I feel like quitting
- Thread starter dereksund
- Start date
buffalo123
New member
here's what i did but it still takes time to turn it around.
Remove as much algae as you can. I made a sulphur denitrator and added a remote deep sand bed. did regular water changes twice a month. Eventually algae died and increased amount of coralline algae. No real short cuts when you are over run with green algae
Remove as much algae as you can. I made a sulphur denitrator and added a remote deep sand bed. did regular water changes twice a month. Eventually algae died and increased amount of coralline algae. No real short cuts when you are over run with green algae
i had a small to med out break of hair algae. it was because of my RODI once i changed the DI part ,i knew that it was old, the algae just melted away. also just recently i changed my skimmer pump to the HY3000S and it is the best thing that i have done to my tank since i set it up
About a year ago, I had a terrible hair algae problem, every snail I bought died. I really believe what ever kind of algae I had was toxic to the snails. I finally got rid of it through good husbandry, vodka, and some algaefix. Never had any ill effects and the hair algae hasn't returned.
tkeracer619
New member
Algae = Phosphates. I don't care what your test kit reads. If you have algae you have phosphate issues.
Get a reactor and fill it with GFO. You will need a lot of GFO as you have a lot of stored phosphates. Change the media daily and manually remove the algae with daily water changes. GFO will last hours on a saturated tank not weeks or months as the label states. Once you have the tank algae free and phosphates under control GFO can easily last a month+.
There is nothing you can do to just watch the algae die. As it dies it pollutes the tank, if you don't have any gfo to soak it up more algae grows in its place.
You need a better skimmer. With a high fish load an 1/4 of skim mate you are not doing much and are better off running lots of carbon.
So to fix this issue you need.
-Fresh GFO in a reactor
-Manual Daily HA removal
-Skimmer and/or lots of carbon.
-Time
Also what are you feeding? Flake and Nori are super high in phosphates. The frozen foods ice tends to be full of it as well. Rinse mysis and such before feeding it. I prefer frozen formula 1 and 2 along with rinsed mysis.
Get a reactor and fill it with GFO. You will need a lot of GFO as you have a lot of stored phosphates. Change the media daily and manually remove the algae with daily water changes. GFO will last hours on a saturated tank not weeks or months as the label states. Once you have the tank algae free and phosphates under control GFO can easily last a month+.
There is nothing you can do to just watch the algae die. As it dies it pollutes the tank, if you don't have any gfo to soak it up more algae grows in its place.
You need a better skimmer. With a high fish load an 1/4 of skim mate you are not doing much and are better off running lots of carbon.
So to fix this issue you need.
-Fresh GFO in a reactor
-Manual Daily HA removal
-Skimmer and/or lots of carbon.
-Time
Also what are you feeding? Flake and Nori are super high in phosphates. The frozen foods ice tends to be full of it as well. Rinse mysis and such before feeding it. I prefer frozen formula 1 and 2 along with rinsed mysis.
fishysteve
New member
When I had a bad hair algae outbreak about four years ago in my 120, I upgraded my skimmer. Two weeks later I had none. I didn't do anything else differently. My skimmer just sucked. I haven't had any algae problems since. The skimmer was an ETSS 800.
I also seem to get bursts of green hair algae. Each time I am able to control the problem very quickly by 1: purchasing a sea hare. (Unbelievable how they will clean up all hair algae within a couple of weeks.) 2: Do 30% water changes every week for about a month.
I have since purchased a sulfer denitrater. (About six months ago.) I have seen no hair algae since. But also have lost a lot of coraline algae as well. All corals and fish are happy. So I am not sure what to make of the loss of the coraline algae.
I have since purchased a sulfer denitrater. (About six months ago.) I have seen no hair algae since. But also have lost a lot of coraline algae as well. All corals and fish are happy. So I am not sure what to make of the loss of the coraline algae.
goochesfish
New member
I bought a sea hare 2 weeks ago and I haven't seen it in 2 days. It started off eating the hair algae really well but then would hide for days at a time. I hope it's not dead behind a rock somewhere. Hair algae untouched.
Would it be preferable to pull the rock out of the tank and keep it in something like a rubbermaid bin with a powerhead and a heater?
I am buying a tank that's pretty much overrun with hair algae, and I am trying to figure out the best way to bulldoze it so I can start getting it under control.
I am open to any idea short of napalm. I'll get in trouble if I use napalm in the house.
+1
It took me a while to read enough to understand this when I was having your same problem. The algae is soaking up the phosphates so your test will not read anything but 0. You put in GFO but it want last long with all the phosphates in your tank. You need to change the GFO A LOT more often as it will be depleted very quickly. Remove as much as possible by hand everyday. It took me about 1 mo to get rid of all of my algae. It took a lot of GFO but it was worth it. When it is all gone get ready for a cyno outbreak because you may have one.
Sohal Tang Tim
Member
questions
questions
Please answer the following questions so we can be clear...even if you have already....
#1 what size tank is that skimmer rated for?
#2 are you using RO water and are you getting ZERO TDS reading on that
water before you use it in your tank?
#3 Those Korlias sound too small for a 120 gallon tank...I used bigger on
my 36 gallon!!!! You sure you have enough flow???? Just because a
frogspawn thinks the current is too much it might be because of where
it is sitting....The ocean has a ton of flow remember....you do not want
crap building up....
#4 How deep is your sandbed?
#5 Have you ever vacuumed your sandbed?
#6 How often you feed and how much and what?
#7 Can you post a picture of your reef?
-----------------------------------------------
Observations from an amateur:
#1 If your TDS is not zero you are asking for trouble....In my opinion I
would NEVER use water that is higher then ZERO TDS...period...no
exception!!!!!
#2 I am not convinced you have enough current from what you have
stated...are you surrrrre you have enough current?
#3 Water changes of 25 gallons a week is too much for that system....
I would recommend 6 gallons a week...and allow the water to age
a bit more....You might be removing too much bio in the water by
the huge water changes..thinking you are doing good when you are
actually hurting the overall chance of the system stabalizing.
#4 You may be overfeeding
#5 My Hair algae problem was caused by my neglect to pay attention to
everything early in the reef stages...I was anxious to feed and not
anxious to do water changes....bad bad bad.....once hair algae gets
hold in a system it is a bugger to get out and there is no quick solution.
Sometimes a seahare will clean the problem in a matter of a week or two
I have seen them do it...I have also seen 4 of them NOT TOUCH a strand
and when placed on top of the sea hare they slide off and dont touch it.
Trying a seahare is worth it but be careful if they eat it they will quickly
starve to death in your tank so you will have to get it out after problem
fixed...and if they dont eat it you will have to get them out so they dont
starve to death also....they will pollute your tank!!!! Make sure they cannot
get even CLOSE to a durso pipe or powerheads!
#6 Your skimmer performance seems to SUCK from where I am sitting....
I agree with previous statement that 1/4 inch is not close to enough
skimate per week! It is notttttttttttt dialed in properly...you need to
get it skimming a lighter colour skimate (wet skim) and not just a bit of
oil.....if your skimate is already light then....ouchhhhhhhh...you need
a better skimmer possibly.....they are a very important component of
the reef in my humble opinion... (ya I know some people run without
them....some people drive across the desert with no air conditioning also)
#7 Overfeeding is so EASY to do....Remember all food has phosphate and
phosphate is food for Hair Algae!!!!!! Back off on the feeding....although
the time to fack off was BEFORRRRRE the hair algae started mostly.....
#8 What are you using to remove phosphate at present and how often
do you change it?
#9 Where did you buy your liverock? What kind is it???
#10 Suggest you do not quit...you have come to far.....the system will
eventually balance itself and the hair algae will die if you do not overfeed
Do not put any more fish in and make sure everything you feed is eaten
within 1 minute!!!!!!!!! Nothing left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! feed once twice a day
that amount max.
#11 I do not believe your alkalinity of 7...check your test kit...buy a new one...
The Aquarium PHarm one is cheap and seems to work great for me.....try one.
You are already using the BEST SALT on the market in my opinion.....IFFFFFF
your alk is at 7....that is too low...boost it to 8 or 9 for sure again as mentioned.
#12 What are you doing to maintain alk and calcium????? Are you using two part?
You have calcium reactor? What???????
#13 Do you add magnesium to your system? If so..which one and how much?
Do you know what your magnesium is at?
what are you feeding??????
Answers to the above will give everyone a better handle I think....
Pics...post a few pics close ups and further....
Pic of your week's skimate.
Pics of your liverock and overall system.
Pics of your RO unit.
SUPPLY US WITH ALL THE INFO YOU CAN.
Chin up...if you are keeping a powder blue and it is living you are doing not too bad...they are tough these days to aclimatize.....so congrats on that!
Thanks,
Tim
questions
Please answer the following questions so we can be clear...even if you have already....
#1 what size tank is that skimmer rated for?
#2 are you using RO water and are you getting ZERO TDS reading on that
water before you use it in your tank?
#3 Those Korlias sound too small for a 120 gallon tank...I used bigger on
my 36 gallon!!!! You sure you have enough flow???? Just because a
frogspawn thinks the current is too much it might be because of where
it is sitting....The ocean has a ton of flow remember....you do not want
crap building up....
#4 How deep is your sandbed?
#5 Have you ever vacuumed your sandbed?
#6 How often you feed and how much and what?
#7 Can you post a picture of your reef?
-----------------------------------------------
Observations from an amateur:
#1 If your TDS is not zero you are asking for trouble....In my opinion I
would NEVER use water that is higher then ZERO TDS...period...no
exception!!!!!
#2 I am not convinced you have enough current from what you have
stated...are you surrrrre you have enough current?
#3 Water changes of 25 gallons a week is too much for that system....
I would recommend 6 gallons a week...and allow the water to age
a bit more....You might be removing too much bio in the water by
the huge water changes..thinking you are doing good when you are
actually hurting the overall chance of the system stabalizing.
#4 You may be overfeeding
#5 My Hair algae problem was caused by my neglect to pay attention to
everything early in the reef stages...I was anxious to feed and not
anxious to do water changes....bad bad bad.....once hair algae gets
hold in a system it is a bugger to get out and there is no quick solution.
Sometimes a seahare will clean the problem in a matter of a week or two
I have seen them do it...I have also seen 4 of them NOT TOUCH a strand
and when placed on top of the sea hare they slide off and dont touch it.
Trying a seahare is worth it but be careful if they eat it they will quickly
starve to death in your tank so you will have to get it out after problem
fixed...and if they dont eat it you will have to get them out so they dont
starve to death also....they will pollute your tank!!!! Make sure they cannot
get even CLOSE to a durso pipe or powerheads!
#6 Your skimmer performance seems to SUCK from where I am sitting....
I agree with previous statement that 1/4 inch is not close to enough
skimate per week! It is notttttttttttt dialed in properly...you need to
get it skimming a lighter colour skimate (wet skim) and not just a bit of
oil.....if your skimate is already light then....ouchhhhhhhh...you need
a better skimmer possibly.....they are a very important component of
the reef in my humble opinion... (ya I know some people run without
them....some people drive across the desert with no air conditioning also)
#7 Overfeeding is so EASY to do....Remember all food has phosphate and
phosphate is food for Hair Algae!!!!!! Back off on the feeding....although
the time to fack off was BEFORRRRRE the hair algae started mostly.....
#8 What are you using to remove phosphate at present and how often
do you change it?
#9 Where did you buy your liverock? What kind is it???
#10 Suggest you do not quit...you have come to far.....the system will
eventually balance itself and the hair algae will die if you do not overfeed
Do not put any more fish in and make sure everything you feed is eaten
within 1 minute!!!!!!!!! Nothing left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! feed once twice a day
that amount max.
#11 I do not believe your alkalinity of 7...check your test kit...buy a new one...
The Aquarium PHarm one is cheap and seems to work great for me.....try one.
You are already using the BEST SALT on the market in my opinion.....IFFFFFF
your alk is at 7....that is too low...boost it to 8 or 9 for sure again as mentioned.
#12 What are you doing to maintain alk and calcium????? Are you using two part?
You have calcium reactor? What???????
#13 Do you add magnesium to your system? If so..which one and how much?
Do you know what your magnesium is at?
what are you feeding??????
Answers to the above will give everyone a better handle I think....
Pics...post a few pics close ups and further....
Pic of your week's skimate.
Pics of your liverock and overall system.
Pics of your RO unit.
SUPPLY US WITH ALL THE INFO YOU CAN.
Chin up...if you are keeping a powder blue and it is living you are doing not too bad...they are tough these days to aclimatize.....so congrats on that!
Thanks,
Tim
Last edited:
I had some bad algae for awhile. It was bryopsis. That stuff is nasty, and the normal algae remedies would not stop it. You should make sure what you have isn't bryopsis. If it is, check out this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=9868756
I used Kent Tech-M to 1600 Magnesium and it cleared up fast. No problems once I beat this evil, evil weed.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=9868756
I used Kent Tech-M to 1600 Magnesium and it cleared up fast. No problems once I beat this evil, evil weed.
So many ways to combat bad algae and like someone said, it's all to do with PO4.
Vodka will help but takes time and kind of gets worse before it gets better.
Use Phosphate Control - excellent product to knock the PO4 out the water right away. Then use Vodka and GFO to control it.
And yes, you should rinse frozen food. I just defrost in a cup of tank water. Sieve it into another cup of tank water. If you have RODI this is the likely source of your PO4 problems.
When I started using Vodka I got a horrible Calothrix Cyano outbreak that covered everything. But I knew I was on teh right course and as things stabilised it disappeared. So never give up.
Vodka will help but takes time and kind of gets worse before it gets better.
Use Phosphate Control - excellent product to knock the PO4 out the water right away. Then use Vodka and GFO to control it.
And yes, you should rinse frozen food. I just defrost in a cup of tank water. Sieve it into another cup of tank water. If you have RODI this is the likely source of your PO4 problems.
When I started using Vodka I got a horrible Calothrix Cyano outbreak that covered everything. But I knew I was on teh right course and as things stabilised it disappeared. So never give up.
DevilBoy
New member
I looked up his skimmer they have it rated for 150g. I think the skimmer is probably your problem. You have a 120g plus your sump volume. Along with your decent size bio load. I would try what everyone is saying, but i firmly believe IMO it is your skimmer is undersized and not doing its job properly. You say you feed heavy, and only get a 1/4" of skimmate a week. Try dialing in that skimmer and getting it to skimmer alittle wetter. My skimmer is constantly bubbling over the top of the neck. I would seriously look into a better skimmer. I ran a Octo 200 and i bought a SWC skimmer for the simple fact i felt it was not doing the job on my 90g. I had a bigger skimmer then you with a smaller tank volume and i felt it was under achieving.
scuba guy ron
New member
I had the same thing happin in my tank after 1 yr. this is what i did under frustration. took all rocks out and scrubbed them. that didnt work. tested for phosphaes, showed 0 that didnt work, Upped my water changes, that didnt work. so you ask what did. Believe it or not nothing worked. what i mean is for 6 mos i did nothing. no testing, no water chages, no scrubbing rocks. before i took this drastic measure i did one very important thing. I added a phosphate reactor with GFO. bang after 6 mos no green hair. worked for me. and ive heard of it working for others.
