Please help

[Cw1985]

Okay so can anyone help me with getting rid of the hair algae? It just keeps growing I've tried numerous things and I can't pinpoint the problem. Any advice??? Thanks.

 

[cee]

Can you tell us where your live rock came from? Often, older LR has phosphate bound up in the pores of the rock which can take quite some time to extract. It likely won't show up as high phosphate readings in the water as the algae is absorbing it from the rock. If you don't want to "cook" the rock, you have to find herbivores that will eat it until it depletes all the phosphate. Also, you need to minimize your addition of phosphate to the tank. There are chemicals you can add to the water to deplete the phosphorus faster assuming that is your problem (and I suspect it is). That's about all I can speculate about without much more additional information.

 

[Cw1985]

I got some from coral reef and some from a friend that I got the tank from. All my levels are almost perfect when I check them. I do water changes I have somewhat of a cleanup crew. I'm new to the saltwater stuff I've had it for about 6 months or so. I was told to cut down on using my radions. They are on a cycle and I'm not sure how to change it. I bought those also from the same guy I got the tank from. What chemical is it that will help?

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Not too be rude, but people tend to ask all these qustions about your set up and then never answer what the problem is. maybe not the case with Cee but i caught onto it (;

 

[Cw1985]

Okay lol do you know what the problem is then? I hope someone wouldn't bother asking if they weren't going to help.

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

lol i no i sounds crazy but theyll make you list 1,000 things and youlol never hear from them lol. First, reason you have algea is excess nutrients. Remove these by adding protein skimmer! Also cut back light time. And cut back feeding.

 

[Cw1985]

I have a protein skimmer. And I've cut back on feeding and starting today cutting back on light. Hopefully it helps.

 

[Cw1985]

I have an ATB skimmer

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Ok if you just started skimming less feeding and less light. Then give it some time it wont dissapear over night.

 

[Cw1985]

Yeah I know that but I've been trying everything for weeks. Snails have helped a lot and when k do water changes I suction it off the rocks.

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Also manaully remove it! And dip rocks in mixe of hydrogen peroxide and water

 

[Cw1985]

Won't that hurt it?

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

No the rock wont be harmed, only algea.Remove the rock and drench the algae with 3% hydrogen peroxide outside of water. let the rock sit out of water for 5 minutes making sure the algae stays wet with hydrogen peroxide...add more if needed. Do not do any scrubbing, just make sure the algae is saturated with hydrogen peroxide. After 5 minutes, dip once real quick in rodi, and place back in the tank right away. You should see the algae releasing tons of bubbles. Just leave it alone now and in about 3 days the algae will be 80-100% gone. If there is any leftover, repeat this and it should be taken care of. Dont let the hydrogen peroxide hit corals though, it can stress them.

 

[Cw1985]

Dip once in what? Rodi? What about my fish?

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

What do you mean what about my fish? Don't add the peroxide too tank!! separate bucket. rodi or tapwater from your tank.

 

[Cw1985]

When I put the rock back in the tank. Won't there be peroxide in the rock still? And what is rodi

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Rodi water is very clean water. that could be the prob with the algea as well. test your tap water your using and make sure its nitrate free and phosphate like my tap.and you would wanna rinse off with tank water before adding back in the tank.BRS 4 Stage Value RO/DI System - 75GPD - Bulk Reef Supply

 

[Cw1985]

I have the brs dual carbon and gfi reactor

 

[k2parkstar]

Not too be rude, but people tend to ask all these qustions about your set up and then never answer what the problem is. maybe not the case with Cee but i caught onto it (;

No one asked for parameters. I would increase cleanup crew. Test the TDS (total dissolved solids) of your water change water. Increase water changes with 0 TDS water.

 

[Cw1985]

I have increased cleanup crew then increased again. This string hair algae is just a mess. How do I test the tds? Like I said before I've only been doing this for about 6 months or so.