battling the green Monster
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akabryanhall
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Call the Vatican, It's time for an exorcism. Use Kent M Magnesium, but you have to put the effort in, daily dosing and testing to keep your mag at 1500
rendos
WTMRAC's Daddy
I don't think Tech M or any other magnesium additive will help hair algae. That is used for Bryopsis.
Hair algae is usually phosphates or nitrates. Try using GFO in a media reactor and water changes to reduce those things.
Hair algae is usually phosphates or nitrates. Try using GFO in a media reactor and water changes to reduce those things.
jcom
Active Member
Agreed, Magnesium (Tech M) is only good for Bryopsis (looks like tiny ferns). For hair algae, like rendos mentioned, try to reduce nitrates, phosphates, and other nutrients in the water. Reduce feedings to a minimum (I never feed more than once a day and skip a day here and there). Also, get a ton of margarita and astrea snails...1 per gallon if possible. They will put the hurt on it.
Do you have a refugium? If not, I'd figure out how to get one going asap and get some chaetomorpha growing in there to combat the algae in your display.
One other thing that works wonders is a 2 - 3 day complete darkness period in the tank. I'd stop feeding completely for a day or two, then go full darkness for 3 days adn don't feed at all during the 5 day period (your fish will be fine). This will really put the 1, 2 punch on the HA.
Do you have a refugium? If not, I'd figure out how to get one going asap and get some chaetomorpha growing in there to combat the algae in your display.
One other thing that works wonders is a 2 - 3 day complete darkness period in the tank. I'd stop feeding completely for a day or two, then go full darkness for 3 days adn don't feed at all during the 5 day period (your fish will be fine). This will really put the 1, 2 punch on the HA.
Try phosphate reducer like phosban or something like that works great and cheap
stedfast82
Well-Known Member
get a algae blennie and a small sail fin cut the light down and start cal, alk, and mag make a sump if you dont have one it's very easy to do and cheaper than anythang you will buy at your LFS
thomasp
Community Member
be careful about the algae blenny I followed that advice and then watched the poor thing starve to death in a tank with about 20 different types of algae. how long has this tank been set up?
Phin
Community Member
Chances are you have a phosphate issue going on. Testing might show nothing but that will be because the algae is eating it all up. Use some Phosban to help pull the excess out. How old are your bulbs? What is your daily lighting schedule? Are you using RODI water? If so what are the TDS readings? You have a fight on your hands but it can be fixed. Pull what you can off and the pieces you can pull out, go ahead and do so then gently scrub the algae off with a soft toothbrush.
grimis444
Community Member
Wow hair alge. I have had this problem in mr tank and it is frustrating. I almost got out of the hobby because of it. Once u have it. I don't care what anyone says u will always have it. The key is to control it. U must find out where the problem is comin from. Mine was from over feeding. I put two sea hares in the tank cut back on feeding and got my nitrates down and it is now ten times better. Just have to find out why it is in their and control it. Sea hares do work but if u don't fix why it is in their it will come right back. A refuge would work to
sharons440
New Member
I found this thread and thought maybe you guys/gals could help. I have a 29g reef with 40lbs live rock (sorry no working camera), a hob filter and a koralia 2 pump for circulation. Way after cycle when I had the tank established i got some coraline rock from my coral supplier. It developed the most beautiful fast growing hairy type algae. Anyway I finall pulled it out but it had also grown on a lot of the rock. The snails ate the hairs (mowed right through them like a lawnmower) but the rock was left a beautiful bright green (all of it). Now my water has turned clowdy and greenish colored. I just did a major water change, added PhosGuard to my hob, pulled the carbon (which didn't do anything to clear the water). PO4 measures almost 0, nitrates 0,..... all levels perfect. Mag a little low but dosing, PH a little low and buffering. Any suggestions? I have a few corals in there I really don't want to lose and I'm getting frustrated.
I never had this problem when I had the 55 going or even the 8 or 12. Just this tank. Running (4) T-5's for lighting - 2 white & 2 actinic.
Any help is much appreciated. sure don't want to tear down and start over!!!!!
I never had this problem when I had the 55 going or even the 8 or 12. Just this tank. Running (4) T-5's for lighting - 2 white & 2 actinic.
Any help is much appreciated. sure don't want to tear down and start over!!!!!
Phin
Community Member
Sharon, are you getting any more algae growth right now or is it in check? The green on the rock, is it slimy at all? I would suggest running the carbon as well. It may take some time but that will help clear up the water. I would also do a few water changes of about 15 gallons every few days. Are you running a skimmer at all? Why type of water are you using? RODI? What are the TDS readings? How old are your bulbs?
sharons440
New Member
Phin, the algae growth is not getting worse, it is maintaining. The grwen on the rock is not slimy it just feels like rock but not as course. If the snails were not keeping it mowed down it would look grassy. I was instructed to remove the carbon while running the phosguard. In the hob filter I would have to put the phosguard behind the carbon. So flow would go through the phosguard then the carbon then out into the tank. Water changes are done in 4 gal increments. Should I do it larger? Skimmer...no. Do I need one on a 29? Water is RO that I get in one of those machines outside the grocery store. Don't have my own unit. I did better with big tanks and whatnot when I used tap water and Reef Prime to declorinize it!! My bulbs are about 3 mos old. And honestly I don't know what TDS is. All testing peram's are in order like I said except mag and ph which I am dosing.
current bio load is 1 percula, 1 goby, 1 sm ?, 1 pepermint shrimp, 4 snails (big), 2 hermit crabs, 2 mushrooms, 1 candy cane, 1 hammer, and 2 sm fire & ice zoas.
29g tank, 4 t-5 lamps, 1 koralia 2 pump, and 1 30-45g hob filter.
current bio load is 1 percula, 1 goby, 1 sm ?, 1 pepermint shrimp, 4 snails (big), 2 hermit crabs, 2 mushrooms, 1 candy cane, 1 hammer, and 2 sm fire & ice zoas.
29g tank, 4 t-5 lamps, 1 koralia 2 pump, and 1 30-45g hob filter.
Phin
Community Member
Are you able to pull the rock out at all? If you can, like I could with my issue, I would pull the pieces out and gently scrub them with a new toothbrush to get most, if not all the stuff off the letting my cleanup crew finish it off. Do you have a Local Fish Store (LFS)? If so, I would suggest getting some water from them. I am sure that the water you are getting still has some stuff in it though I have never used it before. I would also suggest getting a skimmer when you can to help remove junk from your tank.
How often are you doing those water changes? I think to get this under control you might want to increase that to 10 - 15. The TDS is the Total Disolved Solids that are in the water. Most RODI units will produce 0 - 1 PPM. Even with my RODI unit I still mix in a little prime.
How often are you doing those water changes? I think to get this under control you might want to increase that to 10 - 15. The TDS is the Total Disolved Solids that are in the water. Most RODI units will produce 0 - 1 PPM. Even with my RODI unit I still mix in a little prime.
sharons440
New Member
Do you have any suggestions for a skimmer? Need something that is HOB style, I don't have a sump or refugium. Do I scrub my rocks in salt water or fresh? I can do that, it's a lot of work. So basically I need to mix up a 'big' tub of salt water, empty my rock into it so I can scrub it, while in the meantime changing half my water in the tank?
My LFS (I knew what that one was, LOL), is poor at the very best. I travel way over an hour to get to the one coral reef store that I have faith in. I cannot obtain water locally from anyone that is worth a grain of salt. I can buy premixed water from "Discount Pets" a chain type store, but through careful questioning I found that they use tap water. Guess I could use that and add prime to it, huh? Sure would be easier. Don't know the quality of salt they use though.
My LFS (I knew what that one was, LOL), is poor at the very best. I travel way over an hour to get to the one coral reef store that I have faith in. I cannot obtain water locally from anyone that is worth a grain of salt. I can buy premixed water from "Discount Pets" a chain type store, but through careful questioning I found that they use tap water. Guess I could use that and add prime to it, huh? Sure would be easier. Don't know the quality of salt they use though.
Phin
Community Member
I think it took me a total of 2 months to get rid of my algae problem and have not seen a bit in the past 4 months or so. Let me do some looking for a HOB skimmer, I run mine in my sump. I just scrubbed my rock while running fresh water over in the sink. This also let me redo my aquascape 
I forgot you have a 29 so I would do changes in 10 gallon batches every few days until you get this under control. Even though your PO4 is reading 0 that could be due to the algae consuming the excess.
Check to see if you have any local reefers near you. They might be able to help out with some RODI water. To do this right though, I would really sugest you invest in a system. You can pick up the Typhoon 5 stage from airwaterice.com for $149. Since this is an expensive hobby that is worth it's weight in gold.
How long are you running your lights for? I would also look at cutting them off for a few days while you scrub the rock.
I would be careful buying that from discount pets. I would rather buy from somewhere like a reputable LFS. As you mentioned, they are using tap water and you have no idea of the salt they are using.
I forgot you have a 29 so I would do changes in 10 gallon batches every few days until you get this under control. Even though your PO4 is reading 0 that could be due to the algae consuming the excess.
Check to see if you have any local reefers near you. They might be able to help out with some RODI water. To do this right though, I would really sugest you invest in a system. You can pick up the Typhoon 5 stage from airwaterice.com for $149. Since this is an expensive hobby that is worth it's weight in gold.
How long are you running your lights for? I would also look at cutting them off for a few days while you scrub the rock.
I would be careful buying that from discount pets. I would rather buy from somewhere like a reputable LFS. As you mentioned, they are using tap water and you have no idea of the salt they are using.
Phin
Community Member
Check out this thread. It should help out on deciding on a skimmer to buy.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f30/skimmer-q-thread-25416.html
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f30/skimmer-q-thread-25416.html
sharons440
New Member
Will shutting my lights off for a few days hurt the corals I mentioned?
Phin
Community Member
Nope, they should be just fine. Once you go back to the lighting though I would cut your photo period in half and then raise it up an hour every other day. They may be a little ticked at ya in the beginning but they should survive without issue.
sharons440
New Member
Thank you for your help. What you say makes sense and I'm willing to give it a try. Once I rince & scrub my rock and put back in the tank should I add some reef prime to my tank water since I used tap water to rinse?
Also one more question (then I should get back to work before the boss sees!), if I am tired of soooooo much rock in my tank can I safely decrease the amount and still maintain adequate filtration? If is doubt, would my HOB filter do the trick? I've never used a filter on my reef tanks so kind of in unknown waters. But after looking at the aquascapes on this board, I know that I am tired of the "rock wall".
Thanks for taking your time answering all my questions. I really do appreciate it. Now if you could also turn off the rain in central calif that would be great!! LOL
Also one more question (then I should get back to work before the boss sees!), if I am tired of soooooo much rock in my tank can I safely decrease the amount and still maintain adequate filtration? If is doubt, would my HOB filter do the trick? I've never used a filter on my reef tanks so kind of in unknown waters. But after looking at the aquascapes on this board, I know that I am tired of the "rock wall".
Thanks for taking your time answering all my questions. I really do appreciate it. Now if you could also turn off the rain in central calif that would be great!! LOL
