Yet Another Hair Algae Thread

[scootman]

This is actually the kind of feedback I had hoped for.

Easy Stuff:
1. Removing the bio-balls
2. Remove the sponge
3. Increase water flow

What do you suggest for a skimmer? Is my current skimmer inadequate? The only thing I'm having a hard time swallowing is removing the sand bed. It's an aweful job..plus I really like the look. I know, I know there are sacrifices to be made, but I'll have to stew in this one for a while.

Please advise on the skimmer..

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by scootman

This is actually the kind of feedback I had hoped for.

Easy Stuff:
1. Removing the bio-balls
2. Remove the sponge
3. Increase water flow

What do you suggest for a skimmer? Is my current skimmer inadequate? The only thing I'm having a hard time swallowing is removing the sand bed. It's an aweful job..plus I really like the look. I know, I know there are sacrifices to be made, but I'll have to stew in this one for a while.

Please advise on the skimmer..

I have no experience with that skimmer but from what I understand, HOT skimmers are generally not as good as one you stick in the sump.

regarding your bio-balls and sand, remove the balls slowly if they've been in the system for a while. Otherwise, you'll send your tank into a cycle. If you decide to remove that sand, I'd suggest the same thing: slow. If you like the looks, then keep it at 2" deep and just make a point to siphon it out every water change. Python makes a great siphon that lets you hit the sand without sucking it out. Only the lighter detritus and algea will be pulled out.

But, the key to EVERYTHING is patience..eventually things will work to your advantage

[DarthOcellaris]

oh, regarding that sponge...I say keep it in the sump so it breeds and houses bacteria. Using it as a filter just creates a trap that will raise your nitrates eventually if left unattended. By using it as a bacterial nest, you can have a ready-to-go means of bio-filtration for a QT tank when you need it

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

oh, regarding that sponge...I say keep it in the sump so it breeds and houses bacteria. Using it as a filter just creates a trap that will raise your nitrates eventually if left unattended. By using it as a bacterial nest, you can have a ready-to-go means of bio-filtration for a QT tank when you need it

it doesnt work this way unfortunately

you cant have it in your sump, keep it clean and house enough bacteria to make it worthwhile to just quickly move to your qt tank all at the same time.


if you want beneficial bacteria in your qt tank, then put the sponge in your qt tank, not your display. one of those POS HOB filters with the beneficial bacteria sponges are great for QT tanks that dont have sumps IMO.

[scootman]

Darth,
I'm glad you mentioned the tank's recycling if I remove the bio-balls. I was wondering how that would go. I really don't want to go through cycling again and I especially don't want to risk the livestock, so how exactly would I go about removing the bio-balls and what replaces their bacterial function? As I understand things, they are the host to beneficial bacteria which is keeping the tank in balance. If I remove them, wouldn't I ruin the "established" nature of the filtration system?

My current skimmer is in the sump, so I still don't know if my skimmer is inadequate or not. how exactly would I know? If I need a new one, then so be it....I just don't want to throw money away needlessly. I'm already well over $3,000 (and counting) into this hobby.

[scootman]

any advice on the skimmer and removing the bio balls without kicking off another cycling process????

I've removed the sponge and have more powerheads on the way....

[DarthOcellaris]

remove the balls very slowly...like maybe 10% of them a week.

Regarding the skimmer, is it producing any skimmate now? I prefer to skim 'wet'. That means the collection cup will have a light tea-colored liquid when it's skimming.

[Mike01z]

There are alot of ways you can go about this and win.


like they said things you have to do,

remove sponge and remove bioballs, each week take out like 1/4th of the balls to avoid a cycle.

do weekly water changes.


As far as skimmer look into Euro-reef, Bubble Master, Deltec, just do a search and you will find a bunch of stuff.

The natural way to get rid of it is to cook the rocks but to do this obviously you have to remove them, search on cooking rock if you want more on this.

But before you cook them you will need other diff rocks so if you can hold out a few weeks you could buy more rocks from the store cook those in a sep bin and when ready put them in main tank and take others out.


Also replace the crushed coral substrate with a sandbed or at least new crushed coral.

*********

After you do all of the above if you want to make sure algae doesn't come back add a phosphate reactor

alot of people disagree with the phosphate reactor as it can harm corals etc but it will get rid of the algae, from this angle I am speaking from personal experience.

So what I'd do if I was you is first get rid of bio balls and sponge and during the period try to keep hair algae under control via scrubbing.

2nd. Up the water change regiment and when you scrub rocks try to do it not in the tank cause you don't want those algae cells floating around in the tank.


If this doesn't work go to the more drastic measures like substrate replacement/rock cooking and finally if all else fails get a phosphate reactor and up the cleaning crew.

[scootman]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

remove the balls very slowly...like maybe 10% of them a week.

Regarding the skimmer, is it producing any skimmate now? I prefer to skim 'wet'. That means the collection cup will have a light tea-colored liquid when it's skimming.

Yeah, I get skimmate. It's not a lot, but it's enough for me to empty the cup every few days. It's a dark, thick sludge, but I've been toying with the adjustments and I'm getting a thinner liquid which is much lighter in color...I guess "tea colored" would be accurate. I wouldn't exactly define this skimmer as a powerful device, but it is collecting some skimmate.

Thanks again for all the feeback.