Hair algea!!!!!! is it the rock?

[SteveDola]

I know what contributes to HA problems but Im to the point now where I think its the rock that has high phosphates thats growing the hA like crazy. Ive tried phosban and it didnt even put a dent in it. Its been almost a month and it seems like its as bad if not worse. I know I have trates in the 20s but its so bad that its covering 75% of all the rock. Ive had high trates before in other tanks that never grew HA like this. Im to the conclusion that the rock is the problem. Has anyone had this problem before? what are my options? cook the rock? just replace it?

btw this problem is in my Dads 90 not my 75. THanks all.

 

[Moe_K]

Did you see the thread on RC about raising magnesium to combat hair algae?
Might be worth a shot. Some dramatic results pictured there.
It worked for me last year.

This year my skimmer stopped working, and at about the same time I lost a few fish. That lead to a big hair algae break out that I'm battling now. I'm trying the high magnesium route.

 

[SteveDola]

what product did you buy to raise the mag?

 

[Moe_K]

I use Epsom salt and magnesium chloride. I just dissolve a teaspoon in RO/DI water.

 

[JeremyR]

Sometimes it can be the rock.. generally from a situation where a tank is either let go or tap water is used for a long period and the rock gets po4 loaded. You can take that rock and then put it in a clean tank and still grow algae on that rock for quite a while.

 

[SteveDola]

it was new rock and a new tank that gets frequent water changes and good skimming.

what mag cloride do you by Moe? mag flake?

 

[Moe_K]

Yeah, it's either mag flake or Dead Sea magnesium chloride from a group buy 294 years ago.

 

[alpha0r]

There was a reefkeeping.com article on this exact issue a few months ago.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-07/nftt/index.php

 

[Greg Hiller]

Hmmm....if it's standard hair algae (meaning not Bryopsis), snails, hermit, or fish really should always work.

 

[SteveDola]

Hmmm....if it's standard hair algae (meaning not Bryopsis), snails, hermit, or fish really should always work.

not even a dent

 

[SteveDola]

ive personally NEVER seen it this bad and almost daily I have to talk him out of tearing down his tank because everytime he sees the tank he gets frustrated.

 

[Moe_K]

ive personally NEVER seen it this bad and almost daily I have to talk him out of tearing down his tank because everytime he sees the tank he gets frustrated.

oh, i know that feeling.
my wife is tired if hearing me threaten.

 

[Aquaman_68]

Hows the flow where the rock is situated? Soemtimes that can be the area of deposits that cause one particular rock to start to grow algae..(when you feed the uneaten food will fall in the same areas due to flow...That is why it is always a good measure to blow off your rockwork frequently with a turkey baster...(keeps those deposits from rotting & being sucked up by the rock...)
Lower flow in one particular area & a higher organic load (or the biological filter that is still young) can also be the culprit...Is it your dads tank?

 

[SteveDola]

maxi sureflow mod and nano stream 45 with a mag 7 return...it gets pretty good flow. dads.

 

[Aquaman_68]

maxi sureflow mod and nano stream 45 with a mag 7 return...it gets pretty good flow. dads.

Do you notice deposits on that rock from feeding....(Oh BTW...he using that fish goo??) That stuff is heavy!! I've seen alot of people with HA issues & weird algae issues from using home made fish goo!!!The selcon I think is the main culprit...Clams are very heavy on the bioload as well... The recomended dose of selcon is I think 1 drop per 10 gals...For some reason I think the selcon issue is what it does to the skimmer...The fatty acids knock down the skimmer foam production Bigtime.....

 

[SteveDola]

no goo for him. baffeling.

 

[Aquaman_68]

watch how he feeds his tank...Does he dump in alot at one shot? How much does he feed & last but not least...where is he getting his product & make up water from?


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