Brown Hair Algae/RODI water

[cestep6]

HI Folks,

I have a 75 Gallon corner reef tank, that I've been fighting a Brown hair algae problem. My phosphates are at zero and I've been told that this algae feeds on the minerals in Tap water.

I don't have a store that can readily get RODI water. But I've also been warned about the RO Di filters you see on sites like Marine depot that it would be a waste of money.

Any suggestions?

thanks,

Cestep6

 

[Robertchrisroph]

How long have you had your tank going? do you use tap water conditioner ? I picked up a used ro/di system and received filters from bulk reef supply. All filter are 10 inch or 20 inch. Most use the 10 inch. Your tank looks like it is still cycling. good luck

 

[Chris Adams]

You should really invest in an RO/DI unit.
Look here. Invest in the health of your tank
For what you spend on corals you really should try to do everything you can to provide the best environment

http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System

 

[Daytonareefing]

You can also get an RODI off ebay for about 130.00 I think its 50 or 75 gal. GPD. I have been buying from the same guy for years on there. just change the filters once a year. It's 5 or 6 filters before the DI. His user name is filtersdirect if you want to check it out. But it sound like you need a RODI from somewhere. Mine is under the sink with a 3 gallon tank for that price shipped and I ran a line to my tank with a shut off valve on you can hook it into a auto top off if you wanted. But you need one then change all the water in the tank and use phosguard either way even if your test say its 0 it will really help. Have you tried a grocery store some have culligan machines that make RODI water and they have a UV filter even though you don't need it. When I first started years ago I bought it that way. Because you can fill one gallon or 5 gallons in that machine. I hope that helps.

 

[brandon429]

this is one of the instances that good balanced gfo use and testing would get results. dont spike it crazy low, just get a good reliable per search results low range p04 checker and run that gfo to the good levels and hand remove via siphon all the algae. Dont use the gfo to kill this algae/cyano complex, use it to prevent the regrowth after you have hand exported all the offending biomass.

Totally agreed about 0 TDS make and topoff water. until that ideal can be had, get to adsorbin is my offer. This is an easy invasion to fix among invasion threads.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

HI Folks,

I have a 75 Gallon corner reef tank, that I've been fighting a Brown hair algae problem. My phosphates are at zero and I've been told that this algae feeds on the minerals in Tap water.
6

Regardless of what you have been told, ALL algae needs phosphate, a source of nitrogen (usually ammonia or nitrate), various trace elements (such as iron), light, and a place to grow without being eaten. Eliminate any of those and you can eliminate the algae, although in some cases (such as bryopsis), the level you might have to take any one of these down to might cause harm to other creatures.

If your tank is deficient in iron, then the tap water might be a significant source. It also may contain substantial phosphate or nitrate. You need not be able to read it with most kits for it to be more than enough for most algae. That said, most of the time foods bring in far more nutrients than does the evaporation replacement water.

What kit did you use for phospahte, and what is the lowest value that kit can clearly read to your eyes?

 

[AZDesertRat]

http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System
Best and cheapest insurance you could possibly buy for your reef. That way you alone have control over your water quality. You have absolutely no idea what you are putting in your tank now.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

How exactly have you been fighting it? It doesnt look like you have a lot of flow. Are you running any kind of reactors? Carbon? What kind of lighting and schedule?