would skimmer help out of control algae

mdog3000 · 09/16/2007, 06:34 AM

Ive had a 12 gallon nano for a little over a year now and Im still struggling with hair algae. I can take all the rocks out and scrub them and the algae will be back within the week. I cant make it go away. I currently use RODI water and have a HOB filter and a small powerhead. I was looking into adding a Tunze Nano skimmer to my tank. Do you think that this will help reduce all this hair algae. And by the way, Ive tried using macro algae to control the nutrients and the hair algae just grew on top of it and smothered it out.

JetCat USA · 09/16/2007, 06:39 AM

on a 12g water changes and limiting the introduction of the nutrients are the most practical way. if your rock is saturated with PO4 it might be best to just toss it and get new rock and then limit the nutrient additions.

kidchill · 09/16/2007, 07:33 AM

I don't know if you're checking water parameters or not, but there's a few things that generally contribute to algae growth...
1 High Phos levels from overfeeding, decomposition of dead animals, liverock deposits, poor water changes
2 Light issues...leaving them on too long or bulbs that need to be changed (they put out poor spectral ranges)
3 Poor clean-up crew.

I would first try and figure out what the problem is and then go from there. I had algae issues in my 75 and took extreme measures to get rid of it. I put the lights on timers, added UV sterilizer during the day, used phosban, got my CA and dKh correct for corraline growth and got a killer clean-up crew, plus added an angel fish. I have literally no algae and the coralline is awesome. Hope this helps... A protein skimmer may help, but remember that algae growth is usually a reflection of high nitrates and phosphates....So, the protein skimmer may help with nitrate removal (nitrogen is found on the protein strand) but it probably won't do much for phosphates. I'd get some phosban or phosguard and place it in your filter...

smith1571 · 09/16/2007, 09:06 AM

What do you mean by betting your ca and dkh correct? How do you do that?

mdog3000 · 09/16/2007, 09:48 AM

Well my phosphates are 0 and I do weekly 50% water changes. My cleanup crew may be lacking but would they help that much??? What I want to know is if a protein skimmer will help make the algae more managable or not.

JetCat USA · 09/16/2007, 10:05 AM

if you do 50% WC weekly then No a skimmer isn't going to help you, either your rock is saturated with PO4 or you're introducing so much nutrients to the system that the skimmer wouldn't do much to help at all.

pass1over · 09/16/2007, 10:44 AM

have you checked your RODI output? ( if your making your own that is)

the membranes/filters inside need replacement every 6months to 1 year I believe

also be sure your test kits are uptodate. An old test kit/solution will throw off your readings

09/16/2007, 06:34 AM	#1
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	would skimmer help out of control algae Ive had a 12 gallon nano for a little over a year now and Im still struggling with hair algae. I can take all the rocks out and scrub them and the algae will be back within the week. I cant make it go away. I currently use RODI water and have a HOB filter and a small powerhead. I was looking into adding a Tunze Nano skimmer to my tank. Do you think that this will help reduce all this hair algae. And by the way, Ive tried using macro algae to control the nutrients and the hair algae just grew on top of it and smothered it out.

09/16/2007, 06:39 AM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	on a 12g water changes and limiting the introduction of the nutrients are the most practical way. if your rock is saturated with PO4 it might be best to just toss it and get new rock and then limit the nutrient additions.

09/16/2007, 07:33 AM	#3
kidchill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 78	I don't know if you're checking water parameters or not, but there's a few things that generally contribute to algae growth... 1 High Phos levels from overfeeding, decomposition of dead animals, liverock deposits, poor water changes 2 Light issues...leaving them on too long or bulbs that need to be changed (they put out poor spectral ranges) 3 Poor clean-up crew. I would first try and figure out what the problem is and then go from there. I had algae issues in my 75 and took extreme measures to get rid of it. I put the lights on timers, added UV sterilizer during the day, used phosban, got my CA and dKh correct for corraline growth and got a killer clean-up crew, plus added an angel fish. I have literally no algae and the coralline is awesome. Hope this helps... A protein skimmer may help, but remember that algae growth is usually a reflection of high nitrates and phosphates....So, the protein skimmer may help with nitrate removal (nitrogen is found on the protein strand) but it probably won't do much for phosphates. I'd get some phosban or phosguard and place it in your filter...

09/16/2007, 09:06 AM	#4
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	What do you mean by betting your ca and dkh correct? How do you do that?

09/16/2007, 09:48 AM	#5
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	Well my phosphates are 0 and I do weekly 50% water changes. My cleanup crew may be lacking but would they help that much??? What I want to know is if a protein skimmer will help make the algae more managable or not.

09/16/2007, 10:05 AM	#6
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	if you do 50% WC weekly then No a skimmer isn't going to help you, either your rock is saturated with PO4 or you're introducing so much nutrients to the system that the skimmer wouldn't do much to help at all.

09/16/2007, 10:44 AM	#7
pass1over Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melrose, FL Posts: 170	have you checked your RODI output? ( if your making your own that is) the membranes/filters inside need replacement every 6months to 1 year I believe also be sure your test kits are uptodate. An old test kit/solution will throw off your readings