• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

To scrub or scrap, that is the question

R

RevClyburn

Hey everyone

well still have a issue with hair algae. I've been running Phosguard for about a week, and appears like it's not helping. I was wondering if I should scrub my L/R to get some of the h/a off or just scrap the l/r and start all over again. I don't know what is feeding the h/a, I've had the water tested and it's not showing up. Could it be the crushed coral, I have a plenum? Or the play sand I used, home depot play sand? And how much does having old bulbs factor in? I have to resolve this issue, my wife is driving me crazy about the tank.

rev
 
R

RevClyburn

Sorry Mantis

it's green hair algae. Does nayone know where I can find a Sea Hare at? Heard they were good at eating this madness.

rev
 
MikeNapoli

MikeNapoli

RevClyburn said:
Sorry Mantis

it's green hair algae. Does nayone know where I can find a Sea Hare at? Heard they were good at eating this madness.

rev
Click to expand...

If you're close to central jersey, Aquatic Obsessions has them .. you should call him though because as soon as they come in they are gone within a day or two.
 
C

concept3

hey rev, the spiny sea urchin is a decent candidate to control some hair algae. Also, rabbitfish or foxfaces like to munch on them as well. You can get sea hares from reeftopia, but also keep in mind that once the hair algae is gone, the seahares will be looking for stuff to eat. Keep in mind too that most organisms will consume algae that is within the norm, and not the crazy filamentous "seawitch" length that some of us have encountered within our tanks if not kept in check.

I have a yellow and blue tang that always seem to pick at the rocks and upon close inspection, they are small tufts of algae. They do NOT touch the ones growing behind another rock that is over an inch long (now how did that get there?!?!?). I pruned the tuft a while back, and occasionally they pick in that area, keeping it in check.

Your jaubert is probably still in the early stages of maturity, if the algae persists, try decreasing your photoperiod and increasing the blue spectrum of the tank. I've been away from the forums for a little while, what lights did you end up with?
 
D

depitch039

Consider that the high silica in the "play sand" with other contaminates as the source of the problem. Also you may have PO4 in the sand bed that are not being detected by your test kit. I think that phosphate removers are good, but weekly 10% water changes and wet skimming will reduce the problem. ;)

Another approach is to suction your sand bed with a "python" or similar device to remove detritus as well as blowing algae off the LR with a turkey baster/bulb syringe. If you do this you may need temporary mechanical filtration(canister/HOB) to siphon off particles ASAP to prevent a mimi-cycle in the tank. ::)

Another addition to clean-up crew are sally light foot Crabs, they seem to like hair algae and are easier to find.

BTW?? are you using RO/DI water??

HTH
 
R

RevClyburn

I currently use water from trop, when I can get it, sometimes I just don't have the time.

As for clean up crew, been trying to wait for the invert group buy, but I have some, but I know it's not enough.

Anyway, I'm thinking I'll break down the tank this weekend, if I can get to it. And just add some different sand. I really think the sand I have in there now is a part of the problem, alone with the lights, old T5'S that need to be replaced.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your suggestions, just had enougb of the h/a beast and my wife's constant chatter about the way the tank looks.

rev
 
NEWSALT

NEWSALT

jazzsam said:
I have been slowly killing mine with chemi-pur. It takes a long time but it seems to be working.
Click to expand...

Sam, What have you be doing with the chemi-pure. Are you just throwing a bag in your sump?

Mike
 
J

jazzsam

NEWSALT said:
jazzsam said:
I have been slowly killing mine with chemi-pur. It takes a long time but it seems to be working.
Click to expand...

Sam, What have you be doing with the chemi-pure. Are you just throwing a bag in your sump?

Mike
Click to expand...

Cannister filter. They say they last for 3 months but I see the biggest improvements in the first month so I just change them out monthly and it is slowly dying away. I am starving it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top