hair algae kh problem

pufferpoison · 04/28/2006, 11:54 PM

Ok i've been battling hair algae for a month now and it's not getting any better. Here's my situation.

90G tank running for about 3 months. CSS125 until 3 days ago, upgraded to CSS220, Seio 620, Maxijet w/ wavemaker attachments x 2, DSB 130LBS, LR - Kaelini,Tonga DW, Marshall Island, Fiji - 150LBS, 250w Stealth heater, 500GPH AC mini refugium w/ CC, SAND, LR and CHeato Macroalgae. 6-8 Hermit crabs, 1 sand sifting sea star, 2 turbo snails, 6-8 Nasseras ? snails, Lawnmower / sailfin blenny, 1 yellow tang, various zoo's and LPS's, 2 Bubblebee snails. tek t5 6x54w lights. and SG is always 1.025

I have been using IO for salt and was having trouble getting calcium over 375, so i switched to Reef crystals and bought Mag and Iodine test kits. here was the old results:

ammonia 0 nitrite 0 Nitrate 10ppm, phosphate .25ppm calcium 375, copper 0, kh 11, ph 8.2

then started dosing kalkwasser got mag test kit and added cheato macroalgae new results:
amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, phosphate 0, calcium 375, copper 0, kh 10, ph 8.2 ok mag 1180, macro algae helped with nitrates and phosphates,

switch to reef crystals new test results:
Amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, phophate 0, calcium 429.6, mag 1300, iodine .012, ph 8.2, KH 8, copper 0

Now my KH is down to 8 and calcium and mag are good. Why is hair algae everywhere and isn't going away

also what about my KH, it seemed to have taken a turn to the worst. I change about 15% once a week. I have copapods growing and lots of little critters on the glass, and lots of hair algae everywhere. WHat can i do? i thought the macroalgae would use up any nutrients and i have no phosphate nor nitrate.

Please help, going mad.
also my turnover rate is:
CSS220 - 500gph
AC 110 - 500gph
seio - 620gph
maxijet - 295 x 2
24 + Turnover rate. Even higher since i added all up and divided by 90, which i know there isn't 90G in my tank considering sand and LR.

buzzee · 04/29/2006, 05:48 AM

Your tank is only 3 months old, it will go through several algal stages including hair algae and diatoms and possibly cyanobacteria.

This is NORMAL and the tank will settle.

Keep skimming hard and wait it out. May take another 2 or 3 months.

If after 3 months, you are still having probs Vodka will nail it.

Keep us posted.

ttw@paradise.net.nz

04/28/2006, 11:54 PM	#1
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	hair algae kh problem Ok i've been battling hair algae for a month now and it's not getting any better. Here's my situation. 90G tank running for about 3 months. CSS125 until 3 days ago, upgraded to CSS220, Seio 620, Maxijet w/ wavemaker attachments x 2, DSB 130LBS, LR - Kaelini,Tonga DW, Marshall Island, Fiji - 150LBS, 250w Stealth heater, 500GPH AC mini refugium w/ CC, SAND, LR and CHeato Macroalgae. 6-8 Hermit crabs, 1 sand sifting sea star, 2 turbo snails, 6-8 Nasseras ? snails, Lawnmower / sailfin blenny, 1 yellow tang, various zoo's and LPS's, 2 Bubblebee snails. tek t5 6x54w lights. and SG is always 1.025 I have been using IO for salt and was having trouble getting calcium over 375, so i switched to Reef crystals and bought Mag and Iodine test kits. here was the old results: ammonia 0 nitrite 0 Nitrate 10ppm, phosphate .25ppm calcium 375, copper 0, kh 11, ph 8.2 then started dosing kalkwasser got mag test kit and added cheato macroalgae new results: amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, phosphate 0, calcium 375, copper 0, kh 10, ph 8.2 ok mag 1180, macro algae helped with nitrates and phosphates, switch to reef crystals new test results: Amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, phophate 0, calcium 429.6, mag 1300, iodine .012, ph 8.2, KH 8, copper 0 Now my KH is down to 8 and calcium and mag are good. Why is hair algae everywhere and isn't going away also what about my KH, it seemed to have taken a turn to the worst. I change about 15% once a week. I have copapods growing and lots of little critters on the glass, and lots of hair algae everywhere. WHat can i do? i thought the macroalgae would use up any nutrients and i have no phosphate nor nitrate. Please help, going mad. also my turnover rate is: CSS220 - 500gph AC 110 - 500gph seio - 620gph maxijet - 295 x 2 24 + Turnover rate. Even higher since i added all up and divided by 90, which i know there isn't 90G in my tank considering sand and LR.

04/29/2006, 05:48 AM	#2
buzzee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 149	Your tank is only 3 months old, it will go through several algal stages including hair algae and diatoms and possibly cyanobacteria. This is NORMAL and the tank will settle. Keep skimming hard and wait it out. May take another 2 or 3 months. If after 3 months, you are still having probs Vodka will nail it. Keep us posted. ttw@paradise.net.nz