hair algae - Page 2

workstoomuch · 10/25/2008, 10:47 AM

I'm currently battling this problem and I now can say that I'm winning. I had a severe outbreak of HA, red bubble algea and cyano in bio-cube. I'll list out everything I did, not neccesarily in the order I did them.

1) I began with doing 20~25% water changes as often as every three days when I could, but no longer than a week in between changes. I've always have use RO/DI water and always will.

2) I took out all the rocks one by one and did as much manual removal as I could, and cleaned off any built up detritus.

3) Replaced my lights, the old ones where well... old. I'm not sure if this helped or not. But, it needed to be done anyways. Upgraded my stock pump to a MJ 600, which definitely is was a good improvement, much better flow.

4) Added a pair of mexican turbo snails.

5) Feed only every other day. This one is important, because I don't have a 'fuge or a skimmer. Feeding every other day allows your tank's natural filter time to do what they're supposed too, without them turning into phosaphate sponges.

6) Every water changed I syphon out some sand. This because I have/had to much sand. Two inches deep in some areas, that is nothing but a detritus trap. Half to one inch deep tops is all you need. Stir it up a little before water changes, that with some good flow to keep the crud from getting trapped.

Now after doing all that I can say I see a huge improvement in my tank, the HA is almost completely gone, the red bubble is about out of here, and the cyano has been knocked back significantly with the help of the turbo's.

pony_killer · 10/25/2008, 12:00 PM

im fighting ha as well. after hurricane ike came through houston, loss of electricity for 24+ hours killed all my fish and majority of inverts which caused a bad spike in my tank. several 50% water changes later i still have a little left on the back glass.

10/25/2008, 10:47 AM	#26
workstoomuch Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Titusville, FL Posts: 59	I'm currently battling this problem and I now can say that I'm winning. I had a severe outbreak of HA, red bubble algea and cyano in bio-cube. I'll list out everything I did, not neccesarily in the order I did them. 1) I began with doing 20~25% water changes as often as every three days when I could, but no longer than a week in between changes. I've always have use RO/DI water and always will. 2) I took out all the rocks one by one and did as much manual removal as I could, and cleaned off any built up detritus. 3) Replaced my lights, the old ones where well... old. I'm not sure if this helped or not. But, it needed to be done anyways. Upgraded my stock pump to a MJ 600, which definitely is was a good improvement, much better flow. 4) Added a pair of mexican turbo snails. 5) Feed only every other day. This one is important, because I don't have a 'fuge or a skimmer. Feeding every other day allows your tank's natural filter time to do what they're supposed too, without them turning into phosaphate sponges. 6) Every water changed I syphon out some sand. This because I have/had to much sand. Two inches deep in some areas, that is nothing but a detritus trap. Half to one inch deep tops is all you need. Stir it up a little before water changes, that with some good flow to keep the crud from getting trapped. Now after doing all that I can say I see a huge improvement in my tank, the HA is almost completely gone, the red bubble is about out of here, and the cyano has been knocked back significantly with the help of the turbo's. __________________ I'm hunting Chuckus Mangionus Current Tank Info: 14g bio-cube, starting build-out on a 65 tall, 10g Nano

10/25/2008, 12:00 PM	#27
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	im fighting ha as well. after hurricane ike came through houston, loss of electricity for 24+ hours killed all my fish and majority of inverts which caused a bad spike in my tank. several 50% water changes later i still have a little left on the back glass.