Another Grean Hair Algae Thread

[Bubblebass]

My 120g is a year old this month. About a month ago I started to get green hair algae. I have picked it as much as I can, but the algae is in rocks I cannot get out of the tank and is in deep crevices in the tank. I feed LRS once every 2 days and do not overfeed. I have 2 MP40's and 2 XR30 pros.

I cannot get this stuff to quit.

My nitrates are 5-10
Nitrites 0
Phosphates about .15 (API kit now, ordered a Salifert)
Mag 1350
Cal 440
Alk 8.6

I have been running NOPOX since the nitrates were around 25 a few months ago and they came down quickly, but Phosphates are not dropping.

I see all the threads saying pick off all the algae, but I cannot get to much of it and what I can get to grows back in a matter of days.

Thanks for any help.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Scarlet hermit crabs eat hair algae and the biggest most awesome just eat it all is the sea hare. You may want to consider getting a media reactor and running GFO or other phosphate absorbing media.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

1) your phosphates are super high , there's your problem, no need to look any further until you solve that issue.
2) Nopox removes nitrates primarily, once all of the nitrates are gone your phosphates don't get used up quick enough. ( or something of that sort)
3) once you get your phosphates figured out , remove all of the algae by hand, make sure its less than 1/2" long , and I presume you have a yellow tang( since almost everyone does lol) , he will most likely keep it in check.

 

[ChytownPrincess]

Rowaphos, purigen, and chemi pure blue dropped my phosphates to 0 (salifert test) and my nitrate to 0.01 (also salifert)

 

[Bubblebass]

Rowaphos, purigen, and chemi pure blue dropped my phosphates to 0 (salifert test) and my nitrate to 0.01 (also salifert)

You used all 3 at the same time??

 

[ChytownPrincess]

Yep

 

[Bubblebass]

OK - ordering Chemi-blue. 2 11 oz for my 120 + 40 sump sound about right?

 

[JaimeAdams]

sure, or go get a phosban reactor kit. I actually literall just installed the 550 on my sump an hour ago. Bought the whole kit form foster and smith.

 

[Bubblebass]

sure, or go get a phosban reactor kit. I actually literall just installed the 550 on my sump an hour ago. Bought the whole kit form foster and smith.

I need to figure these out. What size would I need? Bigger is better like skimmers or would the 150 be good enough for me (140 total water)? What media would I put in it and how much? I've wanted a reactor in the past for GFO when nitrates were high, but they aren't anymore.........

 

[JaimeAdams]

GFO binds phosphate, it doesn't do anything to nitrate. I went with the 550 on my 125gal. You could get away with the 150. I am running Phosban in mine. I want to say that I got the reactor with pump and hose for like $83. The 150 is a touch over $50. That is not with the media though. They are cheap reactors so don't expect them to be the highest quality, but it does get the job done. You can use any Granular Ferric Oxide.