Its time to redo the tank - ITS COMING DOWN!

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I have had it with the hair algae. Tried allot of things and it gets worse and worse.

Current equipment:
58 RR
20G DIY sump with 2 baffles
Euroreef ES5-3
Mag 9 return pump
Blueline 40HD on a closed loop (790 GPH) ~ 600 after head loss
2 Maxijet 1200's
250W HQI PFO 13K bulb
2 95W VHO actinics
Starboard bottom (looks like a lawn)

I guess I will start with new LR.

How much should I get? From where? What type?

Anything else I should change?

Best way to do this while keeping my existing fish and corals.

[redwinger]

Not nesc. By replacing the live rock you are not fixing the problem. More than likely you have a phosphae or nitrate problem which is usually do to to many nutrients. Do you have a phosphate test kit? If phosphates are high that is your problem. Phosphates can be caused by overfeeding/ excess nutrients in the tank. Start pulling the hair algae and then start with water changes to remove the excess nutrients. Are you using rodi water? As much info you can provide is better.

[wharyat]

agreed with redwinger, it's most likely phosphates (limiting ion in most algae) don't replace your LR unless you are completely sure that is the problem; which now it might be if you have been running with high nitrates/phosphates for a long time, the LR can soak these up like a sponge.

To start out get a phosphate kit, and/or nitrogen ion kits. If you already have them post your current levels. Even then all the phosphate could be bound in the algae and your kit will give you a low level.

Scrub all the hair off everthing in your tank, taking out the rock and scrubbing it in a bucket of water would be the best way. Do not do this in your tank or your levels will skyrocket, and you'll have to do a major water change.

Also, you might want to get a LMB or something to keep the algae at bay.

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I've been through allot of things.

PO4 kits do not show any readings. All is locked up in the algae.
Nitrates the same thing.

I run Rowaphos as well through a Phosban reactor.
I also have a RO/DI/DI filter @ 0 TDS.

I have tried:
Yanking the DSB.
Replacing the skimmer.
scrubbing in a bucket
changing the bulbs
weekly water changes
large water changes
tons of snails (almost all have died)
Tried a blenny to watch that die as well.

[Peter]

Hooooooooooold it there cowboy.

When I first read that title I almost passed out...

[Casey]

Rob Im gonna say it again start it all over new rock I hate to see you waste more time and effort when its so easy if you start it out right.Pm me if ya want help.

[wharyat]

If you have tried all that then I would unfortunatly have to say start over would be the way to go, Casey's right fixing it would cost more money, and sanity than starting over.

[Rick O]

I've suggested this to you in the past but I'll suggest one more time. Take all of the fish out and go fishless for a while. Thay're just adding to the problem.

[Skipponator]

Have pics of the hair algea? I've never seen it before.

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Skipponator

Have pics of the hair algea? I've never seen it before.

Hair Algae

[Geoff]

have you cooked your LR?

if money is not a concern, then go with Casey. if money is a concern and time is not, then cook the LR.

G~

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Well I lost all the fish today too.

Time to tear it down and I will chip the corals off of the LR and then consider redoing the tank at all.

[LISound]

Take a look at the history.
What happened to set forth the current event of algae outbreak?
When did it first appear...there HAS to be a cause.
I'm sorry if this is just adding to your frustration but I'm curious.
why are the fish and snails dying?
Are the corals dying off too?

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I have no idea on why things died. The algae was in this tank 90% of the 2.5 years running.

[wharyat]

****, sorry for your losses; something didn't start right, bad batch of LR to begin with?