"Algae Fix" to stop Hair Algae

[davidandpam]

In my 125 gal tank with much rock , a purple tang, clown & anemone, flame angel, brittle star, shrip, snails & crabs I have hair algae growing faster than it can be removed. I have no live coral. Has anyone used "Algae Fix" to get rid of hair algae? I would like to hear from someone with experience with it before I try some. My water tests good, no phospates etc.per the best fish store in town, I use R/O water, do not overfeed fish, and do not know what else to do. It is getting the best of me and it would take thousands of crabs to eat what is growing. Tank is about three years old with a plenum system and protien skimmer.

 

[bang guy]

I strongly suggest you not try to fix the problem chemically, also be sure to not overfeed.
Is there any way that you have space for an algae scrubber?
Was your live rock harvested fresh or did you purchase it from another hobbiest?
What animals do you have that would eat hair algae?
Do you have any Urchins?
Do you have your own PO4 and NO2 test kits?
Have you tested your RO water?
How much live sand do you have above your Plenum?
How "Live" is your sand?

 

[larrynews]

i have used algae fix and it works great, the problem i have had, and i posteded it was now with the hair algae dying my nitrates are way up.....i haven't used it for a few weeks now, and after a few water changes, it is starting to go down...around 40, but it was red as red could be...only draw back i've found....but i still need to find the source of the problem

 

[davidandpam]

Is there any way that you have space for an algae scrubber? I am not ure what this is, but IHAVE LITTLE ROOM due to the way my Metal Halide Lights are mounted on the hood.
Was your live rock harvested fresh or did you purchase it from another hobbiest? The live rock is about three years old. Part came with the tank when I bought it and part was taken from my old tank all of this 3 years ago. That in the old tank was fresh and very interesting other that the little brown anonimes. They were gone well before moving to the big tank.
What animals do you have that would eat hair algae? Crabs, Snails, and I am not sure what else. The Tang may eat some.
Do you have any Urchins? No, I got one with some live rock a long time ago and transferred him to this tank. He was eating all of the coraline off the rocks and I decided to get rid of him and grow more coraline. It is amasing how big he grew.
Do you have your own PO4 and NO2 test kits? Yes I do, but the PO4 test is not good for very low levels. That was why I had the store test the water. My PH was low but that has been corrected. My calcium is low now, but I can't get excited about building it back up until this algae problem is solved.
Have you tested your RO water? I test the disolved solids and it is about 5PPM.
How much live sand do you have above your Plenum? It is aragonite and it came with the established tank when I bought it. One time I added an additional 10 pounds of live sand about two years ago. It is about 1 to 2" deep in most areas.
How "Live" is your sand? I do not know how to answer this.

 

[davidandpam]

Before using Algae Fix did you remove as much as possible of the existing Hair Algie? I was told it could lead to that problem if a large amount was present when the mix was applied due to the aount of dead algae.

 

[larrynews]

i did not but i'm still fighting it, but i have been since the nitrate problem. thanks