NOT let the ORP get above 450mV .
Who ever said 600mV, that will kill quite a few marine organisms. At 600 mV you are staring to sterilize the water, at 700 mV all will be dead in your reef tank. 600 mV is the minimum requirement for water sterilization.
ORP should never exceed 500mV as that is where stress starts to set in on. ORP's with oxidants are only safe to about ~450 mV and should not exceed that.
Who ever said 600mV, that will kill quite a few marine organisms. At 600 mV you are staring to sterilize the water, at 700 mV all will be dead in your reef tank. 600 mV is the minimum requirement for water sterilization.
ORP should never exceed 500mV as that is where stress starts to set in on. ORP's with oxidants are only safe to about ~450 mV and should not exceed that.
3 oz total so far....and nothing. The only thing that happened is the macroalgae in my sump is gone!! That is where I added the peroxide. The fish and corals seem to like it!! Things are opening up better than before. Who knew?
My water is good...but, I was over feeding. I have cut back dramatically now. I just added that starfish recently. I figured it would stir the bed up a bit. I hope the pound of phosphate resin I ordered will do the trick.
I am adding the peroxide slowly now. 1oz per day. nothing seems to be any worse. I will watch closely.
My water is good...but, I was over feeding. I have cut back dramatically now. I just added that starfish recently. I figured it would stir the bed up a bit. I hope the pound of phosphate resin I ordered will do the trick.
I am adding the peroxide slowly now. 1oz per day. nothing seems to be any worse. I will watch closely.
jerryz
New member
So let me get this straight. You finally got your husbandry on track and instead of waiting for the husbandry to fix a problem that took more than overnight to fix you want it fixed yesterday if at all possible. So with that in mind the "answer" is to reach out in new and creative ways to raise your ORP? Why not just start running ozone? More precise with a controller, If that was your goal, and doesn't run the risks of associated with an untested method. And then there's the patience factor associated with the new and improved husbandry.
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