dose 3 went in on saturday, the algae is takin a major hit, vacuumed out all kinds of dead stuff before the dose.....i'll take a post a pic before tomorrows dose..

fwiw I am running GFO and biopellets and have not noticed any adverse effects from the dosing ... yet..

Does this work on bacteria problems?

Bacterial masses can be cleaned out by siphoning and light brushing of the rock. Usually seeing these bacterial masses is indicative of some underlining problem such as dead organic matter on the rock. Scrubbing the rock out of the tank, cleaning the gravel bed and water changes can help prevent bacterial masses from growing back.

I would not dose AF for bacterial problems.

Bacteria Problem
 

I had this problem on my last setup. It got so bad I broke the tank down, transfered some rock to a local tank at a store and dried the tank out for two months. I restocked the tank with the rock and added 45lbs of new live rock. I let the tank cycle just in case it needed to, 4-6 weeks in the dark - no lights. I am lighting it now only 4 48" blue plus T5 bulbs. the bulbs are old. New bulbs should be in next week. Only snails and crabs in the tank. The tank is also bare bottom at the current time. I was wanting to add sand next month. My goal was to take things slowly. I am seeing some signs of the bacteria coming back but not as aggressive. The bacteria is mostly confined to the glass that is not being cleaned and some rock. Any suggestions on how to stop is appreciated.

There are some algae that have a very light white color. Bacteria growing on the glass are easily wiped away. The algae is much harder to scrub away.

This is a picture of what was identified as an algae and it was controlled by AF:

http://www.gentryillustration.com/im...st_algae_1.jpg

I'll try to post a pic tonight.

The specs on the glass are just to small for my camera to take a pic of (Canon S5 IS). But I can say it is a white dot with 8 legs is what it looks like. Kinda like a clock with 8 points. 12, 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 o'clock.

Perhaps they are baby star fish.

Here is a magnified picture of a baby star fish:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/attachme...abystarweb.jpg

Dose 9 provide. Most of brown algaes are have turned bright green with bubbles on some rocks. Dont know whr to go from here? Plz help.

Has anyone noticed any type of tissue Nicrosis in their corals while using AF? Could be coincidence but my corals are retracing a little bit.

Very few coral problems have been noted by hobbyists while dosing AF. I woudl continue running skimmers and GAC while dosing.

So, the algae is not dieing?

Also possible that AF killed brown algae and another specie resistant to AF could be taking off now.

Not starfish. Looks like a single dot with eight skinny lines. Your pic of the starfish has 6 legs fat from the base.

Thanks a lot friend,

Yes u can be right. but which way should i go now ? A D:eek2:ead End. Plz help.

You could try raising your magnesium level by 300 -400 ppm. I would not increase the mag level by more than 100 ppm per day. This has been reported to work on some algae species other than Bryopsis. Tech M mag supplement seems to work best.

After that, you will need to pull rock out and do a lot of hand scrubbing while maintaining low nutrients levels.

I'm not sure what you have growing on your glass.

Fishingpcola:
Take a look here http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml about 15 pics down
I think you have a Hydroid in the Medusa Stage.



Tim

Tim, you are correct. I use the magnet to clean the glass daily to wipe them off. Any ideas on how to remove?
Thanks,

Jarvis

Are u talking to me bro. I dont have a Magnesium Test Kit. Plz help.

zaitmi.

If you can provide your water parameters, filtration & other things you are currently doing to fight algae, perhaps I can help you further. A picture of your current tank would be helpful. ;)

(1 year old : Sumpless 30 gallons)

Test Results :

Water replacement : 15% Twice a month.
Nitrates : 3ppm
Phosphates : 03mg/l
Calcium : 400 ppm (dose Randy 2 part also bought PurpleUp given 2 doses)
Alkalinity : 7dkh (dose Randy 2 part)
Ph : 8.4
Vodka Dosing : 1.4 ml daily.
Aqua C Remora Protien Skimmer with 1400ltr per hour p/head.
Lights : 15watts x 3 t5 and 20 watts x 2 Aquacoral(Actinic Blue).

Top filter : Activated carbon & Rowa phos running from last 3 months.
1no. 1400 ltr. powerhead for water circulation.

I will be adding tonight 2 brown leather mushroom corals tonight. i read/heard they are extreme hardy.

Current picture attached.

Awaiting for your reply. Thanks for the help.

Thanks for providing the information & especially the pics. :)

It appears you have cyanobacteria growing on your sand bed and some algae on your glass & rock.

First the cyano:

Siphon your sand bed throughly until it is clean. This may release some nitrate & phosphate in your system. You will need to siphon your sand bed clean once per week as a maintenance procedure. I would run GFO and replace it weekly until your phosphate reads zero with what ever method you use to detect it. Remove the cyano as soon as you see it. Do not let it build-up. Run GAC and clean the GAC weekly. Replace it once per month. I would switch to vinegar dosing since many hobbyists including myself, seem to have less problems with cyano when dosing it. The amount you use will need to be increased per Genetics Vodka article except you use 8X more vinegar when replacing vodka.

Vodka Dosing...Distilled!
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...nftt/index.php

FWIW, the more I read about using carbon sources for nitrate reduction, the more I find using acetate (vinegar) is a better carbon source. My two cents.

Now the algae:

Scrape, siphon, brush and physically remove the algae as it develops. Do not let it grow much at all. This is normally a daily chore. If you keep at it, it will die out much quicker doing this. If you can take the rock out of your tank and scrub it daily, this is best. Run a filter bag to catch all remnants of the algae. Your problem is minor IMHO and with reducing nutrients as I have described along with keeping the algae and cyano out of your tank, it should be gone pretty quickly. ;)

FWIW, I would hold off on buying any new organisms for your tank until you get the cyano and algae under control. You should quarantine any new occupants for a month under proper algae lighting to prevent disease and other algae pests from re-entering your tank. Prevention is the best policy when it comes to algae/cano or other fish diseases. It's like backing up your computer system. Back-up, back-up, back-up.

maybe if this stuff pans out as well as it seems to be working, and long term maintenance keeps everything in check without killing off everything. Then maybe, just maybe, not so many people will quit this hobby out of frustration from pest algae.

I am happy to report, after 5 doses, i am 99.9% hair algae free! on saturday i went in with a toothbrush, and hose, and the algae just just fell off my rocks.

I just put in a 6th dose this Am for the final knockout punch for whats left and barely hanging on, and now i am going into weekly maintenance mode.

1.5 years of battling this stuff and watching it kill my corals..FINALLY, it's gone!

(pics comin next, being uploaded now)

Thrashie,

:thumbsup:

It's nice to win a battle after 1.5 years.

If AF worked for all species of algae it would be wonderful. As it is, AF is the only algaecide labeled for a reef aquarium. Unfortunately, little research is being currently completed regarding algae control in reef tanks. Most current pest algae research is using very specific species of sea slugs & sea cucumbers for specific species of algae. Who knows, maybe the growers will catch on to this research and begin growing specific species of sea slugs and sea cucumbers to sell them for algae control for the stubborn algae like bryopsis, Derbesia and several others. Biological control for algae sounds like it may be the safest and most likely used down the road. They just need to discover natural diseases and enemies of these pests so they can be utilized.

from saturday 9/4/10

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/x...r/DSC_0243.jpg

Reeflander*

First the cyano:*

Siphon your sand bed throughly until it is clean. This may release some nitrate & phosphate in your system. You will need to siphon your sand bed clean once per week as a maintenance procedure.*

How do i siphon my crushed coral, can u help me with a link like youtube, is thr any special instrument reqd ?

I would run GFO and replace it weekly until your phosphate reads zero with what ever method you use to detect it.

Okay i will do it and chk weekly.

*Remove the cyano as soon as you see it. Do not let it build-up. Run GAC and clean the GAC weekly. Replace it once per month.*

Fine.

I would switch to vinegar dosing since many hobbyists including myself, seem to have less problems with cyano when dosing it. The amount you use will need to be increased per Genetics Vodka article except you use 8X more vinegar when replacing vodka.*

Plz specify which vinegar and how much quantity, i am from India and we have our own local brands.

Vodka Dosing...Distilled!
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...nftt/index.php

Thanks for the link but i have already read this 3months back.

FWIW, the more I read about using carbon sources for nitrate reduction, the more I find using acetate (vinegar) is a better carbon source. My two cents.

:)

Now the algae:*

Scrape, siphon, brush and physically remove the algae as it develops. Do not let it grow much at all. This is normally a daily chore. If you keep at it, it will die out much quicker doing this.*

Okay.

If you can take the rock out of your tank and scrub it daily, this is best.*

Not possible to do it daily but i will try to make it every sundays.

Run a filter bag to catch all remnants of the algae.*

What kind of filter bag, any pic. plz.

Your problem is minor IMHO and with reducing nutrients as I have described along with keeping the algae and cyano out of your tank, it should be gone pretty quickly. *

Thanks for the positive reply and help.

Awaitinf for your reply at the earliest.

"How do i siphon my crushed coral, can u help me with a link like youtube, is thr any special instrument reqd ?"

This is a sand/gravel siphon like I use:

http://s.petco.com/Assets/product_im...781212718C.jpg

Crushed coral needs to be cleaned weekly. A proper sand mix is much better than crushed coral IMHO.




"Plz specify which vinegar and how much quantity, i am from India and we have our own local brands."

Pure clear distilled vinegar without any additives.

Follow the guidline in Genetics' article except use 8X as much vinegar as required for vodka.




"What kind of filter bag, any pic. plz"

A 60 to 100 micron mesh fitler bag is what most use. Needs to be cleaned at least weekly depending on buildup.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/filterbags.html

Reeflander

Thanks for the help. I will search these products and follow as per your recommendations. I will leaving my city this Sunday for 10 days. I will come back then i will follow the above. One last question how to use filter bag i mean should i keep activated carbon in them or what?

I like your lights. they are beautiful.

Can u me recommend me the combination,

i have the following combo :

3 x 15 watt T5
and
2 x 20 watt Philips Aquacoral(actinic blue).

How to get this type of blue and brightness? Have u seen my tank?

Also ur sand size they are also very attractive ? what size are they ?

Reeflander

Just found out the vinegar from the kitchen. The label says :
Ingreidents : Water & Acetic Acid. Non Fruit Vinegar. Prepared from Glacial Acetic Acid.

Is this what i need?

That will work. Do they give you a concentration of acetic acid? The vinegar I gave you directions for is 5% acetic acid.

Thanks Reeflander.

Okay i try to buy 5% bottle. Currently i am dosing 1.4ml vodka daily. Making it 8x Vinegar it will turn out 11.2ml daily i.e. 1.4ml x 8 = 11.2ml daily dose.

What abt. Filter Bag? Where do i use that?

Thanks Reeflander.

Okay i try to buy 5% bottle. Currently i am dosing 1.4ml vodka daily. Making it 8x Vinegar it will turn out 11.2ml daily i.e. 1.4ml x 8 = 11.2ml daily dose.

What abt. Filter Bag? Where do i use that?

Install the filter bag where water will flow through it, which will depend on your setup. If you have a sump, this should not be a problem. If not you can place a filter bag on a powerhead inside your tank.

I did an Ooops. Bought the Non-Marine Algaefix. Any body tried to use the freshwater AF in their reef tank? What are the Main ingredients in the marine AF?

According to a hobbyist that works for the company, both the freshwater and marine version are the same. We have had several hobbyists use the freshwater version in their marine tanks with no adverse effects. Follow the label. ;)

Yes me. I am using Algaefix Freshwater for my marine tank. But the result has not been very fruitful. I am still going strong and fighting against it.

Reeflander

I am searching for 5% acetic acid (vinegar). None of the brands mention here about percentage. They just mention water and acetic acid. What should i do ? How much i dose if i buy these bottles?

If it's distilled white vinegary from a grocery store and for use in food, it's fine to use straight up.

The Algae Fix worked great for me to get rid of the GHA! I have dosed 4 doses and scubbed the rock after the first dose and it is staying gone! I am going to dose once more and then do a weekly dose for precautions!

Tyler

Y-Diver,

Good to hear. :thumbsup:

Okay so i will start from today 11.2 ml vinegar dosing compared to 1.4ml vodka dosing.

Your in India correct? Your using a Glacial Acetic Acid solution which you are not sure of the concentration? You are assuming it is 5% acetic acid? I would start off with a lower dose, Perhaps 1/2 to be on the cautious side in case the percentage of acetic acid is higher. Glacial Acetic Acid is 100% acetic acid, and they are diluting it down to make your vinegar. I believe they sell pickling vinegar which is a higher percentage of acetic acid in your country. I would not use the pickling vinegar if per chance that is what you have.

Glacial acetic acid is close to 100% acetic acid. I would recommend diluting it into half and dosing using the 100 proof table (Table 3.) for ethanol from this.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/

Okay i will empty half the bottle in another container and add water to make it lighter and then i dose 5.5ml vinegar which will be half of 11.2 vodka dose. I hope this works.

Zaitmi,

Slowly increase your vinegar dose to the level recommended and watch for too much bacterial growth.

Sounds good. ;)

Add me to the list of success stories regarding algaefix. My parameters have always been good, PO4 around .04 and NO3 around 1. However, I have been plagued with algae issues of late. Used high mag, above 1500, to deal successfully with bryopsis and algaefix to deal successfully with other algae. My tank is extremely clean now....very pleased. I dose agaefix once a week and strive to maintain exceptional water quality. The results are exceptional. Recommend this product to all reefers.

very good information, thanks. I will try to do this on my tank, I got a lot of red algae on the sands bed.