good idea/bad idea??

banga13 · 03/30/2007, 06:01 PM

I have a hair algae problem and am getting ready for a water change. I am planning on picking as much of the algae as I can and then scrubbing the rest off of the rock and power heads right before I do my water change.
Is this a good idea or a disaster waiting to happen??

Thanks,
Leslie

Rock Anemone · 03/30/2007, 06:09 PM

Depending on how you do it, it should work fine. Just be sure to siphon out what gets loose from your hands.

Checkout this article, it's got some great suggestions: http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

Good luck!

Salamander · 03/30/2007, 07:15 PM

Maybe look into getting a Phosban reactorto absorb PO4. They're pretty cheap and will help alot. Do you have a refugium with macro.

If you scrub now you may get rid of it for a short while, but you need to look into longer term solutions to the problem, not the symptoms.

drummereef · 03/30/2007, 07:53 PM

Do you know your nitrate and phosphate levels? Also, do you use RO/DI water? How old is the tank?

ttomkat1 · 03/30/2007, 08:17 PM

I have brushed off my rock works several times before a water change with no ill effects. But you will want to start checking for the source of the problem.

---ttomkat1

szwab · 03/30/2007, 08:21 PM

you run the risk of whatever gets loose to catch on other rocks and spread through the tank. If youare going to scrub I'd swish it in a bucket full of tank water that can be easily disposed of and changed out as needed

badpvtdan · 03/30/2007, 08:29 PM

I always picked off the HA when I had it. I also invested in a 2 Lil Fishes reactor and it has worked out well.

banga13 · 03/31/2007, 05:34 AM

there is no risk of it spreading throughout the tank it's EVERYWHERE!!
I use an RO unit no DI yet. the tank is 2 yrs old. and I have no trace of nitrate or phosphate when I test.
I am not running a refugium but I have a skilter filter that is useless and am trying to figure out how to turn it into a small refugium. any suggestions on how to do that would be appreciated.

szwab · 03/31/2007, 07:55 AM

What brand test kits are you using? some are better than ohers.the tests could be decieving as the algae could be using up the free phosphates and nitrates as they becomne available. Also hair algae captures detritus then "feeds" off of it.Ever notice a puff of detritus when you pull it off, it does not take much once it gets a foothold it rarely goes away with out both mechanical removal and improving water quality. I would invest in a good skimmer cut back feedings (they fuel algae).

salty55 · 03/31/2007, 09:51 AM

try using a turkey baster to blast the gunk and loose hair algae from your rocks. this will let it get sucked up in your filters and then it can be cleaned out. you may do it several times over the period of an hour or so. then do your water change. this will make for a much more beneficial water change. i done the same thing to my tank last night. the water is amazinly clear this morning.

banga13 · 03/31/2007, 07:12 PM

well I just got an algae blenny, I have cut down on feedings and shortened the time that my lights are on. The test kit I have are the saltwater master liquid test kit and aquarium pharmecuticles(spelled right?? tired!) for the phosphate test. I think part of the problem was also my bulbs were old. They have since been replaced. Hopefully my water will be ready tomorrow and I'll do a 50% water change and then maybe try doing 10% a week for a few weeks as well as constant weeding. it's a start anyway

Thanks for the input.

03/30/2007, 06:01 PM	#1
banga13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jefferson,new york Posts: 216	good idea/bad idea?? I have a hair algae problem and am getting ready for a water change. I am planning on picking as much of the algae as I can and then scrubbing the rest off of the rock and power heads right before I do my water change. Is this a good idea or a disaster waiting to happen?? Thanks, Leslie

03/30/2007, 06:09 PM	#2
Rock Anemone S.C.U.B.A. :) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California Posts: 7,674	Depending on how you do it, it should work fine. Just be sure to siphon out what gets loose from your hands. Checkout this article, it's got some great suggestions: http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html Good luck! __________________ Johnny Love Current Tank Info: <><

03/30/2007, 07:15 PM	#3
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Maybe look into getting a Phosban reactorto absorb PO4. They're pretty cheap and will help alot. Do you have a refugium with macro. If you scrub now you may get rid of it for a short while, but you need to look into longer term solutions to the problem, not the symptoms. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

03/30/2007, 07:53 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Do you know your nitrate and phosphate levels? Also, do you use RO/DI water? How old is the tank? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

03/30/2007, 08:17 PM	#5
ttomkat1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sunny So. Cal Posts: 227	I have brushed off my rock works several times before a water change with no ill effects. But you will want to start checking for the source of the problem. ---ttomkat1 __________________ "You can observe alot just by watching" -Yogi Berra Current Tank Info: 120AGA, 110lbs LR, 25g sump, 10g fuge. Keeping Zoas, Mixed SPS/LPS

03/30/2007, 08:21 PM	#6
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	you run the risk of whatever gets loose to catch on other rocks and spread through the tank. If youare going to scrub I'd swish it in a bucket full of tank water that can be easily disposed of and changed out as needed __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

03/30/2007, 08:29 PM	#7
badpvtdan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 170	I always picked off the HA when I had it. I also invested in a 2 Lil Fishes reactor and it has worked out well.

03/31/2007, 05:34 AM	#8
banga13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jefferson,new york Posts: 216	there is no risk of it spreading throughout the tank it's EVERYWHERE!! I use an RO unit no DI yet. the tank is 2 yrs old. and I have no trace of nitrate or phosphate when I test. I am not running a refugium but I have a skilter filter that is useless and am trying to figure out how to turn it into a small refugium. any suggestions on how to do that would be appreciated.

03/31/2007, 07:55 AM	#9
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	What brand test kits are you using? some are better than ohers.the tests could be decieving as the algae could be using up the free phosphates and nitrates as they becomne available. Also hair algae captures detritus then "feeds" off of it.Ever notice a puff of detritus when you pull it off, it does not take much once it gets a foothold it rarely goes away with out both mechanical removal and improving water quality. I would invest in a good skimmer cut back feedings (they fuel algae). __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

03/31/2007, 09:51 AM	#10
salty55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: where the wind comes sweeping down the plains Posts: 509	try using a turkey baster to blast the gunk and loose hair algae from your rocks. this will let it get sucked up in your filters and then it can be cleaned out. you may do it several times over the period of an hour or so. then do your water change. this will make for a much more beneficial water change. i done the same thing to my tank last night. the water is amazinly clear this morning.

03/31/2007, 07:12 PM	#11
banga13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jefferson,new york Posts: 216	well I just got an algae blenny, I have cut down on feedings and shortened the time that my lights are on. The test kit I have are the saltwater master liquid test kit and aquarium pharmecuticles(spelled right?? tired!) for the phosphate test. I think part of the problem was also my bulbs were old. They have since been replaced. Hopefully my water will be ready tomorrow and I'll do a 50% water change and then maybe try doing 10% a week for a few weeks as well as constant weeding. it's a start anyway Thanks for the input.