Green Hair Algae: Am I headed in the right direction?

Anemone0524 · 10/20/2009, 07:01 PM

I feel like i'm doing EVERYTHING i'm supposed to with this reef tank, but still getting plague-like cyano, and the green hair algae is coming on strong.

-I run Rowaphos and activate carbon
-I run a 100 micron filter in the sump
-I use Poly Filter
-I have a refugium, with chaeto growing at a slow but steady pace, reverse photoperiod
-I have an oversized skimmer, skimming medium to heavy
-T-5 bulbs are only 5 months old, running now 8 hours a day (bringing it down from 10)
-Feed once a day
-Light bioload, 5 fish
-heavy flow in the tank, 2 K-4's and 2 K-3's

Ammonia 0
NH2 0
NH3 5
Calcium 400
ALK 8.5
MG 1300
SG 1.025
Temp 78.5

The tank is around month 5 in the process. I'm a newbie, but as you can see above i have a setup that should not be producing these results (plague cyano, green hair algae ).

Anything else I can do except manual removal and hope this goes away? I understand that I need to figure out why these are blooming, where the nutrients are coming from.

Is this just new tank syndrome? A phase? A temporary glitch that will evaporate in a few weeks, letting me go back to enjoying this hobby?

Any advice is much appreciated!

Anemone0524 · 10/20/2009, 07:09 PM

also related: I have a crocea clam and an RBTA. If I try the two days lights out method, will I be killing these organisms?

Found Melev's take on the situation: http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

Might try this as well.

Blownsvt · 10/20/2009, 08:40 PM

what do you have in the way of a CUC?

I was having green hair algae growing in my tank as well but since getting some large nassarus snails in there about a week ago it is immensly better and improving daily. I did get a couple reactors ordered up to start running carbon and rowaphos.

graveyardworm · 10/20/2009, 08:49 PM

What/how do feed the tank? Whats your water change schedule? What kind of livestock fish/CUC, anything in there helping to control the algae? What are you using for top off and to mix water changes - RO/DI?

5 months is still pretty young and somewhat unstable depending on how it was set up. Manual removal is a good way to help, but you will need some full time help in there.

10/20/2009, 07:01 PM	#1
Anemone0524 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NoVA Posts: 434	Green Hair Algae: Am I headed in the right direction? I feel like i'm doing EVERYTHING i'm supposed to with this reef tank, but still getting plague-like cyano, and the green hair algae is coming on strong. -I run Rowaphos and activate carbon -I run a 100 micron filter in the sump -I use Poly Filter -I have a refugium, with chaeto growing at a slow but steady pace, reverse photoperiod -I have an oversized skimmer, skimming medium to heavy -T-5 bulbs are only 5 months old, running now 8 hours a day (bringing it down from 10) -Feed once a day -Light bioload, 5 fish -heavy flow in the tank, 2 K-4's and 2 K-3's Ammonia 0 NH2 0 NH3 5 Calcium 400 ALK 8.5 MG 1300 SG 1.025 Temp 78.5 The tank is around month 5 in the process. I'm a newbie, but as you can see above i have a setup that should not be producing these results (plague cyano, green hair algae ). Anything else I can do except manual removal and hope this goes away? I understand that I need to figure out why these are blooming, where the nutrients are coming from. Is this just new tank syndrome? A phase? A temporary glitch that will evaporate in a few weeks, letting me go back to enjoying this hobby? Any advice is much appreciated! __________________ Aaron 150g rimless 60x30x20, ATI Sunpower x8, 2 48" Reefbrite Blue LED, MSX 200, Vortech MP40w x 2, BRS CA/ALK Dosers, Biopellets and GFO

10/20/2009, 07:09 PM	#2
Anemone0524 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NoVA Posts: 434	also related: I have a crocea clam and an RBTA. If I try the two days lights out method, will I be killing these organisms? Found Melev's take on the situation: http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html Might try this as well. __________________ Aaron 150g rimless 60x30x20, ATI Sunpower x8, 2 48" Reefbrite Blue LED, MSX 200, Vortech MP40w x 2, BRS CA/ALK Dosers, Biopellets and GFO

10/20/2009, 08:49 PM	#4
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	What/how do feed the tank? Whats your water change schedule? What kind of livestock fish/CUC, anything in there helping to control the algae? What are you using for top off and to mix water changes - RO/DI? 5 months is still pretty young and somewhat unstable depending on how it was set up. Manual removal is a good way to help, but you will need some full time help in there. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

10/20/2009, 08:40 PM	#3
Blownsvt Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 514	what do you have in the way of a CUC? I was having green hair algae growing in my tank as well but since getting some large nassarus snails in there about a week ago it is immensly better and improving daily. I did get a couple reactors ordered up to start running carbon and rowaphos.