hair algae
- Thread starter BrentH
- Start date
I asked the same question a few months ago and everyone said buy a unit. What I use to do was go to Super Walmart and buy their RO water from a machine in the back of the store. It was a pain to do this and the water still wasn't best quality. They don't change the filters enough at those stores. They also sell bottled RO water at walmart also but again not as good. I didn't want to get a RO/DI filter. Finally I broke down and I bought one from airwaterice.com and it was the best thing I ever did for the tank. MY tank looks so much better. I hook this thing up to my washer machine and I make water once a week. I use to wipe my glass every night when I was using walmart's water, now I do it once a week. I would test you LFS water with a TDS water tester. You should be reading 0.
skeeter_ca
Active member
If your water para, are good i'd suggest getting something to eat the algae. I had alittle problem starting and went to the LFS and asked. I all ready had about 50 hermit and 25 snails but they wouldn't touch it. He recommended a Sea Hare. It is the most ugliest, cutiest things i have ever seen. It cleaned my tank of all my hair algae and some small spots of cynao that i just noticed. It's cool.
cornelious0_0
New member
Nice recommendation...I've also heard that tuxedo urchins go nuts on almost all kinds of algae and should eat hair also.
I'm currently contemplating either buying an R/O unit or just buying water in jugs, as it'd cost me about $60 to fill up the tank, and about $10-$15 a month for water changes. I know it'd add up really quick, but I guess I just need someone to show me that it IS ridiculously simple to install these R/O units, that's all I'm "scared" about.
I'm currently contemplating either buying an R/O unit or just buying water in jugs, as it'd cost me about $60 to fill up the tank, and about $10-$15 a month for water changes. I know it'd add up really quick, but I guess I just need someone to show me that it IS ridiculously simple to install these R/O units, that's all I'm "scared" about.
skeeter_ca
Active member
It is ridiculously simple. Invest in it and you will be more than happy.
cornelious0_0
New member
Thx, I'll read up on it a little more I suppose...but sorry for getting offtopic in BrentH's thread.
cornelious0_0
New member
Good to hear you guys...always nice to have other options, thx.
smleee
New member
Don't worry guys, most RO/DI units you don't have to "install". I have mine sitting in a cabinet underneath a sink in a spare bathroom and take it out and hook it up when I need to make water. RO/DI is probably the best investment you can make in a SW tank. Just make sure you get a quality unit with a 75GPD Dow FilmTec membrane, full size vertical DI canisters, and TDS meter. Other extras that are nice are DI bypass, fast flush, pressure gauge, etc.
At the very least get a TDS meter and test the water you are buying from the LFS or where ever you buy it. LFS are notorious for not changing their RO/DI filters/membranes and consequently sell bad water, which could be one of the sources of the hair algae.
eee
At the very least get a TDS meter and test the water you are buying from the LFS or where ever you buy it. LFS are notorious for not changing their RO/DI filters/membranes and consequently sell bad water, which could be one of the sources of the hair algae.
eee
cornelious0_0
New member
The more and more I hear about these darn things I really feel like I need to set one up. Is there a general guide for how to install R/O units?
smleee
New member
Yes it will BrentH, no worries. On this page it shows a faucet adapter and garden hose adapter.
http://www.airwaterice.com/category/accessories/
I chose to get the garden hose adapter and then got a "faucet - to - garden hose" adapter at HD. Mainly because the sinks in my house aren't very "standard" and I thought the threads wouldn't match up. HD has tons of faucet to garden hose adapters, so I went that route. You're going to want to get some combination of those if you don't want to "hard" plumb it to your house.
eee
http://www.airwaterice.com/category/accessories/
I chose to get the garden hose adapter and then got a "faucet - to - garden hose" adapter at HD. Mainly because the sinks in my house aren't very "standard" and I thought the threads wouldn't match up. HD has tons of faucet to garden hose adapters, so I went that route. You're going to want to get some combination of those if you don't want to "hard" plumb it to your house.
eee
I've had my 30 gallon tank sent up for about 6 months now. Up until here lately I have been getting RO water from my sister (who has a RO unit) to do my water changes. I had some algae but not a whole lot. The last 2 months I have been buying water from LFS and now have a HUGE problem with hair algae taking over my tank. After reading some of the post I think it has helped me narrow down that maybe that is my problem too. My sister has been insisting I just get a RO unit. Now I think I will look into getting one also.
Can anyone suggest a good way to get the hair algae under control? I have 6 snails but they don't seem to be making any big steps in helping me get rid of it.
Can anyone suggest a good way to get the hair algae under control? I have 6 snails but they don't seem to be making any big steps in helping me get rid of it.
