At wit's end

Mark C

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Dealing with a huge problem of green hair algae!
No phosphates or nitrates detectable
Alk/Cal/Mag levels are good
Salinity 1.025
In the past two months, I have added nearly 30 Mexican turbo snails.
I have spent a few hours removing it by hand, but it just seems to be getting worse.
I have reduced my feeding levels as well.
Reef Octupus protein skimmer
AC 110 with phosphate, nitrate pads added only
Cree LED lighting, on a timer for 10 hours/day.
This is a 125 gallon mixed reef tank.
Any help will be much appreciated.
 

mike007

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If you have hair algae you have a nutrient problem. Most all algae's are caused by excess nutrients. You need to double check your test results with another test kit or take a sample to your lfs. Algae has to have nutrients in order to survive whether that's excess phosphates or nitrates.
 

Reefing Madness

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Well, if your sure its not nutrients, then go with the 3 day lights out, and it will all be gone.
Sea Hares do wonders on that stuff also.
 

JMSKI333

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You are coming up with zero phosphates because your hair algae is eating it all. Turbo Snails, 3-day blackouts and Sea hairs are nice, but they are just bandaids on a bigger issue.

I have a few questions:

Are you using water RODI water with 0 TDS?
How old is your tank?
Where is the rock from?
 
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Mark C

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I am using RODI water
Tank is 13 months old
Live rock from local LFS
Still a newbie, what is TDS?
 

Reefing Madness

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TDS= Total Dissolved Solids. They should read 0 coming out of the RO/DI
 
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Mark C

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I have someone service my tank, so I can't say for sure if there are any TDS.
I will try to find out though.
He services several tanks in our city and he makes his own RODI water.
Thanks for the replies gang!
 

JMSKI333

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Mark,

I would start with your water. It is possible your RO unit is due for a filter change. If you start doing large water changes with 0TDS RODI water than your Algea will go away. I would order a TDS meter or see if a local reefer has on you can borrow to test your RO water.
 

KoleTang

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There is the possibility that your rocks are leaching phosphate. Test kits wouldn't be able to pick it up since the algae uses it as it appears.
 
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Mark C

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I don't rinse my food. I feed them pellets, then a quality flake.
Every other day I feed them Hikari frozen brine shrimp with spirulina.
I also feed my tang a small piece of freeze dried seaweed.
 
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Mark C

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The filters to the RO/DI unit are up to date, so that rules that issue out.
 

Reefing Madness

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If its coming from the rocks, yes it will eventually stop.
 

Merlin3

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How do you know the filters on the to unit are good. Have you actually tested the to water or are you just believing what the maintenance person is telling you.
 

GrizFyrFyter

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Your nutrient levels may be undetectable because the algae is absorbing it.

Flake is notorious for having phosphate. Rinse meaty foods (I use 2 solo cups, one with holes so the soak water drains out). Feed pellets slowly so the fish have a chance to eat them before they fall into rocks.

Rocks will eventually stop leaching phosphate but it can take a long time and it depends on the type of rock.

I don't think I could let someone maintain my tanks. I'm too much of a control freak, plus the chemistry in the tank is half the interest.

This is just my advice,
1. ditch the flake food.
2. Test the incoming water for Nitrate, phosphate and his RO water for tds.
3. Large water changes frequently will help dilute and remove built up nutrients.
4. Remove as much algae by hand as you can. If it loses its food source and decays it will just release nutrients back into the tank.
 

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