Reefgrow Algae Oust, how to flush it from my system?

pokerdobe · May 18, 2016

So I recently decided to try out Reefgrow Algae Oust based on the recent Reefbuilders article as well as some positive reviews on facebook.

Within 1 day of adding to, I've experienced a moderate bacterial bloom. Within 2 days, all my SPS show severe PE reduction and one of them RTNed overnight. These frags were growing and encrusting onto the plugs/lr.

So my question is, how do I flush this stuff out of my system? I can't definitively say Reefgrow's product is the sole culprit, but there seems to be correlation. My current plan involves running heavy carbon, wet skimming, and a series of w/c over the next several days.

Does anyone have any experience of their own with this product?

zemuss · May 18, 2016

I would agree with the Water Changes. Depends on how large the tank is too.

pokerdobe · May 18, 2016

The tank is about 60 gallons in total water volume, so not too bad at all. Any reason not to do a 50% change followed by 10% the next two days? I'll match the dKH before I do it.

luke33 · May 18, 2016

No experience with that product but your plan sounds pretty solid. Generally to pull out chemicals, wet skimming, carbon and water changes are the key.

pokerdobe · May 18, 2016

zemuss said:
I would agree with the Water Changes. Depends on how large the tank is too.

luke33 said:
No experience with that product but your plan sounds pretty solid. Generally to pull out chemicals, wet skimming, carbon and water changes are the key.

Any opinions on how large the water change should be? I'm debating between 50%, followed by 10% and 10% over 3 days or a series of 20% changes over 3 days.

zemuss · May 18, 2016

50% would be the largest I go and make sure the temp and salinity match the tank.

pokerdobe · May 18, 2016

It's a reefer 250, I think total volume is 60 gallons, approx.

I keep 30 gallons on hand, pre-mixed and matched to my tank's salinity, alk, and temp.

luke33 · May 18, 2016

60g tank i would go with a couple 15g changes in a two week period myself. Run the carbon and skim wet and i'm sure the chemical will be out of your system.

mattsreefadise · May 18, 2016

The best way to get their crap out of your system (I tried it for awhile and after a few months the toxins built up enough to almost destroy my tank) is wet skimming and carbon, and also run GFO. the water changes will help, also of course.
And from now on, stay away from their Chinese chemicals.

pokerdobe · May 18, 2016

zemuss said:
50% would be the largest I go and make sure the temp and salinity match the tank.

luke33 said:
60g tank i would go with a couple 15g changes in a two week period myself. Run the carbon and skim wet and i'm sure the chemical will be out of your system.

mattsreefadise said:
The best way to get their crap out of your system (I tried it for awhile and after a few months the toxins built up enough to almost destroy my tank) is wet skimming and carbon, and also run GFO. the water changes will help, also of course.
And from now on, stay away from their Chinese chemicals.

Good stuff. Looks like I'll be busy over the next several days trying to purge my tank. Wish I had never put this stuff in my system, regret reading that reefbuilders article.

mattsreefadise · May 18, 2016

If you notice on those reviews, most of the "great reviews" are the store owners.
That's because ReedGrow gives them such a good markup on the product. And the rest of those reviews?
Reefers that are locals to Reef Grow, and they feed them free stuff and access to wholesale accounts for fish, in order to sway them
And most of those locals have crappy tanks (seen em in person) and have only been reefing for a year or two, so they really have no idea what they're using.

pokerdobe · May 18, 2016

mattsreefadise said:
If you notice on those reviews, most of the "great reviews" are the store owners.
That's because ReedGrow gives them such a good markup on the product. And the rest of those reviews?
Reefers that are locals to Reef Grow, and they feed them free stuff and access to wholesale accounts for fish, in order to sway them
And most of those locals have crappy tanks (seen em in person) and have only been reefing for a year or two, so they really have no idea what they're using.

Yeah.. seems like to be the case. I didn't dig deeper until earlier today. I'm amazed how much damage it did in just 2 days... I really hope these water changes and skimming/carbon can save the my acros before it's too late.