Water changes vs Hair Algae

[CoMMaNdeR]

Some people when having the hair algae problem don't make any water changes just to do not help the algae absorbing new fresh nutrients introduced with new water when doing water changes.

What is the best guys, do water changes when having Hair Algae or not doing water changes ?

 

[navajo]

Water changes are always a good idea.

What this does is take out some of the nutrients that fuel the algae, and replace it with fresh SW and trace minerals.

Also, a refugium with macro algae is a great help.

 

[MaryAnn_W]

If the water your are bringing in on water changes is helping to fuel your hair algae problems then that first needs to be addressed. Are you using well or tap water?If you are using treated water is your filters and membranes? Have you taken the step to even test your water both fresh and tank to see where the problem lies?

After all that I agree completely with navajo. Water changes are generally very good because they take out some of the nutrients the hair algae is feeding off of. Adding a fuge with macroalgae is also terrific once it gets established because it can out compete for the few nutrients you are bringing into your tank from feedings etc.

 

[neotekz]

yes only if u use rodi water, nitrates are in the water so taking some out and putting new water in will definitely help

 

[CoMMaNdeR]

I am using RO water without PO4 and NO3.
Filters are 8 months old so guess are still good.
Also I have a fuge full of chaeto but still the bryopsis grow like crazy.

 

[drummereef]

Do you have a DI cartrige on the RO unit? What's the tds measure?

 

[CoMMaNdeR]

At the moment I don't have a DI Cartridge connected with the RO unit, but I bought one and it will arrive next week.

My tapwater here in my country is a poo, it reads about 2300ppm.
With the RO unit I am having the water around 200-220 ppm. I know it is alot but what can I do if my tap water here is really dirty. Hope that with the DI I will have a less reading of ppm.

Do you think this should be a clue why I am having a Hair Algae bloom ?

Thanks

 

[ek9vboi]

HOLY ****!!! 200-230ppm... that is really dirty. This is why you have hair algae.

 

[MaryAnn_W]

With water that bad I bet your filters won't last anytime at all let alone 8 months worth of abuse. My water is considered terrible in the area and it comes out of the tap at 210ppm with the highest legal limit of chloramines and chlorine that the state allows. Six levels of water treatment and my tds is zero in the end.

So your treated water is as bad as my tap water. I would look into more levels of treatment for your water filtration to save your RO and DI. I am not saying you need 0 tds but you should be under 10.

 

[CoMMaNdeR]

What should I do guys. it is not my fault damn.. I will connect the DI and see what happens. The store man of the RO units told me to have 0ppm he think that I need another RO unit so the water pass twice from 2 different RO units..

Hmm let's wait and see what happens with the DI connected.