hair algae probs

[JDVC]

A couple weeks ago, I did a lights off for two days to kill all the cyano in my tank. It worked great! Not a trace of cyano left.. but now--- a horrible hair algae has taken its place.. its like a fuzzy green carpet cover my rocks and sand...

anyway.. i'm trying to determine the cause.. I'm using RO water.. and the membrane and everything is still relatively new. Been doing weekly 10-20% water changes and making sure the skimmer is going full blast. I've been very careful about how much I feed ever since the cyano outbreak, but I'm going to try a diferent flake food because I think the current stuff might be leaching some phosphates? I scrubbed the bad areas with a toothbrush and directed more flow there.. but it grew back.

Could this just just be a temporary outbreak that is grabbing all the nutrients the cyano was consuming before?

Also.. since beating the cyano, I started feeding spirinula (sp?) disks every once and a while... could those be causing the hair algae outbreak?

Other then being ugly, everything else is doing GREAT!

-John

[scotty]

What are you feeding flakes? Should you perhaps upgrade to frozen? Also, have you tried a phosphate sponge yet? And how often are you doing water changes?

[JDVC]

I feed my clowns flakes every other day or say.. i also feed them and the rest of the tank a variety of frozen foods... I have a very nice toadstool leather that I don't want to take the chance of a phosphate sponge-- i had been doing water changes every week because of the cyano outbreak and have continued on that schedule.

[mojoreef]

Hey cowboy, I'm not sure of the age of your tank but if you have cycled, its sounds like its ime to add some herbavores and possible a detrovoire kit. you might want to do a test on your ro water to make sure its phospahte free. The problem stems from nutrients in your tank, and hair algae is very resourceful in using them. being careful with feedings will slow down food waste and the detrovoir kits will put critters in you sand bed to pick up on any left overs, a good mix of snails will pound away on the algae. You might want to concider setting up a simple refrugium (rubbermaid with LS and calurpa) the caurpa will out fight the nussance algae for the available nutrients.

Good luck
MIke

[JDVC]

Probably should have mentioned that stuff in the first post.. the tank is around 7 months old.. at the beginning i did the 9 for 99 deal and have an excellent population of critter running around at night. also have several species of snails.. nassarius are definately my favorite.

I've been thinking about the refrugium-- i'll have to get a little more serious about it i guess.


I guess my real question is.. the rest of my tank is growing and doing great.. is this something that it will eventually overcome? or do I need to take more serious action, like the refrugium?

-John

[mojoreef]

the population of hair algae is a sign of a higher nutrient level in your tank John. With hair algae herbavoires will maintain but will have a hard time bringing down the thick stuff. Keep pulling the hair out by hand and maybe the snails will catch up. But I would think the refuge is the way to go.

good luck
mike