Algae issues using Red Sea AB+ / Vinegar dosing question

[ReeferMadniss]

I recently decided to start dosing amino acids/carbs for my corals to see if it will help with growth, etc....so I went with Red Sea AB+

In the short time I’ve been using it...I have noticed a dramatic difference in my SPS frags regarding PE and visible growth. So I’m very happy with that...I’m dosing half the recommended amount

However, I also started getting hair algae on my glass very shortly after I began using the AB+. My tank is 7 years old and has never had GHA...

I run Kalkwasser in my ATO, Rowaphos/Carbon in a dual reactor, and a small amount of Chaeto/Ulva in my sump for light nitrate control. My tank is very lightly stocked with fish (70g display - 2 small Tomato Clowns and a baby Spotted Mandarin).

My question is...should I consider carbon dosing vinegar in my ATO with the kalkwasser to head off this GHA? I’ve personally never done it before so I don’t know what to expect. It is really staying on the overflow and back glass away from the rock work....and I really want to get it under control before it becomes a bigger issue.

should I also consider cutting back the AB+ dosing to just every other day?

 

[Dan_P]

I recently decided to start dosing amino acids/carbs for my corals to see if it will help with growth, etc....so I went with Red Sea AB+

In the short time I’ve been using it...I have noticed a dramatic difference in my SPS frags regarding PE and visible growth. So I’m very happy with that...I’m dosing half the recommended amount

However, I also started getting hair algae on my glass very shortly after I began using the AB+. My tank is 7 years old and has never had GHA...

I run Kalkwasser in my ATO, Rowaphos/Carbon in a dual reactor, and a small amount of Chaeto/Ulva in my sump for light nitrate control. My tank is very lightly stocked with fish (70g display - 2 small Tomato Clowns and a baby Spotted Mandarin).

My question is...should I consider carbon dosing vinegar in my ATO with the kalkwasser to head off this GHA? I’ve personally never done it before so I don’t know what to expect. It is really staying on the overflow and back glass away from the rock work....and I really want to get it under control before it becomes a bigger issue.

should I also consider cutting back the AB+ dosing to just every other day?

Why not add something to eat the algae and focus on keepIng the water parameters where the coral are growing well?

 

[ReeferMadniss]

Why not add something to eat the algae and focus on keepIng the water parameters where the coral are growing well?

That would be great...but unfortunately my CUC isn’t able to keep up, nor do most of the members really show interest in that algae for some reason. The hermits pick at it constantly, but don’t put a dent in it. The snails never seem very interested either.

I don’t mind a little bit of algae since it’s just part of nature....I just don’t want it to get out of hand.

 

[ReeferMadniss]

Any specific snail recommendation is welcomed...my Turbos and Trochus don’t really go after the algae that well.

 

[Birddog61]

Any specific snail recommendation is welcomed...my Turbos and Trochus don’t really go after the algae that well.

Most snails eat H. A. when it is in its infancy and ignore it as it gets to minimal length some rabbits and tangs love it however fish seem to be a crap shoot on what specific veggies thay prefer

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you monitoring what those additions are doing to nitrate and phosphate?

i agree that biological control is certainly preferable.

 

[Waynerock]

In the last couple months dosing 10 ml a day I have seen the glass needing cleaning a little more but that’s it. I do maintenance dose vibrant every two weeks at 6 ml and zeobak opposite that 2 drops so that keeps it in check I am guessing. Huge growth and color increase from AB+ as well

 

[ReeferMadniss]

Are you monitoring what those additions are doing to nitrate and phosphate?

i agree that biological control is certainly preferable.

my phosphate and nitrate always read zero...which clearly isn’t true. So they’re unfortunately not too helpful for me to know exactly where I stand nutrient wise.

Since I’m getting good results with the corals, I’d really prefer going the natural route for algae control. I’ve got room in my bio load for a medium sized algae grazing fish, so I think I may need to start considering which one would be the best fit.

I used to have a starry Blenny and a yellow tang in the tank previously (they passed of old age)....and I truly think that they were the reason I never had algae problems in the past

 

[Dan_P]

Any specific snail recommendation is welcomed...my Turbos and Trochus don’t really go after the algae that well.

i recently cleaned with the use of 15 Mexican turbos a 75 gallon aquarium (fish only) that had a heavy growth GHA, Caulerpa and red alga. GHA was gone in one week and by week three the aquarium was stripped bare of all algae. They even keep the glass clean. Sound like a fantasy?

I now have to feed these monsters sheets of dry algae every day. I am amazed that anyone has algae issues with algae eaters like this, though @taricha tells me his Mexican turbos don’t touch his GHA. Go figure.

 

[ReeferMadniss]

i recently cleaned with the use of 15 Mexican turbos a 75 gallon aquarium (fish only) that had a heavy growth GHA, Caulerpa and red alga. GHA was gone in one week and by week three the aquarium was stripped bare of all algae. They even keep the glass clean. Sound like a fantasy?

I now have to feed these monsters sheets of dry algae every day. I am amazed that anyone has algae issues with algae eaters like this, though @taricha tells me his Mexican turbos don’t touch his GHA. Go figure.

I totally agree...it’s been very hit or miss with the snails. I have a very large snail (unknown type - lots of antennae and has zebra stripes on its flesh) that has been in my system for almost 7 years now and it absolutely mows down the algae on the other side of the glass, but refuses to go to the other side...even if physically moved by me. It will just go right back to its favorite spot.

If that snail would just come to its senses, then it would have a Vegas style buffet available 24/7

 

[ReeferMadniss]

Well I have an update...

for the first time EVER...my Hanna checker for phosphate registered a result other than zero, and it was A LOT higher than I expected (0.36)

I’m running Rowaphos so i cannot understand why it’s getting so high. I do weekly 5g water changes/change filter socks at same time. Obviously I’m not doing enough....

any other suggestions on how to get this back into proper range other than to stop using the AB+?

 

[Waynerock]

Well I have an update...

for the first time EVER...my Hanna checker for phosphate registered a result other than zero, and it was A LOT higher than I expected (0.36)

I’m running Rowaphos so i cannot understand why it’s getting so high. I do weekly 5g water changes/change filter socks at same time. Obviously I’m not doing enough....

any other suggestions on how to get this back into proper range other than to stop using the AB+?

Did you run another test to confirm this? My Hanna sometimes goes crazy and gives me a super high number then I run the test again and it’s .01-.05 like it usually is. I would double or triple check before you take measures to drop. I would not test till 10-20 hours after your last AB+ dose so you get legit readings. Just a suggestion

 

[ReeferMadniss]

Did you run another test to confirm this? My Hanna sometimes goes crazy and gives me a super high number then I run the test again and it’s .01-.05 like it usually is. I would double or triple check before you take measures to drop. I would not test till 10-20 hours after your last AB+ dose so you get legit readings. Just a suggestion

it’s been more than 24 hours since the last AB+ dose... I just tested again and now of course I got a reading of 0.00

 

[Waynerock]

it’s been more than 24 hours since the last AB+ dose... I just tested again and now of course I got a reading of 0.00

I have gotten to the point where I use both vials and test twice. I know people rave about these and I have tried the nyos RS year kit and Hanna seems better but idk. My po4 and no3 is always super low and maybe that’s my issue. Doing tests back to back I usually get 000 on one vial and no higher than .03 on the other. I guess it’s splitting hairs when the readings are that low but I don’t understand why it fluctuates so much. I am extremely careful to get all the powder out of the envelope and make sure the vials are clean.

 

[ReeferMadniss]

I think my best bet at this point is to beef up the CUC and cut back on the AB+.

 

[ReeferMadniss]

I got bored and headed down to world wide corals. I picked up a small tuxedo urchin and some more snails

Hopefully that starts to put a dent in it

 

[wmo168]

Run UV with the right flow rate may help

 

[taricha]

I am amazed that anyone has algae issues with algae eaters like this, though @taricha tells me his Mexican turbos don’t touch his GHA. Go figure.

I must really have the wrong kind of turbos.
Also, I have a foxface that nibbles derbesia quite a bit. It just grew faster than his appetite.

 

[Leeseal1]

Any specific snail recommendation is welcomed...my Turbos and Trochus don’t really go after the algae that well.**try tuxedo urchin **

 

[TreyC2010]

Curious how this ended up. Were you able to combat the algae without giving up the AB+?