Dosing sugar for hair algae

[vinny]

Some of you have done this in the past, any luck do you recommend doing this. I have some questions I have a 120gl. tank with a 30gl. sump, how much do I dose, do I mix it with water first, do I just sprinkle the sugar right in the main tank. I had more question can't think of them now.

[chew*]

Vinny I don't think that the dosing of sugar is actually to target hair algae, IIRC from some researching It is to target the source, being Nitrates and phosphates. I'm not to keen on the particulars but I believe in order for it to be sucessful both must be present in your tank. I'm not sure of the repercussions either.

[vinny]

Yah I was on RC for a while after I posted this and decided not to go ahead with this. They have no long term effect of what could happen and when I tested my water I have no Nitrates and no Phosphate. But i'm still not sure why I have hair algae the only thing that i've added was Nori to feed my Tangs.

[vinny]

What does IIRC mean.

[smcnally]

IIRC = If I Recall Correctly

[Jill & Brian]

Vinny, I dosed sugar for a few months, and the reason was the same as yours. I did notice bot a reduction in the hair algae, and an increase in water clarity. I also noticed better coral health in general (better color, more polyp extension, and more growth) The coral health may have been due to the clarity more than the sugar.

THe main thing to make sure of is that you taper on and off of the sugar slowly (big surprise that you should do something slow with a reef tank :D). The bacterial colonies that the sugar feeds will die off in mass if you taper off the sugar too quickly.

One last thing, I noticed a significant inprovement in skimmer performance with the sugar.

-Brian

[ReeferMedic]

If you have hair algae growing, you have phosphate in your system. ;) The theory behind the sugar thing is this. Theoretically, if you add something carbon based, such as sugar or vodka, the bacteria will feed on it and the #s will increase. The bacteria will then be consuming more phosphate due to the higher #s. The excess bacteria in turn will be skimmed out, resulting in lowering your phosphate reading. I've tried it here and there, and I can say the hair algae did die off, and my skimmer produes a much more nasty "nog" than without dosing. Be careful not to overdose. You'll cause a bacteria bloom and your water will cloud temporarily. HTH.

[chew*]

Yah I was on RC for a while after I posted this and decided not to go ahead with this. They have no long term effect of what could happen and when I tested my water I have no Nitrates and no Phosphate. But i'm still not sure why I have hair algae the only thing that i've added was Nori to feed my Tangs.

As reefermedic said if you have hair algae you probably have nitrates and phosphates, I would suggest testing them with a high quality low range phosphates meter. They won't show up on a normal test.

[vinny]

Ok let's say I do this how much do I start with go up to and then taper back down to and how long do I do this for. My tank size is up top.

[Kevin McG]

Ok let's say I do this how much do I start with go up to and then taper back down to and how long do I do this for. My tank size is up top.

ya, same here. I have about 200 gallons total and would like to try this but not sure how much and how ofter etc...

Enlighten me :)

[steevareno]

if you want to get rid of hair algea why not:
1) Run Rowaphos, Phosban, etc..
2) cut back on feeding
3) Do frequent partial water changes
4) Remove 1 piece of rock at a time and scrub it down
5) Add more turbo snails Vinny, I have a Hanna phosphate meter. If you want to bring me a sample of your water i will gladly test it for you.

[Fingolfin]

Better in-tank circulation and a correct level of Calcium/hardness will limit the hair algae growth.

[ReeferMedic]

I've added as much as 6 heaping tsp at once to my 600 gallon system, just to give you an idea. I'm not sure what the specific guidelines are, or if they even exist. If you devide to go ahead with it, start low and work your way up slowly so you don't cause an algae bloom. Make sure your alk is not low also, as just mentioned.

[chew*]

You could just try running one of these.

http://members.cox.net/wmdieselmc26/pics/DCFC0285.JPG

[vinny]

I have cut back on feeding a lot within the last week and for water changes its DI with TM 15gl. a week this has never changed. To remove the rocks and scrub would mean for me to rescape the tank and I want to stay away from that. Wich brings me to tell you that I just added an 1/8 tsp. I know that's a small amount but i'll increase it within a few days. I'm thinking ever three days i'll increase the amount until I reach a tsp. and then drop back down again for some reason a tsp. is the magic measurement. I've gotten some pm's to keep them informed on this but i'll try to keep this updated as much as I can and i'll take some pic.s. wish me luck all my corals are just frags (babies).

[chew*]

I find this interesting but i get the feeling that this is sort of a bandaid, which is why i went the reactor route.

[ReeferMedic]

Anything short of reducing your biload so no excess phosphate is produced is a bandaid imo. Whether it is sugar, phosban reactors, etc...

How many gallons total in your system Vinny? If you still have the 120, you could probably start at 1/2 tsp or so with no problems.

[vinny]

Anything short of reducing your biload so no excess phosphate is produced is a bandaid imo. Whether it is sugar, phosban reactors, etc...

How many gallons total in your system Vinny? If you still have the 120, you could probably start at 1/2 tsp or so with no problems.

I have cut back on feeding not sure what else to do for bioload. My total is 150gl. and I thought the same thing for a bandaid fix as far as sugar or phosban reactor goes I need to get to the root of my problem. I think that adding a 3 fish within a few weeks and feeding so many more than my norm could have started the hair to grow.

[vinny]

I think I will up it to 1/2 a tsp. tonight i'm taking baby steps rather be safe than sorry.

[dz6t]

Hook up a refugim and it will solve your problem.

[vinny]

Hook up a refugim and it will solve your problem.

I plan on doing that.

[jrmx635]

you can do any of those suggestions and in the mean time dose sugar.
I did for a while and had good results

[customclimates]

Any pictures of hair algae as of today? Maybe you can post another in a few weeks so others can physically see the benefits? Curious myself to see the results :)

[vinny]

I just up it to 1 tsp. I got some pic.s i'll try to get them off my camera somtimes it gives me a hard time.

[vinny]

Ok finally got them out

[vinny]

This is just the front of the tank the back is half as bad. The pic. does not do it just it is worst than it looks.

[ReeferMedic]

Looks like you need to get a floating algae clip.;)

[jrmx635]

My best algea eater is my sally lightfoot crab.
He ate all the hair algea in my tank.
He is constantly cleaning the rocks of any algea that starts to grow.
he does a better job than any of my tangs,angel emerald crabs,snails or hermits
Worth it for $8

[shark bait100]

You sure there isn't any Bryopsis mixed in there? Bryospsis has a feathery leaf structure and grows in turf mounds. Not many things will eat it.

[vinny]

Looks like you need to get a floating algae clip.;)

My YT grabed that and wedged it in the rocks I couldn't get it out, some how it got out I removed it after the pics. OH btw that was a chip clip I found in my junk draw converted to a algae clip.

[vinny]

My best algea eater is my sally lightfoot crab.
He ate all the hair algea in my tank.
He is constantly cleaning the rocks of any algea that starts to grow.
he does a better job than any of my tangs,angel emerald crabs,snails or hermits
Worth it for $8

Yup why not everything else failed, well i'm giving the sugar a chance first but i'll still get one or two or three:D.

[vinny]

You sure there isn't any Bryopsis mixed in there? Bryospsis has a feathery leaf structure and grows in turf mounds. Not many things will eat it.

No it's not Bryospsis I used to have that in my old tank. I'm sure that it's just PITA hair algae.

[rmleal]

don’t want to hijack this thread but I got a 75G with same issues should I start with 1/4 sugar for like a week then every week add a 1/4 till I get to 1 then slowly back off, thanks in advanced :)

[saltnut]

Following along also this sounds good. Please do keep us posted with pictures and good luck. That darn saying comes to mind once again - bad things happen fast and good things happen slow.

[vinny]

I just got home half an hour ago and first thing I did was dose a tsp. The algae looks like its breaking away a little, the skimmer looks the same full of stinky gunk not sure how much worse it could get. I would like to see if I could siphon off someof the algae but i've been up since 4am and just sat down with a beer i'm way to beat to start working on the tank. Oh before I forget all the corals still look good no sign of stress or anything else same with the fish all looks good.

[ReeferMedic]

My skimmer usually produces a much more "stinkier" nog when I'm dosing than when I'm not. The algae will start to turn yellow when it begins to die off.

[dz6t]

WIll sugar benefit corals? After all, it is a carbon source.

[reefsmurf]

I thought the sally wasn't reef safe.

[phatbob]

I agree that this is more of a temporary fix than a cure. I tried it a while back with some success, but eventually stopped due to a new problem popping up. The sugar seemed to be feeding a clearish, filmy growth all over my tank. It would bog down my skimmer pump and powerheads in just a matter of days after cleaning them.

[vinny]

I dosed a heaping tsp. last night and cleaned the skimmer and it looked like the gunk was a little lighter not any darker and my foxface doesn't look good. i'll try to siphon off some of the algae today. BTW the algae looks like it's loosing it's color from a regular green color to a light green.

[vinny]

I would like to go the route of a refugium but have no room. All that I can think of is the laundry basket that I have with lr. in it that's in my sump, I assume that the macro algae needs to be contained with some lighting. I'll try to get a pic. of this lmk what you think thanks.

[vinny]

I finally got it up lmk what you think can I add the macro in the basket, will it go thru the holes and then get sucked into the pump.

[chew*]

FWIW we started different methods at the same time, I'm 3 days in with the phosphate reactor and green algae on glass is in recesssion.

[vinny]

I'm keeping all options open I just might do the same thanks.

[vinny]

Well I siphoned off some of the hair algae filled a 5gl bucket and still have some left on the rock. The tank was a little cloudy not to bad and did a 10gl water change I added 1 tsp. this morning and found my foxface dead. I don't think it's b/c of the sugar dosing when I bought him he was a little timid and shy when it came to eating he would let the chromis and clown fish take his food. Other than that everything else in the tank is doing great my Acan lord has a better color to it and looks a little bigger, my mushrooms are exploding but that started when the algae started. I'll take some pic.s tomorrow.

[vinny]

I've been thinking does the sugar ever go away when I just drop it in the tank. Like your hot coffee if you have to much sugar and its all stired up some of it is still their. So what I did today was just stired up 1 tsp. of sugar in my rodi water let it set and then just poured in the sugar water and threw the rest away.

[ReeferMedic]

The bacteria consume it.;)

[vinny]

Thanks Don
My skimmer isn't skimming that dark froth all it is very light skim and I think that this started when I started to use sugar.

[Kevin McG]

Hey Don, I may try one/two heaping teaspoons today. How often did you add sugar to your system? Daily, weekly??

[vinny]

My skimmer usually produces a much more "stinkier" nog when I'm dosing than when I'm not. The algae will start to turn yellow when it begins to die off.

Hi Don
You said that the algae will start to turn yellow when it begins to die off, my algae isn't turning yellow but it is loosing it's strength not holding on to the rock as much. I thinking that 1 measured tsp. isn't enough maybe 2 tsp. will do better. It is working very slowly b/c I siphoned some more off yesterday and i'll try to do it again today and i'll also try to take more pic.s.

[vinny]

So today I added an extra tsp. making it two tsp. total, first disolved and then poured in. I've been siphoning the hair algae and it's starting to look a little better.

[Behrmon]

Have you been pulling the rock? Rockwork looks different? I'm trying it also.

[vinny]

No I haven't touched any rock I just siphon as much as I can. Good luck with yours.

[Kevin McG]

I have a little hair algae on few pieces of my rockwork so I figured I would give it a shot to see what happened. Saturday I placed 1tsp of sugar and tonight I added another. I will report my finding.

I am also leaving my MH lighting off today and tomorrow.

[vinny]

I siphoned some hair algae in a 5gl. bucket only half full. I did this to see how long it would live, I forgot all about it until tonight I removed the lid and the algae is still green. This was in the bucket for two weeks and no lighting, no flow,no feeding, no nothing and it was still green. BTW I just added 2tsp.of sugar the algar is thinnng out it does take time but seems to be working.

[vinny]

I'm starting to back off on the sugar dosing i'm back to 1 tsp. a day i'm getting more cleaners through the GB buy AG I can't wait for that. I also ordered a reactor for this and i'll start it up as soon as I get it. The sugar dosing is ok but the hair algae just does not want to come off. I think fustration is settling in.

[chew*]

I think it may take more time to be effective vinny, I'm at a stage where I'm seeing recession however with the addition of the phosphate reactor I also finally rearranged my sump and started a fuge, I would say algae is in recession but honestly I think i just stopped it and now my CUC can actually keep up with it therefore my recession is CUC based and my other efforts have made they're job easier.

[ReeferMedic]

Hey Don, I may try one/two heaping teaspoons today. How often did you add sugar to your system? Daily, weekly??



Sorry Kevin, have't opened this thread in a while.:o When I am dosing, I usually dose once per day, some times every other day. You'll see what works and what doesn't for your system very quickly. I've never had to use more than 1 heaping tsp per 100 gallons to achive a desired effect. I usually start with 1/2 for a few days.

[vinny]

Ok I know I haven't posted in awhile but I have been dosing two tsp. of sugar everyday and sometimes skipping a day, the hair algae still looks the same. My Phosban Reactor came in yesterday and I will set it up maybe Monday, once it's up and running i'll start to cut back on the sugar and let the reactor take over. I just put in my GB clean up crew from AG-15 Mexican turbos and 20 Red Leg crabs. I've seen the hermits go to town with hair algae I only had a few before.

[vinny]

Well I finally got my Phosban reactor running today it's cool to look at the media moving around it's looks alive very cool.

[Bobbofin]

I would never dose sugar. I fought hair algae for six months and finally won. I got a Phosban reactor, watched what and how much I feed, did more water changes with RO water, left the lights off for several days bi-weekly right before the water change and scraoed and siphoned off as much as I could. It was a slow process that truly test my patience. I considered the sugar method but chose to go after the source instead of the result.

[stratkid1048]

if u really have no phosphates, and i dont see how u couldnt if u have so much hair algae. u should probably just pump up ur flow, or reposition them so u have good cross currents.

[Chuck Spyropulos]

According to Randy (see his post in my thread on phosphate reduction rate) you can have algae with low levels of phosphate. The phosphate is locked up in the algae and manual removal of the algae will permanently eliminate the phosphate bound up in the algae. So lowering phosphate via GFO or sugar dosing lower than detectable levels may not help rid your tank of the algae although most likely will stop it from growing by diverting the phosphate from a food source for the algae. It will also prevent new algae from growing once you pull out all the existing algae.

if u really have no phosphates, and i dont see how u couldnt if u have so much hair algae. u should probably just pump up ur flow, or reposition them so u have good cross currents.

[vinny]

I stopped the sugar dosing when I started the phosban reactor. I never saw any bad side effects from the sugar, but I didn't want to push it (I read to many bad stores) and that's why I started to use a phosban reactor. As for flow I think I have more than enough, 2 MJ1200 w/mods and 2 #4 koralia and my return is mag.12 in a 4 foot span.
Hi Chuck, welcome back. Chuck a lot of the hair algae is close to the bottom were I can't reach and the stuff on the top I've plucked out just to watch it grow back in. I siphoned out the loos hair on the bottom but it's not enough.