Major Hair Algea problem, what to do

Dixit · 08-03-2005, 12:16 AM

Well tried a few things the LFS says but still got the problem. Ive even cut the lights off for 4days to see if it even dies down a bit, not anything I can notice.

It all started after I had the redslime problem, I read on here that just put some more powerheads and aim it at the live rock, that deters redslime. Now the redslime is gone and the powerheads helped, but created one major problem, hairalgea everywhere. I mean prodominant in the areas that the powerhead it blowing at the live rock. Heres a picture
http://www.dixitandpurvi.com/private.../hairalgea.jpg
Id say its about 1/2" in length, maybe a bit longer. I have a about 30 turbo snails and 1 emerald hermit crap in there, but they arnt doing their jobs.

Is there anything I can put in the tank to kill it off? Ive cranked the crap out of the protein skimmer for weeks, I only use RO water (have my own system at home) Lights are less than 6months. I have all kinds of filter media, mainly like to mention Im running a phosphate sponge as well. Still that algea is growing.

I REALLY dont want to remove the live rock, I have over 150lbs of it and cant afford to remove it all. Not to mention I had a frag of starpolips and it grew from the quarter size I had to about a 5 x 6" patch. Id have to scrap that off to scrub the live rock.

There has to be a way to kill this algea without removing the live rock. Im almost ready to call it quits on the tank and just sell the whole outfit locally. Its a 75gallon tank. Ive just had no fun with this tank.

Dixit

wharyat · 08-03-2005, 12:28 AM

Well, we need some information on your system;

What kind of skimmer, overall husbandry (wc schedule, cleaning habits), feeding habits, inhabitants, filtration methods? Also RO(/DI?) TDS readings.

Hair algae is indicitive of high nitrate and phosphate levels. What are your levels? Take your phosphate reading right before the lights are on for the day for a more accurate picture. Also a report of your ammonia and nitrite levels would be helpful.

I really don't like the recommendation of higher flow to get rid of cyanobacteria; the root cause needs to be treated; unfortunately you are having a typical side effect of the "more flow" method.

Don't part out your tank yet, we'll do our best to help you turn it around.

Dixit · 08-03-2005, 12:35 AM

75gal tank (wrote that on my last post last line), Skimmer have a RedSea Prism hang on, W/C I do it ever week about 10gallons. I only use RO/DI water which I have a system at home. Feeding habit, I used to do about everyday about 1x1" of mysis shrimp. I cut that down to about once every 2-3days, cleaning habits, not much besides keep the tank glass clean. My filter is a Rena XP3, got cermaic ring in there, reef carbon, phosphate sponge, nitrate sponge.

I checked the levels of nitrate, nitrites, ph, amonia, and they were all in the 0s. Dont have a phosphate testor.

Dixit

tdwyatt · 08-03-2005, 12:36 AM

How old is the tank? Do you have fishes? if so how big and how many? What do you feed them, and how much rock is in the tank?

There are a ton of questions I need to ask, but this is a start. The green algae is part of the normal maturation process of a tank, and really represents some of the final stages of maturation in a closed system. HOW YOU HANDLE THE ALGAE AND THE GENERAL HUSBANDRY OF THE TANK WILL AFFECT THE DURATION AND INTENSITY OF THE ALGAL BLOOM.

All algae are the result of available nutrients (nitrate and phosphate), good lighting, adequate (or inadequate) circulation, and available CO2. These blooms may be aggravated by trace element additions, lack of herbivory, accumulation of nutrients due to inadequate nutrient export, and accumulation of detrital materials associated with inadequate circulation and poor husbandry. Even in tanks with low nitrate accumulations from detritus, the bloom of cyanobacteria may allow for the accumulation of nitrates as some spp. of cyanobacteria have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen as nitrates, allowing for a nitrate acumulation if the biomass of the cyano has not been removed via siphoning during that cyano bloom.

Much to consider, don't get frustrated, working this through will give you a great deal of satisfaction and a broad diversity of organisms once you gain control of the circumstances.

HTH

drsyme · 08-03-2005, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

Even in tanks with low nitrate accumulations from detritus, the bloom of cyanobacteria may allow for the accumulation of nitrates as some spp. of cyanobacteria have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen as nitrates, allowing for a nitrate acumulation if the biomass of the cyano has not been removed via siphoning during that cyano bloom.

Sheesh!

Thanks a lot Tom.

Now I have one more thing to worry about!

tdwyatt · 08-03-2005, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drsyme

Sheesh!

Thanks a lot Tom.

Now I have one more thing to worry about!

Actually, this is a good thing if you siphon the cyano out of the tank, as the trapped nutrients in the tank may be nitrogen nitrate from the atmosphere, but the phosphate is definitely captured from the aquatic environment, so this means that as you export the algal biomass, you are removing phosphates from the tank, a definite plus! Nitrates can be converted to nitrogen gas by denitrification processes in the system, phosphate cannot.

btw, how was your birthday??? I havent seen pix of that kid yet, either...

wharyat · 08-03-2005, 01:04 AM

Great, it can manufacture it's own food...

That sounds like an awful lot of food "1x1 inch," what are you feeding (inhabs)?

The prizm is inaqdequate for your bio load (I assume in regards to food added). I have a fine line keeping 1 fish in a 20 gallon with the prizm. Your skimmer is most likely your weak link. Every wc you should try to remove all the detritus you can by siphoning it out.

Dixit · 08-03-2005, 01:15 AM

I have 5 fish in the tank, 1 LT Anemone, 1 fire shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, about 30 turbo snails, 1 emerald hermit crab. Tank is over 1yr old now.

Never really had a problem with the Prism, it cranks and pulls out a good chunk of stuff if I turn it up all the way, normally I leave it about 75%.

I feed them about a 1x1" of frozen mysis shrimp about once every 2days.

Dixit

Superman · 08-03-2005, 01:52 AM

10 gallon water changes per week aren't really going to help out your cause much, I would increase it to at least 30 gallon water changes to really make an impact. But do remember this, when doing larger water changes, tank water parameters like ph, temp, and salinity need to be matched by your water change water.

tims · 08-03-2005, 07:09 AM

pick up about 6 mexican turbo snails. they love to eat that algae you have. they are much larger then the noraml turbos you find in most shops. they will clean out the green stuff in maybe a week. Looks like you have some nice Coraline growing!

Hang in there...your tank is growing.. getting stronger..

drsyme · 08-03-2005, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

btw, how was your birthday??? I havent seen pix of that kid yet, either...

Well Tom I didnt get your present yet. You were going to send me a D70 body werent you? I can use the lenses from my wife's camera, I just need the body.

hehe

Anyway, none of them have been developed yet, I am hoping to get some digital prints when we do.

Loverotties · 08-03-2005, 07:49 AM

I'd take out the ceramic rings(only add nitrates),Do your big water changes and maybe buy a tang to help graze on the rock since you don't want to scrub some off the rock.Good luck hang in there!

Dixit · 08-03-2005, 09:58 AM

Mexican turbo snails, ok. Ive got 2clowns, a domino damsel, hippo tang, and yellow tang. I dont really see the tangs chewing at it yet.

30gallon change? Thats going to be difficult to do, as my RO system cant supply that much water in one hit, I can get about 4gallons out at a time.

Thats gonna be a big water change, going to be tough to get that done.

Dixit

pnkpanther · 08-03-2005, 10:19 AM

just start preparing water right away.

or get a bigger ro/di unit

but 10 gallons wont cut it on a 75.

especially if you're having problems

reef_noob · 08-03-2005, 10:26 AM

I can get about 4gallons out at a time.

4 gallons in what amt of time? It usually takes me most of an evening to get enough for my 20gal changes, and then I mix the salt and let it sit until the next day. If you take the ceramic rings out, which I agree with, be sure to do it slowly to allow the bacteria to catch up. Also, I think that 1X1" of shrimp is an enormous amount even when it's every 2 or 3 days, you may want to consider reducing feeding and, as others have said, consider a better skimmer.