Dosing Peroxide

[MadReefer]

Okay, I figured out my hair algae issue; at least I think I did. The actinic PC bulb is very old you can see by looking at it. This should no longer be an issue since I have a new T5 fixture. I have tried dosing Magnesium but the HA is still around and growing. So tonight a bought a rabbit fish hoping to at least control it. While at the store it was suggested I dose peroxide and recommended 10ml for 75g daily. Claiming that in about 2 weeks the HA will turn white and eventually die. Any thoughts on this approach would be appreciated.

 

[Sunny]

I have heard people dip frags for HA in H2O2, but that would not kill HA in tank. Take the rocks out and scrub them. I had a real bad issue with HA last year.
I used Algaefix Marine as directed and it did kill HA. It also killed my chaeto though

 

[MadReefer]

Sunny, on R2R there is an article and it claims that it kills HA and other algae along with dinoflagellates. I am still searching the web on this and let everyone if I go with this process or not. Here is the R2R link:
http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ree...gellates-my-experience-h2o2-reefing-tool.html

 

[Sunny]

I have read that article in very detail It is primarily for dinoflagellates and people have had success with only that type of algae. The ones stating that they will try it for HA, have not pressed claims that it helped them. Well, the moral of the story is that it can be dosed in the DT. I would not expect miracles for HA. Yes there are a lot of people who have claimed success with dinoflagellates though..

 

[NewJerseyReefer]

Madreefer i believe there is a video on youtube on how a guy used peroxide on hes tank. but keep in mind if you dose alot you can kill your fish(s) too.

 

[MadReefer]

That video is in the link I gave. Recommended dosage is 1ml peroxide per 10g water. I have a 75g DT and 30g sump and was think of going with 80g total volume which would be 8ml of peroxide daily.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I have seen articles on use of hydrogen peroxide. It is a relatively strong oxidizing agent (similar to bleach). It is “consumed” once it oxidizes an organic (or inorganic) compound. If you have a “dirty” tank, it will be quickly consumed. The great thing about hydrogen peroxide is that the byproduct is water. However, I would still use this as a last chance effort. My first approach would be to do multiple water changes. Drop your nitrate level and the hair algae should also recede. Dosing peroxide does not address the underlying reason for the hair algae.

 

[The_Codfather]

I have done hydrogen peroxide for Dinos and it worked!.. for any algae it's 1ml of hydrogen peroxide to 10 gls

 

[MadReefer]

Paul, as I said prior I think it was the light. The HA is only on one side and that was the bulb which is bad. I am doing water changes, running GFO, got the skimmer to improve too. So, this is a last ditch effort and will probably start on Sunday or Monday after some more research. I will check my nitrates again tomorrow but last test showed 20ppm as some fish died.

When I do start I plan to under dose so will start with 7ml or 8ml daily. Just means I need to dose longer and have patience.

Sid, thanks fro the info and I will call you tomorrow.

 

[MadReefer]

Here are my parameters:
PH - 8.4ppm
Ammonia - 0ppm
Alk - 7.84dkh
Cal - 400ppm
Nitrate as last of month was 12.5ppm

I need to but a new Nitrate test kit.

 

[downbeach]

What test kits do you use?

 

[MadReefer]

I have different kits for different things I test, unfortunately. Alk and Cal are API everything else is Tetra. Yeah I know but what can I say. Live and learn.

 

[MadReefer]

I plan to start dosing this weekend but decided to go with 0.5ml per 10g the first two days as a precaution. I am scheduled for a water change this weekend and am wondering should I do it or wait a week after I dose. Any suggestions?

 

[downbeach]

I plan to start dosing this weekend but decided to go with 0.5ml per 10g the first two days as a precaution. I am scheduled for a water change this weekend and am wondering should I do it or wait a week after I dose. Any suggestions?

I would do the water change, and then do whatever dosing you want to try. I would also put some better quality, more reliable/accurate test kits on a wish list. I think having an accurate assessment of what's going on in you tank will enable you to make better judgements and ultimately save you a lot of potentially unnecessary treatments, and associated costs(to say nothing of headaches). I think the new Red Sea Pro series of kits are reasonably priced and have been proven to be reliable and accurate. I noticed today, that BRS has a 10% discount on them.

 

[MadReefer]

So the journey begins as of today. I did the water change and started dosing the peroxide. I estimate 80g of total water volume and 1ml per 10g would be 8ml of hydrogen peroxide daily. I decided to start with 5ml daily and will do this for 3 days then bump it to 8ml. I will keep this thread going and update as I notice changes good or bad.

Day 1 - before adding peroxide

 

[greybolt03]

After reading all 30 something pages of the thread you posted I got the feeling that the peroxide will only kill HA if it is dipped directly into the peroxide ex: HA attached to frag plug dipped in peroxide most used a 50/50 mix I started dozing 2 days ago and my sand has already cleared up slot and the few spots that I have the red slime on rocks and back wall have started to clear...... I have not seen any affect on the HA yet.

 

[greybolt03]

Have you tried a sea hare? Mine has done a decent job on the HA in my tank

 

[MadReefer]

I did try a sea hare but it died 3 fays later. I think it choked on the HA..LOL
I took all the posts I read that it works for HA both ways. Yes, dipping is most effective but I can't dip all my rocks.
Well it's been a few hours and I see some of the HA turning red/brown on the tips. I will take another pic tomorrow and hopefully they will show a difference.
My hope is that the peroxide will kill a fair portion and then the snails and rabbit fish will keep it in check afterwards.

P.S. The LFS told me it can take up to 2 weeks before you see a change in the HA. I.e. turning white and falling off.

 

[MadReefer]

Pics after 3 days of dosing.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Question... are you dosing it by just pouring it in the tank, or are you using a long turkey baster to squirt it at the HA? I would think the latter would be the better option.

Also, have you tried to just scrape off any of it first? I would think using a razor blade on the HA on the overflow wall would be a good way to eliminate a lot of it quickly. Also, hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like you might be able to just pluck some of it from the sand?