Hair Algae Solution That Worked For Me
- Thread starter devoman
- Start date
rhunter513
New member
Hey devoman how's your tank doing? Any signs of the HA coming back? Any damage or stress to your livestock?
rhunter513
New member
devoman - thanks for sharing. I have a question though? I went back and read through this thread and noticed a post of yours where you mentioned changing your lights right around the last time you dosed. I can't help but wonder if the lights played a pretty big roll in your long term results. I read all the time that when people upgrade their lights to something stronger/better their nuisance algae goes away. What's you take on that?
devoman
New member
Hello rhunter5113,
The sequence of events for me was a little odd. I was running 400W metal halides / VHO combo from the start up of my aquarium. During that time I didn't have any hair algae problems. Then, after about six months with the halides I decided to switch out my lights and go with T5 lighting. I was trying to save energy costs and running a the chiller.
Right about the time I switched to T5's is when the hair algae started showing up. I'm not sure why because the T5's were all brand new bulbs. One theory was that the different light spectrum spurred the growth. I guess it's possible the T5's were not as powerful as the halides even though the halides were 6 months old. So it was just kinda odd that the growth started right when I added brand new T5 bulbs.
Another thing that happened about the time the hair algae showed up is my RODI unit was in need of filter replacement. It usually produces 0 TDS water but for a little while there it was producing up in to the 20 range for TDS. I think that also may have been a contributor.
I've been running the T5's ever since and so far the algae hasn't made a comeback. So I must have fixed the initial cause.
The sequence of events for me was a little odd. I was running 400W metal halides / VHO combo from the start up of my aquarium. During that time I didn't have any hair algae problems. Then, after about six months with the halides I decided to switch out my lights and go with T5 lighting. I was trying to save energy costs and running a the chiller.
Right about the time I switched to T5's is when the hair algae started showing up. I'm not sure why because the T5's were all brand new bulbs. One theory was that the different light spectrum spurred the growth. I guess it's possible the T5's were not as powerful as the halides even though the halides were 6 months old. So it was just kinda odd that the growth started right when I added brand new T5 bulbs.
Another thing that happened about the time the hair algae showed up is my RODI unit was in need of filter replacement. It usually produces 0 TDS water but for a little while there it was producing up in to the 20 range for TDS. I think that also may have been a contributor.
I've been running the T5's ever since and so far the algae hasn't made a comeback. So I must have fixed the initial cause.
rhunter513
New member
devoman - thanks for that clarification.
I just finished week 3 of treatment. It is working but slowly. Most of the algae in the tank is faded in color and starting to fall apart. Still difficult to remove from the rocks but clearly not healthy either. I do still have several areas in the tank that have dark green algae (chaeto) growing.
I think the fact that it is working slowly is a good thing in my tank. First it hasn’t affected any thing else in the tank except the green algae, and if it had been stronger the chances of it effecting others would be higher.
The second point is that I wouldn’t have wanted that much organic material suddenly dieing in the tank and negatively affecting water quality faster then I could react too. I had a lot of chaeto in the tank.
Over all I am happy with the results that I am getting with this product and plan on continuing. Based on my progress over the past 3 weeks I suspect I will be using it for another 2 or 3 weeks.
I think the fact that it is working slowly is a good thing in my tank. First it hasn’t affected any thing else in the tank except the green algae, and if it had been stronger the chances of it effecting others would be higher.
The second point is that I wouldn’t have wanted that much organic material suddenly dieing in the tank and negatively affecting water quality faster then I could react too. I had a lot of chaeto in the tank.
Over all I am happy with the results that I am getting with this product and plan on continuing. Based on my progress over the past 3 weeks I suspect I will be using it for another 2 or 3 weeks.
Paul_PSU
In Memoriam
That's looking good FishHick. Today is the second day of a blackout. I will put the lights on tomorrow. I am getting ready to quit the dosing as it is not working in my system. I don't feel comfortable dosing this stuff for an extended period of time. I have been dosing since Jan 15th.
mutateddogbone
New member
well i wasnt exactly sure if i had diatoms or dinoflagellates but i switched to a new r/o unit and water changes took care of most of it. when i started to dose algaefix, whatever was left of it dissolved or dissapeared. i just did my 4th dose today and my hair algae is thinning out and becoming stringy. when i pull on it, it comes off the rocks in clumps and DOESN'T grow back.
i have also had no effects on fish and coral. the only effect ive seen is on my xenia which seems to be absolutely loving the higher nutrients from the dying algae.
i have also had no effects on fish and coral. the only effect ive seen is on my xenia which seems to be absolutely loving the higher nutrients from the dying algae.
mutateddogbone
New member
i might have. either way its best to siphon them out, which will remove the nutrients locked up in it. and it will be the 2nd or 3rd dose before you see any results. i went to my lfs today to pick up a zoa frag and i talked to him about the product. what he told me was that the algaefix is a chemical that locks up the nutrients in the algae and essentially starves it. this allows your skimmer to pull the nutrients out as well as water changes.
I did a third dose this evening in 2 different tanks:
1.) My 90 display which would grow HA on the pumps only. I've been scrubbing them and recently the HA has grown into select areas of the back wall and along the water line. At the time of starting dosing, there was minimal algae in there. As of a few days ago, that tank is completely HA free from what I can tell.
2.) My 20L in my bedroom is pretty much covered in HA. I did a small water change the other night and just ran the siphon through the algae and I was completely shocked at the amount of HA that came out without even trying to remove it. I've taken pics the day after each dose and I'll post the series after a couple more doses.
No issues with any other livestock including fish, corals, inverts and most macro. The only macro issue I've had (which is a blessing - not an issue) is it seems my Lobophora infestation is withering back too.
Paul_PSU - strange you're having a lack of results. Considering the circumstances, I'd probably stop the dosing too. If anything I'd scrub and siphon as much of it out as you can first, then start dosing again after a few weeks time. Hopefully you'd have better results.
1.) My 90 display which would grow HA on the pumps only. I've been scrubbing them and recently the HA has grown into select areas of the back wall and along the water line. At the time of starting dosing, there was minimal algae in there. As of a few days ago, that tank is completely HA free from what I can tell.
2.) My 20L in my bedroom is pretty much covered in HA. I did a small water change the other night and just ran the siphon through the algae and I was completely shocked at the amount of HA that came out without even trying to remove it. I've taken pics the day after each dose and I'll post the series after a couple more doses.
No issues with any other livestock including fish, corals, inverts and most macro. The only macro issue I've had (which is a blessing - not an issue) is it seems my Lobophora infestation is withering back too.
Paul_PSU - strange you're having a lack of results. Considering the circumstances, I'd probably stop the dosing too. If anything I'd scrub and siphon as much of it out as you can first, then start dosing again after a few weeks time. Hopefully you'd have better results.
Paul_PSU
In Memoriam
I am starting to lean toward the possibility that my vodka dosing may be negating the effects of the algaefix. I just dosed this morning. Unless I see some drastic results over the next two days, I will stop the algaefix and vodka for two weeks, do a 50% water change and then give Algaefix one more shot. The second time around though I will not wait 4 weeks to see results. I'll let you know what I find out.
mutateddogbone
New member
your probably not seeing results because of the vodka dosing. from what ive heard is that the algaefix is a nutrient that binds to the nutrient in the algae which is what causes it to die. maybe your carbon dosing is neutralizing the algaefix before it has a time to work?
