Aquarium Pharmicuticals (API) Algae FIx Algaecide

[Marc]

Has anyone had any experience with the Aquarium Pharmicuticals new product called Algae Fix? It is advertised as reef safe and it treats all types of algae including cyanobacteria! Seemed pretty interesting so I bought one today at Petsmart. Here is a link below that states that the EPA approved this algaecide for reef aquarium use.

http://cms.marsfishcare.com/uploads...dy 8.1.08.pdf

Marc

 

[scrapz]

killing algae with chemicals doesn't fix the underlying problem...

tried a few of their products and seems to be reefsafe to me.

 

[Marc]

I am not trying to fix the problem, just making sure it doesn't get out of control. I have the most advanced filtration system there is and still get algae outbreaks now and then. Thats why I thought I would try it. It's a 500 gallon FOWLR tank with some mushrooms and toadstools. Of course the bamboo shark and the 12 inch Emperor doesn't help neither. :lol: :lol:

Marc

 

[iamwrasseman]

yes i have used it and yes it worked quite well gone within two weeks 100% but it is the underlying problem that scrapz is talking about that you need to addresse . protein skimmer off and no carbon ,at the end lots of water changes till the skimmer will work properly .it has been 6 months since i used it and i have a very small amount of a different kind of algea that is resiliant to the algea fix . thumbs up from me but now i feed much less now and po4 reactor is used 24/7/365 . i really believe in its usefullness but you could build a diy algea scrubber and that would naturally take care of the available nutrients that are the cause IMO.

 

[sanababit]

i have tried it and it killed all of my hair algae within ~3 weeks, i did 1 dose every 3 days, 9 doses total in a 90 gal

sana

 

[Marc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15553285#post15553285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwrasseman
yes i have used it and yes it worked quite well gone within two weeks 100% but it is the underlying problem that scrapz is talking about that you need to addresse . protein skimmer off and no carbon ,at the end lots of water changes till the skimmer will work properly .it has been 6 months since i used it and i have a very small amount of a different kind of algea that is resiliant to the algea fix . thumbs up from me but now i feed much less now and po4 reactor is used 24/7/365 . i really believe in its usefullness but you could build a diy algea scrubber and that would naturally take care of the available nutrients that are the cause IMO.

Do you have any info on Algae Scrubbers. I assume its not another refugium right? I hate refugiums... Just another tank to clean.

Marc

 

[iamwrasseman]

in present form if you build or purchase one they are a maintence item as you have to "harvest "algea to remove it so that may be an avenue that you dont want to venture down .there is a tread on RC now on algea scrubbers and they are pretty cool ,mant different ways to arrange them .um i found it its "Experiences with algea Scrubbers" and the tread is posted by Ellery ,hope that helps check it out !:bum: :eek1:

 

[naldopr]

my friend had a 300 gallon reef tank with algae problems and just the api resolve his problem with no bad effect on corals.

 

[iamwrasseman]

as i said it worked great for me but there is a reason for the algea bloom and that needs to be looked into

 

[Joel A]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15582365#post15582365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwrasseman
as i said it worked great for me but there is a reason for the algea bloom and that needs to be looked into

i agree...

what is the "most advanced filtration system" that you refer too???

Lots of things can be done to fight algae outbreaks... first you need to know what kind of algae it is though...

generally speaking though, less light, more flow, lower nutrients (more water changes, better skimming, po4 absorber, carbon etc.) less feeding, no "mechanical" filtration, blowing rocks off with a turkey baster, rinsing frozen food before feeding, raising ph, etc. etc. the list goes on and on as far as things we can do to try and combat algae....

as the others said... it may fix the problem temporarily, but not permanently... you need to look into the underlying cause first...

i'll admit i have used a product similar to this before (red slime remover) but the difference is that i knew what the underlying issues was.. and i knew that the issue had been taken care of, so all i wanted to do was remove the algae.... my issue was that a large fish died and decayed in between a rock structure and i couldn't get at it to clean it up, so it raised nutrients and caused an algae spike.. in a rare situation like that would be the only time i would be an advocate of using a product like this..

 

[Marc]

Well I performed my fourth dose today to battle a cyanbacteria problem with absolutly zero results. Now I want to mention that I do not have a green hair algae problem, just the cyanbacteria issue. The bottle does advertise that it does help work against cyanobacteria but in my experience it has not even slowed down the growth. I will be switching from Ocean Nutrition which does use gel binder in it which in fact is the major contributer to my cyanobacteria. So once I use a different brand of food I am confident I should see a huge difference.

Marc

 

[dan223]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15553162#post15553162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marc
I have the most advanced filtration system there is and still get algae outbreaks now and then.
Marc

Do tell!

 

[Joel A]

are you sure its cyanobacteria? People often confuse dinoflagellates with cyanobacteria... and the ways of getting rid of the two can differ quite a bit..

 

[dan3949]

I have had excellent resuls with Red Slime Remover for cyano. I don't think Algae Fix is not really made for cyano.

 

[jbird69]

anybody every kill bryopsis with algaefix?

 

[iamwrasseman]

i agree with dan there , often its a flow issue with thw cyno so get the water moving on the bottom of the tank asap and that will make a world of difference.

 

[iamwrasseman]

no hair algea and it does well at that

 

[Marc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15582519#post15582519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
Do tell!

500 gallon acrylic tank, 1 inch thick acrylic sheet with a top mounted net to prevent fish or shark from jumping out.

Inhabitants:

1 Leopard shark, 2 feet long.

1 bamboo shark, 2.5 feet long

I Red Sea Emperor Angel, 12 inches long.

1 Orange shoulder, 8 inches long.

1 Pink tail trigger, 6 inches long.

3 yellow tangs

1 Dusemmire tang, 9 inches long.

1 Copperband butterfly to help with Apitasia control on Live Rock.

150 pounds of purple and orange sponge encrusted liverock. Hand picked Figi, and Florida.

Various green leather corals and mushrooms. Tons of mushroom colonies!!!!

100 gallon 1/2 inch thick acrylic rectangular sump with optional refugium insert.

6 foot Lifereef Mazzie injected skimmer. Will soon upgrade to a 10 inch diamater model skimmer to replace the six inch diameter unit.

Aqua Ultraviolet 80 watt UV sterilizer fed from main Panworld 250 PS pump via a Nu-clear canister filter.

Ozotech ozonizer 200 mg hr original unit, with DIY air dryers made from RO canister filter units. Filled with cat litter and color changing beads in each canister.

PFO HQI Metal Halide pendants with dual ballast.

Reeflo Hammerhead pump for main circulation.

6 foot bioball degassing wet dry filter made from 12 inch diameter 3/8" cast acrylic tubing Welded on with Weld on 40 two part cement to base.

My Reef Creations fluidized bed filter used for carbon or Rowaphos.

I DIY sulfer nitrate reducter for nitrate control. Nitates only 5 ppm!

Elos biotopus II controller to control pumps, UV, Ozone, ph, ORP, Oxygen or redox.

2 Aquanetics 1 Hp chillers.

2600 watt Honda backup generator set to turn on during power outage. Only set to turn run circulation pump and wet dry filter as well as heater.

Thats about it, Just trying to keep it simple.



:rollface:

Marc

 

[iamwrasseman]

i like your set up !nice