Argghh hair algae

[superclown]

Up until 2 days ago I have been doing very well at nutrient export in my tank. I have a rodi installed. I do 5 gallon water changes every week. Top off with rodi. I run a mrc Skimmer cheato in sump and filter sock.

lighintg schedule about 6 hours of mh atinics on for hour before off after a hour off back on hour before mh go off then off one hour after.

Checked po4 was none present with elos test kit

Currently do not have a nitrate test kit but will get one soon.

Tank has been running about 4 months now.

I feed slow pellets alternate frozen brine from time to time.

 

[pufferchris]

add some Mexican turbo snails i had a hair algae outbreak i added 12 turbos and in less then a week it was all gone

 

[superclown]

I do have like 2 snails had more but the crabs knocked em off one by one lol. I will try that and see if it helps.

 

[stoney1118]

My Yellow Tang loves to mow it down. They're pretty cheap too,maybe you could throw one in there until its under control, then sell him. My experience with hair algea, It lives in relativly short cycles. It will die off and go away if you keep your parameters up to par. I used to see it begin to appear when my light quality began to deteriorate. for example, I would try to stretch the life span of metal halide, T5, or Compact flourescent bulbs. The light dosent appear to be any different but it is. Just my input from my past experience.

 

[sucio_reefer]

If your tank isn't big enuff for a tang lawnmower blennys work well for it too.

 

[stoney1118]

optimum has some small yellow tangs, my buddy just put one in his 29 cube and he is super healthy and eating well! He is about the size of a half dollar.

 

[superclown]

I think your on to somehing stoney my metal halide is going on 14 months old. It is long overdue to be replaced. My tank is a 30g cube it would have to be a small one

Been trying to put off buying a new bulb long enough to swap over to leds

 

[KrisDeitz]

Lol its older then that bro!

That bulb has needed to be changed since i sold it to Mike

 

[superclown]

Oh lol whoops well in that case I'm amazed at the positive growth I'm getting

 

[ripped tide]

The reason your test kits aren't reading po4 is because the algae is sucking it all up.

I fought the same issue. The only way I crushed it was by stripping the water, sand and rocks of po4 with lots of gfo changes.

The bulbs probably play a role too, but keep in mind, plants and algaes only grow quickly if they have the appropriate balance of nutrient(NPK), light and co2(or other bio available carbon)

Plants and algaes only grow as quick as their weakest link. If you remove a variable, growth will slowly cease.

 

[superclown]

I had this thought in my mind that po4 would be low if any at all. I really feel like with such a small system I could do better by more frequent water changes however I may look into adding a little fishies reactor with some gfo as I plan to move up to a 60 soon

 

[stoney1118]

Just buy some phosban, Its cheap but efective, no need for a reactor, put the bag in your sump so that water is forced through it. Along with water changes and new lighting you should be golden.

 

[ralph atl]

Ripped Tide;744126 wrote: The reason your test kits aren't reading po4 is because the algae is sucking it all up.

I fought the same issue. The only way I crushed it was by stripping the water, sand and rocks of po4 with lots of gfo changes.

The bulbs probably play a role too, but keep in mind, plants and algaes only grow quickly if they have the appropriate balance of nutrient(NPK), light and co2(or other bio available carbon)

Plants and algaes only grow as quick as their weakest link. If you remove a variable, growth will slowly cease.

exactly...

 

[superclown]

stoney1118;744145 wrote: Just buy some phosban, Its cheap but efective, no need for a reactor, put the bag in your sump so that water is forced through it. Along with water changes and new lighting you should be golden.

I think i just like buying equipment lol but thats a good idea too