phosphate silicate and hair algae

[orthokardia]

well the diamonds of the sea (diatoms) are receeding and being replaced by hair algae my water measures 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates, and <1 silicate. I am running 3x250w 14k MH (old bulbs) for 5 hrs and 2x160 VHO actinics (new)for 12 hrs.

BTW the critter really hooked me up with the actinics for $10/bulb after making fun of me for still running VHO-goodfolk-and bying out their remaining stock.

I have a small ball of cheato in the sump with 100W 6.5K 24hrs. The only thing i can think is their is enough hair algea that is is taking the phosphate as soon as it leaches from the rock.

so what is the best way to
a. get rid of the hair algae
b. remove the phosphates
c. best place to get a lot of crabs (adrian mentioned some plastic supply house in nashville in the where to buy stuff thread)

 

[John_A]

I've always been told that Old bulbs mainly the 3 MH bulbs can help with the algea problem maybe try changing them? Im not sayin it will be the end all be all but will be a step in the right direction

 

[mikemartinez]

Definitely change those old bulbs.

Run some phosphate remover (I have used phosguard in a filter bag in my sump) and wait until the hair algae loosens up after running it then pull out as much as you can manually. I say wait till it loosens up because at first hair algae is really hard to just pull out so wait till it weakens to yank it out of there. and keep the phosguard running.

Cutting back your hours on the light to only 8 hours will help in the mean time too.

Aquatic critter had that phosguard the cheapest and its right in front of the anemone tank.

Keep us posted on how it goes... Hair algae is a B to get rid of fully.... I am still struggling with mine...

 

[zef004]

I dosed 5ml of Vinegar a day. 2.5Ml in the morning and 2.5ml at night. In 145gal tank and all types of bad algea was gonein a week. Syano,GHA. Coral love I it too. They had great PE. Mostly sps.
Also in my seahorse tank I'm fighting GHA with MB7. It's working but takeing longer.

 

[Mikeyjer]

I run VHO actinics! I like them!!! New bulbs is needed! I replaced my 14k bulbs with 12k along with VHO. It looks awesome.... Water source? RO/DI is a must! Also water change along with some cleanup crews. Near by windows? Cut down lighting time....

 

[orthokardia]

did you say viniger? i used it to mix kalk back in the day, but never for algae. no windows, it is in the basement. RODI is comming. if i go with new bulks should i go 10, 15, or 20k?

 

[commonstranger]

Bart it depends on what your trying to acheive. If you want more of blue color go with 20k if you want more growth (espically SPS) then go with 10k but you will have alot of yellow color in the tank. You can split the difference and go with a 14k. Its all up to you.