Algae

MaineSalt · Sep 9, 2015

Hi Everyone

About 8 months ago I lost all my fish and a major algae problem broke out. Any suggestions on how to clean it up and keep it away. I use rodi and I don't feed anything and when I check my parameters everything is fine. I've attached a few pics

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1441852046.528567.jpg

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1441852064.336512.jpg

StevenBell · Sep 9, 2015

What are you testing for?Any natural sunlight?How long are you running lights?

MaineSalt · Sep 9, 2015

Amm, nitrite, nitrate, ph and I cover the tank with a blanket because the entire house gets light during the day and I only run my LEDs 5-6 hours every other evening when I'm home.

brandon429 · Sep 9, 2015

I'll take that challenge if you want.

Macros forum

Pest algae challenge thread check it out. If you want to rock n roll post this pre shot above in that thread.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/reef2reef-pest-algae-challenge-thread.187042/

brandon429 · Sep 9, 2015

To reiterate

The degree to which I'd like to fully restore this tank is a very high degree lol. I put a like on that because you aren't holding anything back with some 4"x4" close in shots, this is full glory test.

Thanks for posting just now in the thread! There's no more fun in forums than to publicly ask for a challenge knowing no backing details and going off tank pics what fun pressure we love it

A few tricks might work. One involves holding those frags elsewhere for 2-3 days, hit the entire tank with a calculated dose, and jack that lighting up to about ten hours each day high settings

photosyntheticoverloadtoalgae.com

The frags can be spot treated before put back in after this or other assaults we can brainstorm before running. Also w search for nutrient sinks that may feed...curious as to how clean underneath that rock stack is

A welcomed test.

Ahruk · Sep 10, 2015

I don't know anything about the challenge or peroxide (or next to nothing) but after you do that if you don't already have a large cuc up, I would recommend increasing your cuc and in particular investing in some turbos to keep any algae from returning (they seriously saved me from tearing down my tank earlier this year, can't speak highly enough about them).

Ahruk · Sep 10, 2015

I don't know anything about the challenge or peroxide (or next to nothing) but after you do that if you don't already have a large cuc up, I would recommend increasing your cuc and in particular investing in some turbos to keep any algae from returning (they seriously saved me from tearing down my tank earlier this year, can't speak highly enough about them).

KJ · Sep 10, 2015

MaineSalt said:
Hi Everyone

About 8 months ago I lost all my fish and a major algae problem broke out. Any suggestions on how to clean it up and keep it away. I use rodi and I don't feed anything and when I check my parameters everything is fine. I've attached a few pics

Green hair algae: DERBESIA

This is one of the most problematic Algae that is most commonly seen through out the hobby and is also one of the hardest to control once it is established and can be a daunting task to get under control and remove and will quickly take over your system if given the right conditions..

ID: This Algae is very easy to identify it forms green tuffs on the rock work and glass normally in areas of low flow it should be a solid green/brown color with strands of ( hair ) flowing away from the base.

CONTROL: One of the easiest ways to control the spread and outbreak of this algae is to have aggressive skimming and control the amount of food you add to the system. This in conjunction with a regular water change and light use of carbon ( a good carbon ) will help you control the outbreak of this and many more types of algae. Also a Alkalinty of 8DKH or higher will help stem the development of this Algae.

WHAT FEEDS THE GROWTH OF (GHA)?
Green hair algae feeds off of phosphates as it primary source of food followed by nitrate's. So if you have a reliable pure fish food that is soaked and rinsed is one way to control the addition of phosphates to the system. Also the reason it is advised to not skimp on quality when it comes to activated carbon is that a lot of problems with algae outbreaks is caused by carbon re-introducing phosphates into the system after the carbon is used to its full potential. Also along with re-introducing phosphates a lot of activated carbons leach phosphates from the time they are added to the system. So Good carbon is a must to help fight Algae outbreaks.

REMOVAL:
A toothbrush is your best friend against this Algae and you should scrub the rocks with it after removing as much as possible by hand.

NATURAL PREDATORS:
This Green hair algae has very little natural predators

ALGAE AGAINST ALGAE:
A refugium is a natural way of removing Phosphates and Nitrates from your system. If done correctly a refugium can eliminate a lot of algae problems..Simple to set up and maintain all you need is a 6,500k light source And some chaetomorpha on a reverse or 24hr light cycle. This Algae will out compete other algae for nutrients and will not leach nutrients back into the system and will not go sexual..