Corals dying and hairy algae invasion

[Westside Guy]

I am slowly losing one coral after another including a beautiful lobo and have a terrible hairy algae invasion. After several water changes which didn't help stop the hairy algae my LFS recommended using Dr. Tim's Re-Fresh and Waste-Away which I intend to start on Sunday when I receive my delivery of the chemicals.

Here is my last ICP test results, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dan_P]

I am slowly losing one coral after another including a beautiful lobo and have a terrible hairy algae invasion. After several water changes which didn't help stop the hairy algae my LFS recommended using Dr. Tim's Re-Fresh and Waste-Away which I intend to start on Sunday when I receive my delivery of the chemicals.

Here is my last ICP test results, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

You present very little information about a complex set of issues. Hair algae growth is not something that just happens overnight. When did it start and what have you done to deal with it? Dying coral may be unrelated to algae growth. When did the coral become ill? Start dying? Both might reflect just bad luck or inadequate care and attention to detail. Is this a new system?

Send a picture (white light please) so we can see the situation. Maybe someone will have an idea.

 

[Westside Guy]

The dying coral and the hairy algae have both been happening for about 2 months. I have done 3 major and several minor water changes during that time period and have been removing the hairy algae by hand. Here are some pictures

 

[Dan_P]

The dying coral and the hairy algae have both been happening for about 2 months. I have done 3 major and several minor water changes during that time period and have been removing the hairy algae by hand. Here are some pictures

Thanks for the pictures!

It appears that you have a fairly advanced algae infestation. Water changes generally don’t help and hand removal helps a little but leaves behind too many living algae filaments. You need something in your system to relentlessly eat the stuff. Someone can recommend a crab or snail to do the job.

Some folks advocate adding stuff to the aquarium. The 1 mL hydrogen peroxide per ten gallons of water is ineffective. Vibrant has a record of killing hair algae but read up on the pro’s and con’s before using it.

Other folks blame nutrients for stimulating growth, so they recommend reducing nitrate and phosphate levels and might recommend adding WasteAway to consume hidden waste and grunge that could lead to the generation of nitrate and phosphate. Adjusting nutrients alone to get rid of hair algae may be a long shot.

Hair algae is a big pain and it can grow well under conditions good for coral too, but most aquarists minimize its presence or eliminate it. So, keep at it and avoid miracle cures.

Coral sickness and death is tougher to diagnose. Hopefully we will get a few experts to ask some questions about alkalinity, Ca, PO4, lighting, flow, feeding, etc. and suggest some tweaks to the conditions in your system.

 

[Westside Guy]

I have about 25 hermit crabs, 40+ trochus snails and 3 emerald crabs in my 54 gallon DT.

 

[Omar Marambio]

I had the same issue with one of my tanks and it was taking over my tank, I tried fish, snails crabs and it did not work, I ended removing the rocks and removing as much I could, also I added a tuxedo sea urchins, I have been able to keep more in control this way

 

[Westside Guy]

I had the same issue with one of my tanks and it was taking over my tank, I tried fish, snails crabs and it did not work, I ended removing the rocks and removing as much I could, also I added a tuxedo sea urchins, I have been able to keep more in control this way

Why the rocks, wouldn’t the sand be a bigger culprit?

 

[Omar Marambio]

Why the rocks, wouldn’t the sand be a bigger culprit?

If you have it in the sand is easy to remove manually or by vacuuming the sand I did not have algae in the sand. Only on the rocks

 

[Westside Guy]

If you have it in the sand is easy to remove manually or by vacuuming the sand I did not have algae in the sand. Only on the rocks

My LFS has been doing exactly that for my last few water changes and the hairy algae is still invading the tank. :mad:

 

[Johniejumbo]

How old is this tank? Hair algae is very persistent. I did the same as Omar suggested. I would do a water change on my 40b by filling a 5g bucket then I’d remove a few of the worst rocks and scrub them with a plastic bristle brush. Most snails and crabs won’t mess with hair algae that’s too long. I also am a firm believer in urchins now. They mad a huge difference. I also added a bacteria supplement to compete with the hair algae. Took a couple of months but I’m almost hair algae free now.

 

[W1ngz]

My LFS has been doing exactly that for my last few water changes and the hairy algae is still invading the tank. :mad:

Your LFS is doing the maintenance?

Not saying your LFS doesn't know what they're doing, but weekly or bi-weekly appointments from a business that is less invested in your tank than you are is bound to prolong the process.

 

[Westside Guy]

Your LFS is doing the maintenance?

Not saying your LFS doesn't know what they're doing, but weekly or bi-weekly appointments from a business that is less invested in your tank than you are is bound to prolong the process.

I have been doing a monthly service with my LFS and removing and replacing 5 gallons weekly on my own since this algae invasion started.

 

[Westside Guy]

How old is this tank? Hair algae is very persistent. I did the same as Omar suggested. I would do a water change on my 40b by filling a 5g bucket then I’d remove a few of the worst rocks and scrub them with a plastic bristle brush. Most snails and crabs won’t mess with hair algae that’s too long. I also am a firm believer in urchins now. They mad a huge difference. I also added a bacteria supplement to compete with the hair algae. Took a couple of months but I’m almost hair algae free now.

The tank is one year old.

I am considering two approaches.

Plan A: Removing all of the rocks, scrub them, vacuuming the sand and then replacing the rocks. I have a fairly large CUC for my size tank and hopefully they will keep it under control after I replace the rocks.

Plan B: I also ordered Dr. Tim’s Re-Fresh and Waste-Away which will be delivered by Amazon tomorrow. Do a chemical treatment following their recommendations.

 

[x2uranium]

Manual removal through siphoning out the old. Watch your input of food (nutrients). Slow it down if possible and as long as your make up water for water changes is spot on, you need to do them more frequently and larger quantity always worked for me in the past. Also it’s most likely due to too high feeding or nutrients from something. Snails aren’t the solution nor is a crab. Also it doesn’t happen over night remember that.

 

[x2uranium]

Also your plan A. Not a good idea In my opinion you think you have hair algae now.. try plan a and don’t plan on putting anything in for a while I would bet it would explode the growth of the algae.

 

[Westside Guy]

Manual removal through siphoning out the old. Watch your input of food (nutrients). Slow it down if possible and as long as your make up water for water changes is spot on, you need to do them more frequently and larger quantity always worked for me in the past. Also it’s most likely due to too high feeding or nutrients from something. Snails aren’t the solution nor is a crab. Also it doesn’t happen over night remember that.

I have 11 fish in the tank and feeding 1 cube of frozen mysis shrimp daily, do you think that is too much? I also add 1/2 teaspoon of Reef Roids twice a week and spot feed the corals.

 

[Westside Guy]

Also your plan A. Not a good idea In my opinion you think you have hair algae now.. try plan a and don’t plan on putting anything in for a while I would bet it would explode the growth of the algae.

I am confused, if I scrub the rocks and vacuum the sand why would that not improve the situation?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Your test show a high level of chlorine. Are you using tap water ?
Your LFS is maintaining your tank and you have this much hair algae and possible bryopsis?
I would do a good water change and add liquid vibrant over 5 days with white lights off . . You can leave on blue and even at higher intensity. Pull off as much hair algae as you can by hand before water change. Hold off on the reef roids for now also.

 

[x2uranium]

Well your stirring up all the nutrients. I just moved a 200 gallon tank In pristine condition no algae what so ever, and took out all the water rocks and sand. Moved tank set back up and did 2x 100gal water changes and have the worst algae on the planet. But again I am prepared. I knew it was going to happen. And I’ve been in the hobby for a while now you get a good sense of how to control nutrients after a bit of sps reef keeping. Take it slow. Don’t try to change everything at one time. Doesn’t work in aquariums I have lost multiple thousands of dollars of inhabitants by moving too fast. Water changes are your ultimate friend and your feeding habits may need to be toned down.

 

[Westside Guy]

Your test show a high level of chlorine. Are you using tap water ?
Your LFS is maintaining your tank and you have this much hair algae and possible bryopsis?
I would do a good water change and add liquid vibrant over 5 days with white lights off . . You can leave on blue and even at higher intensity. Pull off as much hair algae as you can by hand before water change. Hold off on the reef roids for now also.

I am using RO from my LFS.
According to ICP the chlorine which was not highlighted in red is within acceptable parameters.