Hey guys, I’m currently running a Fluval evo 13.5 that has been established for 8 months and I have a problem with green hair algae. All my nutrient levels are in the correct range. I’m dosing continuum aquatics Baxter Clean-M daily and doing water changes every 2 weeks. I also do not use RODI because I can’t afford it right now. Would a powerhead help? Or any other suggestions?
Green Hair Algae
- Thread starter cameronh21
- Start date
- Tagged users None
RODI... my nutrients say stable but my tank is a wreck. The GHA pulls the nutrients in so you have to actually remove it to export the nutrients...can't export nutrients via water changes if your source water has phosphate or nitrate either.
The algae is using up all your nutrients.
Ipinion: scrub algae off all the rocks for a few weeks. Get some snails (if you dont have a hermit) that live on rocks to help keep the new growth in check. Keep at it and it will go away.
Your nutrients are really in the correct range? Maybe not.
Because you are not using rodi water you could be adding nutrients with every water change. Have you tested your water change water?
A power head will not help with the algae.
Abby A.
New Member
If there is a concern about your tap water quality, you could potentially use store bought distilled water. Your tank is pretty small. In the long run it might be more expensive than an RODI system, but the cost would be distributed over time and use of distilled water would only be a few dollars per water change.
flchamp89
Valuable Member
Two things stick out here. Yes a power head is probably a necessity. RODI is important as 0 TDS is critical as you don't know what's in any other kind of top off water. Step one IMO with GHA is always manual removal of as much as possible.
LesPoissons
Valuable Member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2018
- Messages
- 1,124
- Reaction score
- 695
So you need to do a few things:
1. Stop using tap water. Anything else you do to the tank is pointless if you dont remove the cause, it will keep coming back. Buy an rodi system, buy rodi water, or try distilled water. Otherwise the problem will be continuous. As rodi systems usually run around $100+, your lfs probably sells RODI water for $1/gallon. (Usually already mixed w salt but they may sell it fresh for like $0.50/gallon) You could replace all your water for $13 and do a 2-3 gallon water change every 2 weeks for 3$. stop buying bacter clean-m (its like $20/bottle isnt it?) and do the above instead and you wont need it.
2. Manually remove as much gha as possible from the tank. (remove rocks and scrub it off, spray with peroxide, scrub off in tank and use filter socks to remove etc. You need to get the algae out of the tank or it will break down and add nitrates back in the tank.).
3. Get a few snails and/or crabs to help with the algae as it wont go away immediately, even with a clean water source.
Good luck!
1. Stop using tap water. Anything else you do to the tank is pointless if you dont remove the cause, it will keep coming back. Buy an rodi system, buy rodi water, or try distilled water. Otherwise the problem will be continuous. As rodi systems usually run around $100+, your lfs probably sells RODI water for $1/gallon. (Usually already mixed w salt but they may sell it fresh for like $0.50/gallon) You could replace all your water for $13 and do a 2-3 gallon water change every 2 weeks for 3$. stop buying bacter clean-m (its like $20/bottle isnt it?) and do the above instead and you wont need it.
2. Manually remove as much gha as possible from the tank. (remove rocks and scrub it off, spray with peroxide, scrub off in tank and use filter socks to remove etc. You need to get the algae out of the tank or it will break down and add nitrates back in the tank.).
3. Get a few snails and/or crabs to help with the algae as it wont go away immediately, even with a clean water source.
Good luck!
cameronh21
Community Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2019
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 12
Than
Thanks for the response! I will definitely start using RODI water from my LFS, I didn’t even think it could be from my water source. Definitely a cheaper alternative to Baxter clean m as well, thanks again.
Thanks for the response! I will definitely start using RODI water from my LFS, I didn’t even think it could be from my water source. Definitely a cheaper alternative to Baxter clean m as well, thanks again.
