Hair algae outbreak.

DiverDude · #1 07-12-2010, 02:49 PM

I too am having an HA problem. Ironically, it's come back SINCE I started running pellets.

I do a 15% water change every 7 days (max)
I feed very little
My Bioload is low
Pellets tumble hard

I've reduced my photo period and added a chiller and things are a bit better but not great.

I rented a sea hare from Red Coral but they only had a small one. I thougt it might be good to get in tight areas but the thing spent 2 days on the glass then disppeared into the rockwork never to be seen again. I tore half the tank apart to find him and nothing. Now I'm doing even more water changes !!

There is no easy answer/solution !

OceanicCorals-Ian- · #2 07-12-2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiverDude

I too am having an HA problem. Ironically, it's come back SINCE I started running pellets.

I do a 15% water change every 7 days (max)
I feed very little
My Bioload is low
Pellets tumble hard

I've reduced my photo period and added a chiller and things are a bit better but not great.

I rented a sea hare from Red Coral but they only had a small one. I thougt it might be good to get in tight areas but the thing spent 2 days on the glass then disppeared into the rockwork never to be seen again. I tore half the tank apart to find him and nothing. Now I'm doing even more water changes !!

There is no easy answer/solution !

Highly efficient skimming is absolutely essential whether using PHA pellets, Zeovit, Fauna, or VSV nutrient control. You need to skim heavy and wet, you should also be dosing a bacteria product like, Microbacter 7 or Zeobac in order to increase the diversity of the bacterial colonization and prevent such things as a monoculture. You would only need to dose maybe once or twice a month.

Give it a shot!

Cameron · #3 07-13-2010, 06:13 AM

I must say my skimmer is pulling harder than a woman's curling team. You have seen the vid of my pellets tumbling also.

The HA is bad, its flowing smoother than Fabio's hair....

AAAGH

Could my calc and alk and ph be so far off to cause this also?

no_bs · #4 07-13-2010, 06:21 AM

Water changes, and turn your light back an hour or two(MH 5-6 hrs. Actinics 10 hrs.). Add more flow. Cut out as much as you can. It should start to receed soon. What is your NO3?

Borderjumper · #5 07-13-2010, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron

I must say my skimmer is pulling harder than a woman's curling team. You have seen the vid of my pellets tumbling also.

The HA is bad, its flowing smoother than Fabio's hair....

AAAGH

Could my calc and alk and ph be so far off to cause this also?

LOL Cameron.. just give up and sell me your RSM

DiverDude · #6 07-13-2010, 05:41 PM

I dosed MB7 right onto the dry pellets before closing the reactor. I also dose MB7 once every few weeks. Skimmer is set to skim fairly wet but it's just not pulling much right now as I'm doing 15% water changes every 3-4 days right now. Also, other than a dead sea hare somewhere in the tank, I have a light bioload.

HA growth has slowed in the last week but it's not receeding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Ian-

Highly efficient skimming is absolutely essential whether using PHA pellets, Zeovit, Fauna, or VSV nutrient control. You need to skim heavy and wet, you should also be dosing a bacteria product like, Microbacter 7 or Zeobac in order to increase the diversity of the bacterial colonization and prevent such things as a monoculture. You would only need to dose maybe once or twice a month.

Give it a shot!