Ive tried everything.

[MMacro]

Hey,
I have been having constant problems with hair algae and have tried just about everything. This includes: GFO, excessive water changes, lights out, scrubbing rocks, cutting back on feeding, took out some livestock, chaeto, caulerpa, phosphate removal chemicals, crabs, snails, adding more flow, cleaning dead spots in the sump, and added protein skimmer. But this crap still grows. Is there anything I am missing?

 

[HammerLover]

Maybe try some sea hares? I've heard they are pigs when it comes to algae

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Why don't we start with a list of your tank and equipment, then a full list of parameters.

 

[MMacro]

I am hesitant to try seahares.
Parameters are as follows
Ammonia: 0
PO4: 0
Nitrate: 0
Temperature: 77-78

Maybe the rocks are still leaking phosphates?

 

[MMacro]

Also, this is just a temporary holding tank for my fish until I get my new tank set up. I am not too concerned with aesthetics at the moment, but rather just wondering if there are any other methods of removing hair algae.

 

[wildman926]

Short Term - use API's Algaefix Marine. Do a search here on RC, there is a huge thread of it's success. I have had success with it myself.

Long Term - Run an algae turf scrubber (ats). Keep your chaeto going as well.

 

[javimarino]

Do you use Reverse Osmosis water?

If it continue to grow, it is feeding from some where, food, water or rocks.
Chech your parameter should also help understand the problem.


I Recently had a HA/cyano problem when my Skimmer broke. I thougth I could go on with out it. Until the problem got big. Ended fixing the skimmer, skimmed a lot, added to my CUC a Urchin and more of hermit crab. Remove removable LR and sand full of algea. But what most damage did to the algae was dosing Brown sugar. I mix About 5 tbls spoon in a 1/2 gallon jug and dose a little bit each day for a week. Clean skimmer cup often, wait for improvement. repeat...

Its almost all gone, I lower the dose and keep adding with great results.

my tank
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2566543

 

[MMacro]

Do you use Reverse Osmosis water?

If it continue to grow, it is feeding from some where, food, water or rocks.
Chech your parameter should also help understand the problem.


I Recently had a HA/cyano problem when my Skimmer broke. I thougth I could go on with out it. Until the problem got big. Ended fixing the skimmer, skimmed a lot, added to my CUC a Urchin and more of hermit crab. Remove removable LR and sand full of algea. But what most damage did to the algae was dosing Brown sugar. I mix About 5 tbls spoon in a 1/2 gallon jug and dose a little bit each day for a week. Clean skimmer cup often, wait for improvement. repeat...

Its almost all gone, I lower the dose and keep adding with great results.

my tank
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2566543

I have an RODI system that produces 0 TDS. I have recently replaced all of the filters.

 

[bif24701]

Use vinegar over dosing. It works! There are several threads out there about it. Here are the basics: start low, build up until your tank starts to get a little cloudy. Keep it up for a week or so. Then slow cut back. Repeat is necessary. You must keep your skimmer running at peak performance and skim on the wet side, this is the primary nutrient export so it must run well. Clean the neck of your skimmer daily.


I have used vinegar regularly with great success.

 

[Hal]

If it's a new tank it might just be part of the normal maturation of the tank. All new tanks go through cycles where algae blooms, then eventually dies off. Then a new algae grows and dies off. It's all a function of your tank reaching a balance of nutrients.

 

[LJLKRL]

Short Term - use API's Algaefix Marine. Do a search here on RC, there is a huge thread of it's success. I have had success with it myself.

Long Term - Run an algae turf scrubber (ats). Keep your chaeto going as well.

I can vouch for this stuff. worked on my problem. I used it until the algae was gone and did not use it for the regular maintenance schedule it suggests.

 

[moatdaddy]

Let me chime in, you said you added a scrubber after the fact correct?

You fed your tank, that went straight into the rock, sand, and water column. Only detritus you removed was via water change. If you siphoned the sand than that is a plus, if not i bet it is filthy.

My recommendation. Take each rock out into a buck with peroxide and saltwater. Shake vigorously until all the gunk in the rock comes out. Clean the sandbed. Do a 30% water change.

If you have the room install an ATS. If not know that for every tiny bit of food you put into that aquarium must be removed somehow. Just because the fish eat it doesn't mean it disappears. That is why i dont like to use GFO or some of the other chemicals and recommend an ATS. Its a physical export. Insert food, grow algae from waste, Remove algae.

A skimmer will only do so much. On my current system i have a huge chaeto refugium. Same principle. I grow chaeto, remove half, repeat. Just like with an ATS i use strong lights on it.