Losing battle

queenangel · 01-27-2002, 12:29 PM

It's been a long time since I have visited this board.Part of the reason being that I haven't had any problems with my tank.Now I have terrible hair algea problem!My tank is 2 years old.I moved it from Washington to Idaho about 1 year ago.The problem started about 6 months ago.It started with the cyanobacteria and then the hair algea.I have added another filter system, tried poly filters and some huge bulldozing pencil erchins.I used to use tap water for water changes until I moved to Idaho, now I use ro/di and have for the last year.I really need some advice here please.There aren't any real knowledgable people in Northern Idaho. TIA

naser · 01-27-2002, 02:43 PM

get rid of all those poly filters.. anything that suspends ditritus.. i have no filter on my 125 exept for my skimmer and live rock... i used to use a poly filter and i had the same problem.. i even cleaned it twice a week and still had red and hair alge. removed them and poof it all died.

***Reefland*** · 01-27-2002, 03:46 PM

Well, it's obviously a case of excess nutrients. You have to find the source and eliminate it. As mentioned, it could be the poly filters or other mechanical filtration if you have it.

While you try to locate the source, water changes and manual removal of the hair algae is the best thing to do.

If you give us some details on your system, including some of the "new" filters you added we may be able to help more.

Good luck,
Scott Z.

organicreefer · 01-27-2002, 09:25 PM

you dont mention youre clean up crew-other than the urchins -perhaps its time to beef it up ,they do die off over time for a variety of reasons.

what size tank ?
filtration/skimmer etc etc ...detials!
fish load?

need more info ,but i think you need some crabs and a tang to take care of it for you

queenangel · 01-29-2002, 11:24 AM

It's an 80 gallon tank.I have an Emporer 400 HOB filter, a venturi style protein skimmer, 2 penguin powerheads for circ. and I just got another HOB tetratec filter.I know this isn't the ideal set-up but money is a huge factor.I was so frustrated with this whole thing that I was going to sell it all dirt cheap, but I just can't give up yet.

organicreefer · 02-06-2002, 03:03 PM

you need crabs and a tang(i reccomend a yellow) to eat the hair algea..snails to finish off the rest.you have two choices with the hang on filters...either remove the mechanicle filtration completely,or replace it every three days (not really viable,remove it)
hey as far as "no knowledgable reefers in northern idaho,why dont you start a thread over in the reefs section,calling idaho reefers there must be more than a few around ,good luck.

01-27-2002, 12:29 PM	#1
queenangel Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Coeur d' Alene,Idaho Posts: 212	Losing battle It's been a long time since I have visited this board.Part of the reason being that I haven't had any problems with my tank.Now I have terrible hair algea problem!My tank is 2 years old.I moved it from Washington to Idaho about 1 year ago.The problem started about 6 months ago.It started with the cyanobacteria and then the hair algea.I have added another filter system, tried poly filters and some huge bulldozing pencil erchins.I used to use tap water for water changes until I moved to Idaho, now I use ro/di and have for the last year.I really need some advice here please.There aren't any real knowledgable people in Northern Idaho. TIA

01-27-2002, 03:46 PM	#3
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,009	Hi queenangel! Well, it's obviously a case of excess nutrients. You have to find the source and eliminate it. As mentioned, it could be the poly filters or other mechanical filtration if you have it. While you try to locate the source, water changes and manual removal of the hair algae is the best thing to do. If you give us some details on your system, including some of the "new" filters you added we may be able to help more. Good luck, Scott Z.

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01-27-2002, 02:43 PM	#2
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	get rid of all those poly filters.. anything that suspends ditritus.. i have no filter on my 125 exept for my skimmer and live rock... i used to use a poly filter and i had the same problem.. i even cleaned it twice a week and still had red and hair alge. removed them and poof it all died.

01-27-2002, 09:25 PM	#4
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	you dont mention youre clean up crew-other than the urchins -perhaps its time to beef it up ,they do die off over time for a variety of reasons. what size tank ? filtration/skimmer etc etc ...detials! fish load? need more info ,but i think you need some crabs and a tang to take care of it for you

01-29-2002, 11:24 AM	#5
queenangel Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Coeur d' Alene,Idaho Posts: 212	It's an 80 gallon tank.I have an Emporer 400 HOB filter, a venturi style protein skimmer, 2 penguin powerheads for circ. and I just got another HOB tetratec filter.I know this isn't the ideal set-up but money is a huge factor.I was so frustrated with this whole thing that I was going to sell it all dirt cheap, but I just can't give up yet.

02-06-2002, 03:03 PM	#6
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	you need crabs and a tang(i reccomend a yellow) to eat the hair algea..snails to finish off the rest.you have two choices with the hang on filters...either remove the mechanicle filtration completely,or replace it every three days (not really viable,remove it) hey as far as "no knowledgable reefers in northern idaho,why dont you start a thread over in the reefs section,calling idaho reefers there must be more than a few around ,good luck.

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