Hair algea problem (1 Viewer)

[Meyeronfire]

How can I get rid of hair algae? I think the source is from my R/O unit. TDS is at 10. Phos is 0 and Nitrate is 0 so that has to be the source. Im ordering new filters for my RO unit. Anysuggestions? Should I run carbon or phosban? Thanks in advance.

 

[FragsandMore]

phosban/GFO/rowaphos wouldn't hurt

try turning your lights off for three days and see how it is afterwards

i would suggest doing a water change when you turn them back on

 

[d2mini]

TDS of 10 isn't all that bad.
Phos could be reading zero due to the algae sucking it all up.

I would definitely start running some GFO. I really like the reactors from Bulk Reef Supply vs the ones from Two Little Fishies and similar. I have the dual reactor from BRS that runs GFO and Carbon. I bought it for my new tank but temporarily installed it on my old tank that had some hair algae in it at the time and it made a difference.

Also do at least one total tank black out for 3-4 days. Fish and corals will be fine. No lights and wrap the glass in black trash bags. Just don't cover the top and block air. That will give you a head start. When you uncover it, remove as much as you can by hand. I would then feed the fish for a day and then do another blackout. By the end of the 2nd blackout you should be way ahead of where you were today. Manually remove more and start/continue with the GFO. Then keep an eye on things and see if the algae continues to return.

 

[RR-MAN]

How can I get rid of hair algae? I think the source is from my R/O unit. TDS is at 10. Phos is 0 and Nitrate is 0 so that has to be the source. Im ordering new filters for my RO unit. Anysuggestions? Should I run carbon or phosban? Thanks in advance.

Do weekly water changes. It makes a huge difference. Try to feed the fish every other day, fish do not need to be fed daily.

 

[UoH_Chibi]

How would a blackout affect coral?

 

[d2mini]

Not at all. It does rain/storm in real life ya know.

A lot of people like to do a good blackout once a month or so.
It's not sunny every day in nature. I think it's good to give things a rest.

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, Meyeronfire.
What herbivores do you have in your tank?

My favorites are tangs, especially the Ctenochaetus species, foxface rabbitfish, lawnmower blenny.

Also ceriths and zebra turbos are good.

Nuisance algae is controlled by a combination of the following:

limit nutrient import
aggressive nutrient export
- large active refugium with rapidly growing macro
- aggressive skimming
- chemical removal using carbon, GFO, purigen
lots of herbivorous animals

good luck,
Steve

 

[fishcraze]

The 3 days blackout method would help remove the algea. however, I would be a little careful with this if you have some sensitive SPS corals, since dKh, pH could change quite a bit from your normal lighting cycle. So, if you do this, make sure to monitor dKh and buffer as needed.

The blackout will just resolve the problem temporily though, if your nutrient source still there, the algea will come back again. So best would be doing more weekly water changes (and i don't like to use any chemical like phosban, probidi.., etc.. at all - stick w/ the basics). Your tank algea won't disappear overnight with a few water changes but you will notice an improvement overtime and it's much safer this way.

TDS of 10 is not that bad. My RO TDS is ~30 (since i don't use DI). And I feed the tank a lot everyday (since the corals love that and I have lots of fishes also). So naturally, my main tank should have lots of algea, but I combat this by having lots of tangs (~7-8 of them) and they clean the algea off the rocks pretty well. I also have quite a bit of Mexican turbo snails so they can get to the algea in places the tangs couldn't reach to..

 

[julio]

looked at my log and 4 bulbds are 13 months old so i ordered replacements. im also going to do the blackout before the new bulbs. not sure if its algae but its silky looking and feeling. i have some in my fuge now. ill keep you posted. thanks!

 

[julio]

oh, i dry skim. is wet skimming more aggresive?

 

[Meyeronfire]

Thank you guys for all the replies!