Tech M and Green Hair Algae

[haninja]

I read a lot of threads about the success of Tech M with bryopsis. I did find a few references to advise given to use Tech M with green hair as well, but I can't find any confirmation that it actually works. Did anybody have experience with Tech M and plain green hair algae?

 

[coolsurf]

I used Brightwell but Tech M is what actually started the whole thing. Yes, it does work.

 

[roundman]

yes it worked pretty good but I had to find out what was keeping it growing. Turned lights down and massive water changes more often. I still have a few threads but from a tank full to that I am happy.

 

[haninja]

I have a couple of Mexican turbo but my infestation is way beyond their powers... I tried the Tech M before without success that is why I'm asking. Perhaps my levels were not high enough. I also got a new test kit to make sure... how about a lawnmower blenny? they also suppose to eat that stuff?

 

[gnashty]

I have a lawnmower blenny and had some GHA - he didnt touch the stuff. my Mexican Turbos did it for me, i think yours is a little more severe though so you would need like 25..lol

 

[mufret]

Try a sea hare. It should make short work of the HA but you will then need to find it a new home once it's done.

 

[haninja]

mufret;537778 wrote: Try a sea hare. It should make short work of the HA but you will then need to find it a new home once it's done.

Yep, tried that as well. Unfortunately it tried to check my vortech up close... I was told they like slow flow which is not the case in my tank.

 

[drnecropolis]

Wow.. Chum city heading into a vortech..

Hanin, I've wondered about this myself since I have an issue with HA myself.. I can't find any definate answers.. More of a it works great for Bryopsis but hit and miss with plain old HA.. If you crank it up and it does work, let me know..

 

[thomas138]

I used Tech-m a time or two for hair algae but once the bottle ran out I stopped dosing it and the HA just kept on growing. So finally after consistantly daily dosing it as long as 3 bottles of the stuff lasted me, every spec of hair algae was gone =]

 

[skriz]

Snails will generally only be effective if it's manually trimmed down for them.

If the HA is not in direct dontact with corals, I would use a propane torch. It will stay lit under water and will burn the HA dead! You'll just have to be careful not to burn anything you want and watch the tank temperature.

 

[thomas138]

:firedevil:

Skriz;537867 wrote:

If the HA is not in direct dontact with corals, I would use a propane torch. It will stay lit under water and will burn the HA dead!

 

[smoothie]

And you have to film it

 

[haninja]

Skriz;537867 wrote: Snails will generally only be effective if it's manually trimmed down for them.

If the HA is not in direct dontact with corals, I would use a propane torch. It will stay lit under water and will burn the HA dead! You'll just have to be careful not to burn anything you want and watch the tank temperature.

I am not torching my tank
hmm, are you sure it will work underwater?

 

[skriz]

haninja;537891 wrote: I am not torching my tank
hmm, are you sure it will work underwater?

Oh yeah. Been there, done that!

FYI, you have to light it out of the water!

 

[shadow]

Skriz;537927 wrote: Oh yeah. Been there, done that!

FYI, you have to light it out of the water!

I knew I was doing something wrong! Will matches raise your phosphates?

 

[skriz]

shadow;537928 wrote: I knew I was doing something wrong! Will matches raise your phosphates?

Hmmm..matches contain phosphorus and carbon. I'm thinking it'll be a wash. :doh:

 

[jef4y]

I was skeptical until I tried it. From reading hundreds of threads, the things I found.

1. The algae should be Bryopsis. Basically green hair algae but it has tiny branches on it.
2. Kent Tech M (or M-Tech?) is the product you need to use.

I spent 4 days raising my magnesium to 1500 and once it hit 1500, within 3 days, my tank went from green fur to literally CLEAN. It basically seemed to melt the bryopsis. I was amazed at how well it worked.

I brought my MG back down into the high 1300's through normal water changes over about 2 months.

I'm a believer... It worked for me... Hope you experience the same!

 

[tennistopspin]

Never tried it but emerald crabs do wonders!

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

here's my question on all of this....spurned because while on vacation last week, I came home to a massive HA outbreak and don't know why. Is dosing to get rid of HA the answer or should we be more concerned with the original cause?

I don't know what caused mine. I did a WC the night before I left and everything was fine. MG was around 1250 (a little low, I know), pH 7.8 (also a little low), Alk 2.8 meg/L, Phos .05, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0 and Calc +520.

So is Tech-M really the solution?

 

[cici22]

Glad I found this thread. Think I might pick some up and give it a try. I've been battling hair algea in my 6 gallon for months. Because of the small size of the tank, I really can't resort to many of the "living" methods of algae control. I've been focusing on lots of water changes, reducing the photoperiod, and limiting the addition of nutrients into the tank. It has made a difference but it is very slow. It seems the algea is no longer spreading but what is there just won't go away. Perhaps the Tech M will speed up the process.