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green hair alge

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by ilikegirls, Jun 8, 2012.

  1. Jun 8, 2012 #1
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    My tank keeps getting green hair alge. how do i keep it from getting it? It grows everywhere
     
  2. Jun 8, 2012 #2
    Pete H.

    Pete H. Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Probably need more information. But, could be a nutrients thing and/or a lighting issue.

    What are your tank water parameters? is there nitrates and phosphates in the tank? How long are you running your lights? Is the tank next to the windows and getting additional sun light? etc. Chances are you have "food" for the algae to grow. Might need to cut down the lights and possibly reduce the nitrates and phosphates with some water changes.

    Just a starting point.
     
  3. Jun 8, 2012 #3
    notoriousreef

    notoriousreef

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    also the biggest thing for me was getting ro/di unit. Before I was just treating the water prior to my water changes and had a monstorish hair algae problem. Went and picked up a ro unit and about month, month and a half hair algea was gone.
     
  4. Jun 8, 2012 #4
    vikubz Cedar Falls

    vikubz Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I had success by cutting down of feeding, cutting back the light cycle by a couple hours, ro/di, rinse frozen foods and since I added my DIY algae scrubber I've had nary a problem with nuisance algae.
     
  5. Jun 8, 2012 #5
    jstngates Toledo Iowa

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

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    My issue was over feeding and high phosphates. I just didnt feed as much and got phosgard and it was gone in two weeks.
     
  6. Jun 9, 2012 #6
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    My tank does get some sunlight but not to much. I think im going to cut back on the feeding and the lights. Its a biocube right now.
     
  7. Jun 9, 2012 #7
    Bennyboy515

    Bennyboy515

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    If you got hair algae it is most likely from using tapwater and not doing weekly water changes, if you don't have ro/di yet that's ok just use distilled water, 20 % water change weekly = clear water and no algae. And make sure you scrub it off the best you can, in a bucket or something. If it is tap water, dump it all out start all over with good water.
     
  8. Jun 9, 2012 #8
    Bennyboy515

    Bennyboy515

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    Or just buy a korallin bio denitrator from marine depot for 380 bucks
     
  9. Jun 9, 2012 #9
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    Yeah i been using tapwater. Is that pretty bad? So should i just go use distilled water instead?
     
  10. Jun 9, 2012 #10
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    So should i do a 50 percent water change tomorrow then 50 percent another day
     
  11. Jun 9, 2012 #11
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    With tap water, no. I would look into investing in a nice RO/DI unit next. Or at minimum buy some RO water somewhere.
     
  12. Jun 9, 2012 #12
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    OK. But for now should i just go buy some distilled water? Would you change 50 percent now?
     
  13. Jun 11, 2012 #13
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    Search around for a Wal-mart or grocery store that has a culligan or other type of drinking water dispensing machine. Fill up 5g buckets there instead of buying distilled water. This can go a long way for you if you don't have the $ for an RO/DI.

    Normally I would say don't do large PWCs unless it's needed, but since you've been doing them with tap water I would say go ahead with a 50% PWC then another 1-3 days later, and a third a few days after that.

    Most important here is to let your salt mix in overnight, and match temp and salinity.

    Do you have test kits? What is:

    Salinity
    pH
    Nitrate
    Phosphate
    Alkalinity
    Calcium
    Magnesium

    These are all important parameters to keep stable and if one of these goes out of whack it can cause problems that lead to algae also. Stability is key, keep these things all stable for 3 months and your coral growth will take off. Tougher to do with a smaller tank FYI
     
  14. Jun 11, 2012 #14
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    Ok i have this water pure thing that is for drinking water. Would that work? I need to buy test kits. Ill probably end up getting them today.
     
  15. Jun 11, 2012 #15
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    Are test kits really important? Lets say for instance my nitrate spikes up. how would you even solve that issue? With the test kit?
     
  16. Jun 11, 2012 #16
    ilikegirls

    ilikegirls Inactive User

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    Got a tester. Anyways my ph is a little low. anything i can do to bring it back up? Other then that everything is 0
     
  17. Jun 11, 2012 #17
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    everything cant be 0. first you have hair algae that right there says something is off.
     
  18. Jun 11, 2012 #18
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    When you say you got a tester, that is a little ambiguous. Exactly what test kit did you get?
     

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