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10/11/2014, 12:29 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 216
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Green Hairy Algae
I have a 92 gallon FOWLR. I have green hairy algae growing on my live rock. The tank has been set up for 2-3 years and it just started recently. My ammonia, nitrate, nitrates, Ph, salinity are normal and consistent. I recognize these parameters (outside of nitrates maybe) are likely not related to the algae. I don't have the tests to measure phosphates, calcium, etc. I'm most interested in understanding what specific product/solution do you recommend (outside of more frequent water changes) to get rid of this ugly algae.
Thanks for your help! |
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10/11/2014, 12:41 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cottonwood, CA
Posts: 222
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Are you running RODI water?
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Coralife BioCube 29: Aquaticlife 115 skimmer, InTank Media/Fuge Basket. Running filter floss, purigen and chemi-pure. JBJ nano zapp UV. Aquaticlife RODI buddie system. |
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10/11/2014, 12:42 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 216
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yes
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10/11/2014, 12:46 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Columbia,MO
Posts: 328
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Phosphates?
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10/11/2014, 12:48 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 216
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I don't know what my levels are (I don't have a test) but I'm sure they are high. How do you recommend I get them under control? Is there a product you recommend?
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10/11/2014, 01:06 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 216
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I should have mentioned that I do not have an adequate clean-up crew, only a few snails. Would that help with the hairy green algae?
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10/11/2014, 01:24 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cottonwood, CA
Posts: 222
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High levels of phosphates and or nitrates combined with excessive light is causing your issue. Definitely get a bigger clean up crew... Do a water change and cut your lights down for a few days. I just picked up an API phosphate kit from marine depot for 7-8 bucks.
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Coralife BioCube 29: Aquaticlife 115 skimmer, InTank Media/Fuge Basket. Running filter floss, purigen and chemi-pure. JBJ nano zapp UV. Aquaticlife RODI buddie system. |
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10/11/2014, 03:39 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 238
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Are you running gfo? I'd recommend doing so if not. When set up my first tank I used dry rock and it leeched po4 like crazy. I had to run gfo for a long time. I still do now but in smaller amounts.
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10/11/2014, 04:21 PM
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#9 |
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Crazy Prophet
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 1,008
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Get yourself a good phosphate test. Api doesn't measure low enough.
How are your stocked? Do you run a skimmer?
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36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn |
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10/11/2014, 04:29 PM
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#10 |
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RC Mod
 
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This is a thread re this problem: I recommend reading ALL of it. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1941038
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Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. |
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10/11/2014, 06:21 PM
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#11 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 216
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First, I appreciate everyone's comments and help. I need to take a closer look at the algae (i'm not home now) to first determine if it's green algae or bryopsis. Any pointers on making the right call on that would be great. If it's green algae I need to get a phosphate test, a larger cleanup crew, cut my light time and do more water changes (weekly vs. every two weeks). If it's bryopsis I will follow the recommendation Sk8r forwarded.
I look forward to your feedback. |
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10/13/2014, 06:47 AM
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#12 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 16
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How long is your light cycle?
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10/13/2014, 09:37 AM
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#13 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 50
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#1 keep up on tank maintenace, water changes with particular attention to cleaning the sand bed and turkey basting rocks etc....
#2 Use a photphate remover etc, maybe some chemi pure elite as well... #3 Get a starry blenny... only fish I have ever seen that will eat hair algae, they rip it up like a pit bull attacking something |
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10/13/2014, 09:55 AM
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#14 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NC
Posts: 411
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Have you made any adjustments to your lighting or water flow in the tank?? I would get a Lawnmower Blenny an Foxface. I have 4 Tangs to clean gotta love them!!
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10/13/2014, 06:57 PM
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#15 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 216
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I will ask what is likely a ridiculous question. As I said at the start of this thread I have a 92 gallon FOWLR. To remove ALL the green algae from the live rock what if I quickly powerwashed each rock. Since I would be using fresh water I'm assuming this would adversely affect the rock. Although I could effectively remove the algae without bleaching the rock, which I know is not an option. I know regardless I have to get my phosphates under control, add a better CUC and a fish or two that eat algae. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
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10/13/2014, 07:31 PM
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#16 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: holmdel, NJ
Posts: 555
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IMO get a lawnmower blenny, a 92 is a good size for it and he will defiantly help the problem.
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________________________ New Build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2528685 90 gallon DT, 65 Gallon Fuge, Chinese LEDs, LPS and Soft coral reef |
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10/13/2014, 08:45 PM
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#17 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Central CT
Posts: 139
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If you get an algae blenny don't get worried if he doesnt eat the hair algae I bought for the same reason and he won't touch it, just grazes on glass in random spots
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10/13/2014, 08:53 PM
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#18 | |
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Crazy Prophet
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 1,008
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Quote:
Buy nitrate & phosphate tests. Start carbon dosing or running gfo. Get a tuxedo urchin.
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36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn |
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10/14/2014, 06:35 AM
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#19 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: welland on.
Posts: 22
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Had a similar problem about 7 years ago. I found nothing to eat the hair algae. Found my phosphates were to high and use rowaphos to lower them. I continued to remove rocks and scrub them weekly with a toothbrush till eventually it didn't come back. I now grow macro algae in my sump to keep phosphates down and the hair algae has never returned. Be aware that it may take months to get the problem under control. Keep working at it.
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Dave 90G DT, 30G sump, seaclone skimmer, 700GPH & 1400GPH flowjets, 2 150w blueline fantom LEDS, 70lbs live rock, LPS, softies, cleaner shrimp. |
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10/14/2014, 10:31 AM
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#20 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 50
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Quote:
Have had a few algae blennies in my time and none of them touch hair algae... Currently have a new starry blenny and he tears the stuff up... would sell him for $500 hahahaha... not sure if they all eat it like him... And if it is FOWLR Turn your lights off... issue resolved. |
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10/14/2014, 01:40 PM
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#21 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Ramon
Posts: 437
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There is a product called Algae Fix Marine and some pretty heavy feedback on this forum if you do a search.
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75 gallon AGA with Lifereef compact refugium 2 sump, 2 T5 HO w/individual reflector and 2 175 watt MH canopy retrofit kit, GEO 612 calcium reactor with masterflex, and litermeter 3 water exchange system. |
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10/15/2014, 01:21 AM
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#22 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Brookline, MA
Posts: 1,056
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FOWLR Perhaps a Rainford Goby? They need hair algae to live. If you've got enough to sustain one that would be a great natural balance.
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New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12 |
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