How to get rid of hair alge
- Thread starter winsbxnyc
- Start date
Not yet talked to him and he said end of this week and hopefully he can bring it. Check out what I have been busy on...
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...40-breeder-rack-build-thread.html#post1273424
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...40-breeder-rack-build-thread.html#post1273424
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
A "Mini cycle" will not cause a hair algea problem. High Phosphates and Nitrates are the primary cause. If the meter on your RO unit is digital its a TDS meter and measures Total Dissolved Solids in your RO water. You want that number at 0. How often and how much do you feed your tank? How old are the bulbs in your lighting setup? if they are more than 9-12 months Old this will also cause an outbreak of HA due to the spectrum shift.Swap your RO filters out for new ones if you haven't already. Swap your bulbs for new if as above. Do a 25% water change and pick up a bottle of Marine Algeafix. Dose according to the directions.
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
How did you make out?
winsbxnyc, if you don't already have a TDS meter I would suggest that you get one. It will save you $$ in the long run. You will be able to test your ro/di water to see if you do need to change out your membrane.
If you get 0 reading you'll know that you don't have to run out, and replace membrane or di resin saving you some cash.
I use Salifert for everything but ammonia, trites & trates. For those I use the API.
Causes for hair algae can be many. For instance I just had a small outbreak in my 155 gal. that was due to the death of my fish. I recently lost 6 fish from 3" to 7"or 8". I was able to pull the 2 largest, and one of the smaller ones. Leaving 3 medium size fish in the tank. Within 2 days I had a diatom bloom & some gha. I did test my ro/di just to be sure, and the reading was 0. I didn't test for P04 or trates since I was/am pretty sure it is an ammonia spike from the dead fish, and the Nitrifying Bacteria death.
I stopped feeding the lonely little blennie left, did a 20% water change, added fresh carbon, and reduced the photo period from 12 hours to 4 (I run LEDs). Next day diatoms & GHA are nearly non existent.
BTW, when I ran MH with PC I only ran the PC for like 12 hours, but the MH I ran only for 5 hours.
With you moving your old sand over you may have cause a small cycle, add to that you are running the MH a bit to long in my opinion.
If you get 0 reading you'll know that you don't have to run out, and replace membrane or di resin saving you some cash.I use Salifert for everything but ammonia, trites & trates. For those I use the API.
Causes for hair algae can be many. For instance I just had a small outbreak in my 155 gal. that was due to the death of my fish. I recently lost 6 fish from 3" to 7"or 8". I was able to pull the 2 largest, and one of the smaller ones. Leaving 3 medium size fish in the tank. Within 2 days I had a diatom bloom & some gha. I did test my ro/di just to be sure, and the reading was 0. I didn't test for P04 or trates since I was/am pretty sure it is an ammonia spike from the dead fish, and the Nitrifying Bacteria death.
I stopped feeding the lonely little blennie left, did a 20% water change, added fresh carbon, and reduced the photo period from 12 hours to 4 (I run LEDs). Next day diatoms & GHA are nearly non existent.
BTW, when I ran MH with PC I only ran the PC for like 12 hours, but the MH I ran only for 5 hours.
With you moving your old sand over you may have cause a small cycle, add to that you are running the MH a bit to long in my opinion.
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