Now what? Nothing worked

[Pvtgloss]

This hair algae just won't go away. It's not crazy bad, but every week it grows back plus new sprouts.
No3 stays around 10
Po4 stays around .05-.06
10% weekly wc
Dosing TM Elima-NP
GFO in sumo
Light is on 7hrs at 24% I'm getting 50par on and bed and 180par on top. So, not that bright.
About 2 months ago I added
10 blue leg hermits
10 scarlet hermits
20 astreas
10 trochus
10 ceriths
5 margaritas
This is my next plan of action
1) 1.5 dose of reef Flux
2) 2hrs a day manual removal.
3) 1 urchin. I'm not sure what kind though.
4) 5 turbos
5) 10 more astreas

What more can I really do? I've ripped cleaned in January. New rinsed sand. Carbon dose everyday. GFO in sump. Real stingy feeding. Upped my cuc. I'm at a loss.

 

[Jekyl]

How old is this tank? I don't see anything in that picture that would make me even close to considering algicide.

 

[Pvtgloss]

How old is this tank? I don't see anything in that picture that would make me even close to considering algicide.

2 yrs. It gets worst and worst every week. A lot of the algae is not really visible in the picture. I just spent 2 hrs plucking. I guess I should have taken pictures of the algae before I plucked.
Is a algae free tank even possible?

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Tuxedo urchins are said to do a good job with GHA, but then there's really no need to do anything about the algae if you get one, because the urchin will eat it.

2 yrs. It gets worst and worst every week. A lot of the algae is not really visible in the picture. I just spent 2 hrs plucking. I guess I should have taken pictures of the algae before I plucked.
Is a algae free tank even possible?

Algae free tanks are impossible.

 

[Jekyl]

2 yrs. It gets worst and worst every week. A lot of the algae is not really visible in the picture. I just spent 2 hrs plucking. I guess I should have taken pictures of the algae before I plucked.
Is a algae free tank even possible?

Mine is 6 years old and still has algae. Minimal amounts in places I don't really mind. If looking to completely remove you can try an algae turf scrubber. This way it grows where you want it to.

 

[Jekyl]

Curious, is the algae growing everywhere or on things added later than rocks?

 

[Pvtgloss]

Curious, is the algae growing everywhere or on things added later than rocks?

Every where. It's rooted in tiny cracks and crevices. So frustrating, lol. After plucking I take a hose with toothbrush zip tied to it and scrub. But I'm limited on how long I can do that by the amount of water change I'm doing.
Definitely think I'm going with an urchin. I'm just not confident on how well my frags are glued.

 

[Jekyl]

Every where. It's rooted in tiny cracks and crevices. So frustrating, lol. After plucking I take a hose with toothbrush zip tied to it and scrub. But I'm limited on how long I can do that by the amount of water change I'm doing.
Definitely think I'm going with an urchin. I'm just not confident on how well my frags are glued.

Do you have a sump? Could also try dosing live phyto to help compete.

 

[Pvtgloss]

Do you have a sump?

Yeah. I just upgraded my skimmer to a red sea dsk 300 with all the self leveling jazz on it.

 

[Jekyl]

Yeah. I just upgraded my skimmer to a red sea dsk 300 with all the self leveling jazz on it.

You can siphon from your main tank into a sock in your sump. This way you're not actually changing any water, just removing what you want.

 

[Pvtgloss]

You can siphon from your main tank into a sock in your sump. This way you're not actually changing any water, just removing what you want.

That's a heck of an idea. Thank you. I'm doing good tomorrow

 

[crazyfishmom]

What are your silicates like? I’m assuming you’re using RODI to make your saltwater but something to think about. Is your tank large enough for a tang or foxface? Saltwater mollies are also awesome for algae control.

 

[Pvtgloss]

What are your silicates like? I’m assuming you’re using RODI to make your saltwater but something to think about. Is your tank large enough for a tang or foxface? Saltwater mollies are also awesome for algae control.

I don't know about silicates. I do use rodi 0tds.
It is a smaller tank, but I did add a baby yellow tang. I barely see him graze.
I added 3 mollies that I acclimated, I've never seen them graze.
I really feel like I've tried everything.
Hopefully an urchin and the siphon into a sock trick will work.

 

[Jekyl]

Something else I noticed. You mentioned it's in the small areas but have bigger snails. Might want to think about ordering 20 or 30 of these.

Dwarf Cerith

Resides : Sand, rocks and glass Consumes : Film Algae, Diatoms, Hair Algae, Detritus, and some species of Cyanobacteria Max Size : .5 or 15mm Origin :...

www.reefcleaners.org

 

[crazyfishmom]

I don't know about silicates. I do use rodi 0tds.
It is a smaller tank, but I did add a baby yellow tang. I barely see him graze.
I added 3 mollies that I acclimated, I've never seen them graze.
I really feel like I've tried everything.
Hopefully an urchin and the siphon into a sock trick will work.

That’s rough. Crossing fingers for you!

 

[Pvtgloss]

Something else I noticed. You mentioned it's in the small areas but have bigger snails. Might want to think about ordering 20 or 30 of these.

Dwarf Cerith

Resides : Sand, rocks and glass Consumes : Film Algae, Diatoms, Hair Algae, Detritus, and some species of Cyanobacteria Max Size : .5 or 15mm Origin :...

www.reefcleaners.org

Will do. Ordering tonight

 

[DHill6]

Florida cerith is a workhorse, lightning dove and bumblebee snails stay small, I see them cleaning in my tank. I added two orange limpets, where they graze on rock the trail is clean.

 

[Katrina71]

Are you feeding pellets or frozen?

 

[Pvtgloss]

Are you feeding pellets or frozen?

Mostly flakes and a few pellets I try to get down to the ywg/pistol.
About once a week I feed rods food.

 

[Pvtgloss]

Florida cerith is a workhorse, lightning dove and bumblebee snails stay small, I see them cleaning in my tank. I added two orange limpets, where they graze on rock the trail is clean.

Do limpets eat hair algae?
Is there any cons to them?