Just about to give up...

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

Its been a while! I have been fighting a mad hair algea and some other kind of green algea problem in my 72 reef for quite some time now. I do 5 gal PWC about every 10 days. My LFS said I might try carbon. What do you think? It seems that this all went down after I moved to Chicago from Tulsa.
SHOG

[Sker]

Hey SHOG,

Haven't seen you around lately. What are your water params., are using RO/DI water? Don't give up! We will figure out the problem....

[Biomanjcs72]

That's right, where you been SHOG!!! Good to hear from you.
WE'll figure it out.

[scubadude]

I think you should just give up SHOG, and send it all to me

Hang in there bud!

Carbon might help a little....I think Phosphates feed HA though more so....I have heard of something that is called a Phosphate sponge, I think its made by Kent it supposedly works very well to. Anybody care to comment on this?

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

Scuba,
get on ICQ

[Reefland]

I used the Phosphate sponges from Kent several years ago and they did help with an algae problem, however is phophate isn't the problem then they will do nothing.

If you do have a phosphate problem and opt to use them, make sure you rinse them very well before you put them in your system. They are full of "dust" and actually get really hot for the first few seconds they are in water.

I would say during your move, you lost some of your natural filtration capacity and it could take a while to recover. Just keep giving it the elbow grease and you'll overcome it!

Don't give up SHOG!

Regards,
Scott Z.

[scubadude]

Good point Scott I agree w/you ! Gotta make sure its a phosphate problem. I just got done chattin w/ shog and he is gonna get a good Pho. test kit and probably try the Pho. sponge out if he has a pho. problem.

Heres a statement from Sea Chem's PhosGuard

PhosGuard[tm] will cause a decline in hair algae and enhance coral growth

And I have heard similar success with Kent Phosphate Sponge

[Reefland]

What are the Nitrates running at? orthwhile to check them out too if there is an algae problem; obviously.

Scott Z.

[wperrette]

I had a severe case of HA for almost a year. I would pull lots of HA out only for it to grow completely back in one week’s time. My biggest problem was that I was using tap water. Here are the changes I made:

First I added a refugium. This had no effect on the HA.
I then got a TWP and started dripping limewater. I also reduced my feeding. It has been about 3 months since I started using the TWP and limewater and I am almost completely HA free.

[Papa Doug]

If your make-up water contains nitrates and/or phosphates, then water changes would contribute to the problem. The suggestion of a tap water purifier or an ro, could help.

If thats not the problem, then something in the tank is feeding the growth. Sandbeds help with excessive nitrates or any type of algae filter. Phosphate sponges, mentioned by Scott, are also a good idea. I like SeaChems, phophate remover myself.

A good skimmer will help with any nutrient control problem. For cleaning the algae up, I find lots of good size turbo,s cant be beat. And perhaps an urchin or two, on a temporary basis. They eat a huge amount of algae, esp. the turf type.

[Iron Crab]

I have a problem with my tap water so I have to use RO water for everything.
Once you get to the point where the algae is no longer growing I would second Doug on the turbos. About a week ago I got a large snail and hermit order from PA. Since I ordered over 48 snails I was at the buck each price so I ordered 15 turbos. These guys are huge! The only place I have a HA problem is on the tank side of my overflows. Each corner looks like a shag carpet. One big turbo has cleaned up the entire corner in about a week. Now if I can get him started on the other side.

[Mikeman]

Iron Crab


Just pick him up and move him over there...... :eek3:

[scubadude]

Just thought I would throw in some info I found out about Kent Phosphate Sponge......You can actually reuse this stuff....I was reading the back of the label today and it can really only be reused once or twice and its not as potent as the first time but you just put it in a filter pad in high flow area like your sump or overflow and after 8 hrs you take it out rinse it real well then put it on a baking sheet and cook it in the oven for 1hr. on like 450 degrees....this supposedly recharges this stuff....I thought that was pretty interesting. 7oz container of this was $22 at my LFS and supposedly that treats around 120g but it depends on how much Phosphates you have in your tank im sure.

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

here is a pic of my lawn...

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

hair

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

another hair shot

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

not sure what this is, all i know is it grows FAST!!!!

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

Sorry I havent got the params yet. Will post them tomorrow. However I can say that I only use RO/DI water. I was told by the LFS that snails would most likely just laugh at stuff this long and not eat it.
Thanks,
SHOG

[hcp28]

Have you thought of getting a lawnmower Blennie?

Henry

[Mikeman]

what i would do:


Have the lights on a max of 5 hours a day...Then add a refugium.....next get a phosphate sponge....next after that on some rocks that are completely covered with the stuff and dont have corals, just turn upside down... i would then up waterchanges to 20% every week, until your problem is gone