Age old hair algae problem but nothing working.

[tableforglasses]

I have had a hair algae issue for months. I feel like I am gonna get it under control and then it keeps coming back. I have read countless forums and watched so many videos. I have 0 phosphates like literally 0. I have the hannah phosphate checker and I test it every couple days. My nitrates are 0. I have tried NOPOX, Phosphate E, Vibrant. I replaced all my bulbs, I replaced my RODI filters, I replaced my bulb on my UV Sterilizer. I run carbon/gfo reactor. I have a refugium that I run on an offset light schedule on. I have added snails and scarlett crabs. and I cannot find anything that seems to take care of it. I don't believe I overfeed. I have a Neptune AFS that feeds small pellets in a small portion twice a day and I feed frozen brine or something similar once a day as well as a sheet of seaweed.
I have 2 14k 400 watt Halides, 1 20K 400 watt halide, and 4 t5's on the main tank. On the refugium I run the kessil h380. I run the 14k's from 12pm-8pm. I run the 20K and t5's from 11:00am-8:30pm. The Kessil runs from 8pm-11:00am. I have a 300 gallon mixed reef with 80 gallon sump/refugium.
I thought about doing a 2-3 day black out but wasn't sure if that was best. I would love to know if anyone else has any other thoughts.

 

[Spare time]

Have you tried fluconizole?

 

[Johniejumbo]

Got any urchins?

 

[Silent]

Rip it out. Manual removal works great but you have to stay on top of it.

 

[Sdot]

I have had a hair algae issue for months. I feel like I am gonna get it under control and then it keeps coming back. I have read countless forums and watched so many videos. I have 0 phosphates like literally 0. I have the hannah phosphate checker and I test it every couple days. My nitrates are 0. I have tried NOPOX, Phosphate E, Vibrant. I replaced all my bulbs, I replaced my RODI filters, I replaced my bulb on my UV Sterilizer. I run carbon/gfo reactor. I have a refugium that I run on an offset light schedule on. I have added snails and scarlett crabs. and I cannot find anything that seems to take care of it. I don't believe I overfeed. I have a Neptune AFS that feeds small pellets in a small portion twice a day and I feed frozen brine or something similar once a day as well as a sheet of seaweed.
I have 2 14k 400 watt Halides, 1 20K 400 watt halide, and 4 t5's on the main tank. On the refugium I run the kessil h380. I run the 14k's from 12pm-8pm. I run the 20K and t5's from 11:00am-8:30pm. The Kessil runs from 8pm-11:00am. I have a 300 gallon mixed reef with 80 gallon sump/refugium.
I thought about doing a 2-3 day black out but wasn't sure if that was best. I would love to know if anyone else has any other thoughts.

I understand your frustration! I had a similar issue.... The algae is using the available nutrients which is why your tests are coming up with zeros. You can do what i did... pull as much of it out of your aquarium and get a sea hare.... They are literal beast and they mow down hair algae like nothing else i've seen. They only problem is they tend to work really well and will starve if you dont supplement them with more algae.

Before

After

 

[Glott3133]

My tangs do a pretty good job at keeping it clean, but I have gone in with tweezers to do some manual cleaning too.

 

[tableforglasses]

I haven't tried fluconizole. I also do not have any urchins, I have an algae blennie and tomini tang that both love to munch on it and I should have put it in the original post but I am constantly pulling big chunks out by hand and it can be time consuming but I know that is one of the best ways but I watch videos when they get the phosphates to 0 and it pulls right off and leaves no trace but when I pull mine off it never pulls cleanly and always leaves a trace.

 

[Silent]

I understand your frustration! I had a similar issue.... The algae is using the available nutrients which is why your tests are coming up with zeros. You can do what i did... pull as much of it out of your aquarium and get a sea hare.... They are literal beast and they mow down hair algae like nothing else i've seen. They only problem is they tend to work really well and will starve if you dont supplement them with more algae.

Before

After

Looks like same pic at different angles lol. Hard to see any algae in the pics.

 

[Sdot]

Looks like same pic at different angles lol. Hard to see any algae in the pics.

I didnt get in close and unfortunately i dont have algae problems to take updated pix. but if you look at the anemone rock on the right hand side you will see a layer of green algae on top that isnt present on the bottom photo... also the back walls of the aquarium has it on the 1st photo not present on the second.

 

[720 Reefer]

I haven't tried fluconizole. I also do not have any urchins, I have an algae blennie and tomini tang that both love to munch on it and I should have put it in the original post but I am constantly pulling big chunks out by hand and it can be time consuming but I know that is one of the best ways but I watch videos when they get the phosphates to 0 and it pulls right off and leaves no trace but when I pull mine off it never pulls cleanly and always leaves a trace.

I would give fluconazole a try. You are most likely getting false phosphate readings due to the GHA using it up. I had a similar issue and and the fluco worked wonders. It doesn't happen over night, but withing a couple weeks. Continue with as much manual removal as possible as well and it should be gone in no time. This is just a band-aide though, so obviously keep your nutrients in check once it's gone. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. You will also want to take the macro algae out of your refugium during this process as it will most likely choke that out as well. Turbo snails and urchins help also. Might try cutting back the feeding a little more as well. I feed once a day. Mix it up between flakes, pellets, frozen and then add nori every couple days.

 

[720 Reefer]

This is the one i used:

 

[piranhaman00]

"Nothing is working" but you havent tried the (arguably) most effective method. Fluconazole will clear it up for you in two weeks. Pull out as much you can while treatment is going.

 

[tableforglasses]

Besides the potential side affects to the macro algae any worries with corals or invertebrates with the fluconazole?

 

[720 Reefer]

Besides the potential side affects to the macro algae any worries with corals or invertebrates with the fluconazole?

Nope. I have a wide variety of coral (softies, LPS, SPS), crabs, snails, urchin, variety of fish. It is reef safe as long as you follow the dosing instructions. Be sure to take your skimmer offline too for I believe 72 hours.