Algae outbreak

jnbrex

Member
Market
Messages
69
Reaction score
0
Well, I've had a terrible outbreak of hair algae, diatoms, bryopsis, you name it I have it in my new frag tank. It cleaned out the main tank though... lol. Is there any way to control it without getting a phosphate reactor, refugium, or anything else that costs a lot? How should I control it. I can't siphon it out -- it is everywhere and strongly attached. Way to much to pull out too.:doh:
 
Refugiums don't have to cost a lot.

It depends on what it is. Diatoms will go away with time, and really shouldn't come back on an established cycled tank. Hair algae can be controlled by lowering nitrates and phosphates. Bryopsis can be taken care of with Kent Tech-M magnesium supplementation and getting the Mg levels up to 1800ppm for a few weeks.
 
well not much more needs to be said other then you can add some inverts or fish to clean it up
 
Definitely Tech M. I just finished a 1 month 10 day treatment for Bryopsis. Its completely gone. Depending on the size of tank I would get a large container of Tech M because you will need it.

If you need any help with the dosing let me know. Good luck.
 
Do any fish eat hair algae? That is by far the worst algae in there. It has even caused the death of a frag by growing over it.
 
Someone in this forum (sorry guys .... I'm not good with names) suggested to reduce the light cycle, which I'm trying at the moment. You can try that too to see if it works for you.
 
I wouldn't add a fish and not quarantine it. You could end up with even more problems.
Cut the photo period down, up the water changes and scrub and syphon out as much as you can. Beefing up your clean up crew will help you too.
You can add a fuge for next to nothing using tupperware or a rubbermaid.
Keep testing often and keep your eye on all your params
 
twocute2b4u;484746 wrote: Definitely Tech M. I just finished a 1 month 10 day treatment for Bryopsis. Its completely gone. Depending on the size of tank I would get a large container of Tech M because you will need it.

If you need any help with the dosing let me know. Good luck.

Glad to hear you won this battle. I know it can be frustrating.

First identify exactly what your fighting. There is a big difference between bryopsis and HA. Keep up with frequent water changes..as often as you can. Manual removal and reduce feeding as much as possible. Phosphates may show a false "0". Work your nitrates down, use Phosguard or something simular. The clean up crew will assist also cut your light cycles back.

Kent Tech M or Brightwell Magnesion... when the Mag reaches around 1600-1650 there should be some die off. You will want to bring it up to the 1800 range. Please be aware that there are potential side effects to certain corals and inverts.
 
Coolsurf mentioned the false reading to ya. It comes from the HA and others absorbing all of the excess nutrients your tank is harboring. Was tricked by the same thing a long time ago
 
If you have nuisance algae, you have nutrient feeding it. Try the most direct and cost effective way first, which is less feeding, more maintenance. Also, I'd consider some sort of phosphate media, ask your lfs what is the easiest to use, but I personally buy the pre-bagged Seachem stuff and just throw it in the sump. Remember to change out the media regularly, as most phosphate media aren't rechargeable and cannot be reused.

Sometimes, the simplest answers, are in fact, the simplest answers..
 
Back
Top