Brown Hair Algae?

schigara · 06-06-2005, 02:39 PM

I have a problem with this hair algae that is growing on all surfaces and especially on the base rock where there is high current. I thought the stuff would grow were there was a lack of current.

The tank is 3 months old and the water parameters are great.

Ammonia-0
Nitrites-0
Nitrates-0
Ca-400
Alk-3.3
Kh- 9.3
Salifert test kits
No Phosphate test yet

I use RO/DI water and Instant Ocean salt and have the salinity at 1.025

I have 2 dozen Nassarius and 4 dozen Astrea snails, 2 Peppermint shrimp and 2 Emerald crabs.

The 2 tangs are eating the algae as well as the snails but they can't keep up with the growth.

I'm hoping this is just a new tank thing. Any ideas or suggestions?
__________________
75G SW
55g sump w/refugium
500W MH lighting
50lb live rock
60lb lace rock
1- Yellow Tang
1- Kole Tang
1- Singapore Angel
2- Ocellaris Clowns
1- Pink Spot Watchman Goby
1- Dragon Goby

schigara · 06-06-2005, 02:40 PM

I guess it isn't to the point of being really bad yet but I would like to not let it get out of control. I have been manually removing it and doing 10% water changes every week. Oh, I am dosing 2 caps a day of Kent Tech cb to maintain Calcium and Alk levels. No other additives and am feeding sinking pellets to the clowns once a day.

BlennyMan1 · 06-06-2005, 02:57 PM

what type of tests are you using? and do you run any carbon or adsorbent in your sump? and do yuo have a skimmer or are you thinking of getting one? i had this problem too when i first set up my tank if you have only fish you could cut down the lighting cycle as well until the hair algae stage is over.

BlennyMan1 · 06-06-2005, 02:59 PM

sorry didnt see you poted the type tests you use

schigara · 06-06-2005, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlennyMan1

what type of tests are you using? and do you run any carbon or adsorbent in your sump? and do yuo have a skimmer or are you thinking of getting one? i had this problem too when i first set up my tank if you have only fish you could cut down the lighting cycle as well until the hair algae stage is over.

I do have a skimmer which is AVHS Agressor 250 and it pulls out litterally 2 cups of thick, dark brown liquid goo per day and smells like a sewer.

How would I go about using carbon?

I am running the 2 Iwasaki 250W MH 6500K's at 11 hours on and the PC flood light over the fuge 18 hours on.

Loverotties · 06-06-2005, 03:13 PM

You have a lot of fish for such a short time.Do you have any filters?

schigara · 06-06-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

You have a lot of fish for such a short time.Do you have any filters?

The skimmer, live rock and macro algae in the fuge but no mechanical filtration.

VWD · 06-06-2005, 07:46 PM

well that is being fed by something to have that kind of green algae growing, How much do You feed the fish, You are getting alot out of the water with the skimmer. It takes something to feed that algae,

tims · 06-06-2005, 09:21 PM

tons some Carbon into a filter sock adn into the sump.
stop feeding the tangs/clowns everyday. that most likly is the source.
you can add a few mexican turbos. they will make quick work of the hair!

VWD · 06-06-2005, 09:27 PM

I looked over this several time for the feeding of the tank and never saw how much You where feeding, Don't have to fed that often.like Tim said.

schigara · 06-06-2005, 10:15 PM

I have been feeding the clowns about 3 pellets each of Kent Platinum small sinking pellets a day. I drop them right on top of the clowns and the tangs don't get to them.

Should I feed the Clowns every other day or wait longer?

I went out and got some Seachem matrix carbon and put it in a media cartridge from an old Emperor 400 and placed it against the teeth of the refugium so that it gets good flow through it as the water exits the fuge.

I also got some Phos X and placed it in the bubble wall in the sump.