Hair Algae

BigBlue187

BigBlue187

New member
I'm having a real problem with hair algae in my sump.
My whole sump is covered in this stuff.
Whats the best way to get rid of it?
I thought about leaveing my light off for a few days to see if that would help.
I didn't know if that would kill all of my cheto or not.
I bought a couple of turbo snails but they don't seem to be doing any good.

So what do you guys think?
 
Its a sump man, let it do its thing. As long as its not in you display, who cares? Aren't you using your sump as a fuge anyway?
 
Id be more concerned about getting rid of the cause, if you remove that you will get rid of the hair algae. I am assuming you are using RO/DI water? Make sure you have a 0 TDS reading from that. Have you tested for Nitrates, Phosphates etc? What is you alkalinity? Low alk will help promote hair algae, especially if you have high NO3 or PO4.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10485302#post10485302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Coralfreak
Id be more concerned about getting rid of the cause, if you remove that you will get rid of the hair algae. I am assuming you are using RO/DI water? Make sure you have a 0 TDS reading from that. Have you tested for Nitrates, Phosphates etc? What is you alkalinity? Low alk will help promote hair algae, especially if you have high NO3 or PO4.
Click to expand...

Good point....
 
I'm using Ro water I haven't ordered my DI yet. The water out of my RO test a 30 TDS. As far as Nitrates they tested out at 2ppm, Phosphates 0ppm, and alkalinity I don't have a test for:o
 
If you wanted to try the 'no light' thing, your chaeto would be fine for a couple weeks (assuming its growing good and healthy now).
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10485426#post10485426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBlue187
I'm using Ro water I haven't ordered my DI yet. The water out of my RO test a 30 TDS. As far as Nitrates they tested out at 2ppm, Phosphates 0ppm, and alkalinity I don't have a test for:o
Click to expand...

30 TDS is very high compared to what most people use in their tanks. I would suggest getting on that DI filter.
 
Might want to talk to the filter guys....
They can most likely suggest a way to get the RO down. If you put 30tds water into a DI cartridge it will burn up the resin super fast.

I was buring a lot of resin with 17-18 tds out of the RO. I talked to Jim at the filter guys made some simple changes that he suggested and now I get 3 TDS out of the RO and resin usage is 1/3 what it was.

Good luck!

eins
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10486964#post10486964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by einsteins
Might want to talk to the filter guys....
They can most likely suggest a way to get the RO down. If you put 30tds water into a DI cartridge it will burn up the resin super fast.

I was buring a lot of resin with 17-18 tds out of the RO. I talked to Jim at the filter guys made some simple changes that he suggested and now I get 3 TDS out of the RO and resin usage is 1/3 what it was.

Good luck!

eins
Click to expand...

I think i need to talk to him, my resin burns up fast too, my RO is at 24ppm.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10486964#post10486964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by einsteins
Might want to talk to the filter guys....
They can most likely suggest a way to get the RO down. If you put 30tds water into a DI cartridge it will burn up the resin super fast.

I was buring a lot of resin with 17-18 tds out of the RO. I talked to Jim at the filter guys made some simple changes that he suggested and now I get 3 TDS out of the RO and resin usage is 1/3 what it was.

Good luck!

eins
Click to expand...

I was a recipient of good advice as well. I have real high TDS here in cambridge, 600+. RO was 25 or so at 40PSI. I ended up buying a booster pump from them. I am producing water twiceas fast at around 10tds. Stretched my DI life out about twice as long now too. I am still working on cleaning it up more with prefiltering, but am pretty happy with what I am at now.

I like to be at 0tds going into the tank for makeup.
 
Well I just got done sending them a e-mail telling them whats going on so hopefuly I will hear something back from them in the next couple of days.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10487252#post10487252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBlue187
Well I just got done sending them a e-mail telling them whats going on so hopefuly I will hear something back from them in the next couple of days.
Click to expand...

heh, so did I.....
 
I have the same problem. I just bought a new dow filmtec 75gpd membrane and I still get 25ppm tds and the tap water is only 350ppm. I haven't even bothered with the DI lately because it usually burns up in 50-100gallons.
 
I now run mine like this:

1 micron pre-filter
2nd stage Chloramine Carbon block
3rd stage Chloramine Carbon block
Dow Filmtech 75gpd RO
DI #1
DI #2

Works excellent for me in the QC's where my incoming water is 280 TDS.

Jim at the Filterguys will definitely get you on track based on your situation.

Good Luck all of you...

einsteins
 
I wish i had 2 DI canisters, but they wouldn't help because i am too lazy to fill them.

LOL
 
Looks like the filter guys will be busy in the morning. I just placed an order for replacement filters and sent an email as well asking for some advice. Tested tonight, had 165 in and 57 out .... ouchhh. Let that one slip by me.

By the way that 165 is rural water out in the country. Not too bad after hearing what others are getting.
 
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