What to do with Green Hair Algae?

[SantaMonica]

A sand sifting goby would do wonders

[Patrick Cox]

Originally Posted by mpderksen

Looks like cyano. Pretty typical after you clear the GHA. (At least the same happened to me). Yes to flow being helpful. Mine seemed to pass on its own without having to do much. Maybe just angle down your returns a bit? Are you comfortable with removing the foam on the MPs? They suck pretty good off the bottom in Reef Crest mode that way.
Also you do need to keep those foam pieces rinsed pretty often. I go back and forth whether or not to use them on mine.

I go back and forth on the foam as well but I will try running them without the foam and see if that helps the circulation. Thanks.

[Crush Coral]

Million dollar idea? Some one figure out how to kill this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mpderksen]

Originally Posted by Patrick Cox

I go back and forth on the foam as well but I will try running them without the foam and see if that helps the circulation. Thanks.

One way I check circulation is when I add phytoplankton. If it swirls everywhere, then I figure it's all good. I have a single MP10, and a WP25 for my tank. The WP can be angled if need be. In your case, sliding one of the MPs a little may be all you need. Moving ALL the rocks forward is a less attractive option, but could help the circulation.
+1 to the Gobie idea too

[Patrick Cox]

Hello,
My DI Resin has changed color about half way through the canister so I decided to check the PO4 of my RODI water and it is now .02.

Also, TDS is 3 coming into the DI Canister and 0 exiting.

Should I now change that canister?

Thanks.

[mpderksen]

When the output isn't zero, then change. At least I hope that's true, since it's the way I do it...

[melindalucy]

Originally Posted by Patrick Cox

My aquarium is now about 2 years old and I am having my first outbreak of Green Hair Algae. I started my tank with dry rock and ran GFO and Rox Carbon for the first 6 months or so and my tank was very sterile and I was not able to sustain corals very well. After realizing this I spent lots of time trying to increase nutrients and over the past 9 months or so, I have gradually seen more algae in my tank and more color in my corals. Although I still have problems keeping some SPS corals.

Now after a 10 day vacation, I came home to a green hair, algae outbreak. Over the past say 3 months, I have really noticed a lot of green film algae but my lawnmower blenny has really taken care of that. However he obviously does not like this latest algae. So, question is - what should I do now to reduce this algae?

Tank info:
75G - 36x24x20
Large Skimmer
No Carbon or GFO currently
Not mechanical currently but I have filter socks if needed
T5/LED lighting - 6 hours per day plus 1.5 hours dawn/dusk.
2 MP40 running 50-75%

SPS and LPS Corals

2 Clowns
1 Cardinal
3 Flasher Wrasse
1 Yellow Assessor
1 Possum Wrasse
1 Lawnmower Blenny


Parameters are as follows:

Salinity - 35 ppt
Temp - 77.6
PH - 88.05
Alk - 7.7 (This has been creeping lower. I think my corals are consuming more.)
Ca - 400
Mg - 1230 (I know this is low. I am dosing today.)
Phosphate - .03 (I wonder if the algae is consuming this and reading lower than actual?)
Nitrate - 0.1 (Same comment as PO4)

FTS from Today:



Thanks for your suggestions!

You have a great aquarium with a little less fish.