Algae

[reeferkeeper420]

Looking to get some advice on wht to do and if this is hair algae. Its been happening even since my tank switch but wont go away. Im currently raising my mag to 1700 to battle bryopsis. I had to turn off my gfo and biopellets a cpl weeks back because both n03 and p04 were at 0 and my zoos didnt seem to like it. but had to turn the gfo back on when i tested my p04 and found it at 0.08. I tested my n03 today and its only .2ppm. So how can i rid my tank of this algae?? My yellow tang and yellow blotched rabbitfish dont seem to touch it. Starting to become annoying.

 

[Marz]

I am struggling with this as well. I manually pull as much as I can during WC's, added some turbo snails, but i don't seem to be winning...maybe breaking even
My next step isn't am going to build an algae scrubber. It may take longer, but I think it could be my long term solution.

Sorry not much help, just what I am doing.

 

[EricTMah]

Have you guys tried a lights out period?

I would do a small water change and remove as much as you can. Take rocks out when you can and scrub it in the waste water being pulled from the tank. Then do a three days lights out period and after that. Remove as much as you I u can again.

Probably won't get rid of it all. But will allow you to get ahead of the algae and get it under control

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reef keeper]

pO4 is low because that stuff is sucking it up. You will need to manually remove it and also run gfo. It's phosphates that are causing the problem. They are leaching out of the rocks since the tank switch.

If you can't get on top of it you can also cook a few of the rocks at a time

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Have you guys tried a lights out period?

I would do a small water change and remove as much as you can. Take rocks out when you can and scrub it in the waste water being pulled from the tank. Then do a three days lights out period and after that. Remove as much as you I u can again.

Probably won't get rid of it all. But will allow you to get ahead of the algae and get it under control

Sony Xperia Z3

No i havent tried a lights out period yet. Ive just been trying to manually remove it whenever im in the in tank, but its back just as quick. Theres really only one rock that is removable to scrub the rest would be a real PITA.

pO4 is low because that stuff is sucking it up. You will need to manually remove it and also run gfo. It's phosphates that are causing the problem. They are leaching out of the rocks since the tank switch.

If you can't get on top of it you can also cook a few of the rocks at a time

My p04 is 0 because i put fresh gfo online. When i took it off it ddint take long for my p04 to creep up to 0.08. Then a week after putting fresh gfo in its back down to 0. I was orginally running gfo and biopellets but turned both off because both N03 and p04 was 0. N03 is the only one that didnt really come up that much.

 

[EricTMah]

No i havent tried a lights out period yet. Ive just been trying to manually remove it whenever im in the in tank, but its back just as quick. Theres really only one rock that is removable to scrub the rest would be a real PITA.


My p04 is 0 because i put fresh gfo online. When i took it off it ddint take long for my p04 to creep up to 0.08. Then a week after putting fresh gfo in its back down to 0. I was orginally running gfo and biopellets but turned both off because both N03 and p04 was 0. N03 is the only one that didnt really come up that much.

Try the lights out Riley. I fixed a friend's tank that was over run with bryopsis and hair algae with the same method I described to you.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[Kman]

Lights out works quite well. But you do have to take out the rocks like Eric said.

 

[heath]

I had the same issue with the new tank, I did big water changes (40 gals a week), lights out (not for 3 days tho) started using socks, added a cuc, and I have using the vodka treatment and it finally getting under control..and getting better, I can actually see the colour of the rocks...I don't run a gfo, don't have one..but, I am going to be continuing with the vodka..We narrowed down that mine was coming from my old rock, before I started using ro water..its a hard balance between the things that we have in the tank..
I also plan on using vodka on the new tank..

 

[Marz]

For my frags that weren't acros, I did a peroxide dip as well and that seemed to work. (I noticed the zoa frag). I haven't done my zoa's yet, so not sure if that will work - will know this weekend.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

I had the same issue with the new tank, I did big water changes (40 gals a week), lights out (not for 3 days tho) started using socks, added a cuc, and I have using the vodka treatment and it finally getting under control..and getting better, I can actually see the colour of the rocks...I don't run a gfo, don't have one..but, I am going to be continuing with the vodka..We narrowed down that mine was coming from my old rock, before I started using ro water..its a hard balance between the things that we have in the tank..
I also plan on using vodka on the new tank..

Ive seen lots of diff side effects come from vodka dosing, so be carefull.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Try the lights out Riley. I fixed a friend's tank that was over run with bryopsis and hair algae with the same method I described to you.

Sony Xperia Z3

3 days lights out will be ok with a tank full of acros? And wht do you do about feeding the fish?

 

[EricTMah]

I don't feed at all and three days should be fine for your sticks.
Tape garbage bags to the tank. When I say lights out. I mean ZERO light for the three days.
If you're concerned about the corals. Have a peak at them at day two. But you should be just fine with three days no lights or feedings.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[EricTMah]

Just remember to remove AS MUCH algae before AND after the lights out. Removing rocks to scrub them in buckets of water from your tank works the best.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Im going to withdraw not being able to look at my tank for 3 days lol . Ok the rock scrubbing isnt really possible without reaquascaping the whole tank. Which id prefer to avoid..

 

[EricTMah]

Im going to withdraw not being able to look at my tank for 3 days lol . Ok the rock scrubbing isnt really possible without reaquascaping the whole tank. Which id prefer to avoid..

You can try without removing rocks. I've just had much better luck eradicating the algae by removing to scrub. Just all depends how good you are at removing as much algae as you can before and after the lights out.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Ok, what a good.thing to use to scrub with, ill be doing it in the tank.

 

[heath]

I have used a small babies tooth brush.. its has soft bristles and if I remove rock just an ordinary scrub brush.. I would think just be gentle..

 

[EricTMah]

I use a dish scrub brush from the dollar store. In and out of the tank.
If you're scrubbing in tank. You m I'll get want to run carbon from when you start the scrubbing till a day after the scrubbing after the lights out. This will help catch anything released by the algae itself

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[pulpfiction1]

a couple of years back i has this same problem,i used ultra algae-x from sealife
work fabulus and in conjunction with the lights out and no feeding for 3 days
should see a big turnaround,now the root cause still will need to be addressed
or it will return in no time,get rid of the nutrients,sure the zoas might not grow
as quick but a healthy tank out weighs the speed of any growth.
zoas will adjust to cleaner water

 

[heath]

We figured out the cause for my algae issues, I am using the rock from my 90 gal and at the time I was not using ro water (tap water and no prime)so the rock was/is full of phosphates and now it is leaching out so, I anticipate that I am going to have an phosphate/algae issue for a bit..my other readings are great.. now just a labour of love until its gone. I am going to continue with good husbandry, large water changes and the vodka, from the beginning to now is night and day. ..could that maybe something like what is happening to you.. used rock,substrate,etc????