The ultimate thread on overcoming algae

[Fishn28]

I’m tired of hair algae taking over my tank. So I’m going to make this thread and dedicate it to defeating my hair algae outbreak. I will document my processes and discoveries a few time a week until I can defeat the algae. Right now I’m still trying to find the root cause of the algae as my Nitrate and Po4 both read 0. Advice is welcome!

 

[cilyjr]

I had this problem once I ended up removing the Rock and giving it all a muriatic acid bath.

No more hair algae when it all went back up.

Good luck.

 

[BryanM]

Were you trying to get to no nutrients? IMO that is most definitely part of the problem.

 

[Fishn28]

Were you trying to get to no nutrients? IMO that is most definitely part of the problem.

no. im thinking they are 0 because of the algae

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

How old is your tank?

 

[Science/G]

Full time, large scale clean up crew is needed. Astrea snails and large Cerith snails. I prefer Ceriths, they live longer, aren't as intrusive and clumsy,and can right themselves if they get knocked down.

 

[Fishn28]

How old is your tank?

just over 1 year

 

[Fishn28]

Full time, large scale clean up crew is needed. Astrea snails and large Cerith snails. I prefer Ceriths, they live longer, aren't as intrusive and clumsy,and can right themselves if they get knocked down.

ill look into this. my tang and lawnmower blend don't seem to interested in the long stuff. even when it chop it down

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Herbivores are nearly always the best answer to ordinary algae.

 

[ErikVR]

Tuxedo urchins will love that hair algae!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

This article is great to explain the reason for algae in the reef system


https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/21...hy-reef-tank-heres-a-new-method-to-manage-it/

 

[rtparty]

Not enough herbivores. It’s that simple. 0 N and P is also a serious problem and they aren’t 0 just because of the algae. They are 0 because there isn’t enough import into the system. The corals are suffering in the pictures. They need more food.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This article is great to explain the reason for algae in the reef system


https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/21...hy-reef-tank-heres-a-new-method-to-manage-it/

I don’t agree. The article suggests a way algae leads to dying corals, and algae then takes its place.

Unless to algae the op has is growing where corals died, it doesn’t seem pertinent.

High values of DOC cause them to become outcompeted by harmful bacteria, which then causes coral to die from disease. As more corals die, there’s more room for algae to colonize, reinforcing the cycle.

I’m also skeptical of there being a significantly useful effect of sponges in reef tank.

 

[Fishn28]

This article is great to explain the reason for algae in the reef system


https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/21...hy-reef-tank-heres-a-new-method-to-manage-it/

I quickly read through it. seems like I need a sponge lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I quickly read through it. seems like I need a sponge lol

Or a tank filled with them,

Don’t be misled by a hypothesis lacking quantitative evidence of utility in a reef
tank.

 

[Fishn28]

Not enough herbivores. It’s that simple. 0 N and P is also a serious problem and they aren’t 0 just because of the algae. They are 0 because there isn’t enough import into the system. The corals are suffering in the pictures. They need more food.

other than the lemonade sps. the corals are doing the best they have in months

 

[rtparty]

I don’t agree. The article suggests a way algae leads to dying corals, and algae then takes its place.

Unless to algae the op has is growing where corals died, it doesn’t seem pertinent.

High values of DOC cause them to become outcompeted by harmful bacteria, which then causes coral to die from disease. As more corals die, there’s more room for algae to colonize, reinforcing the cycle.

I’m also skeptical of there being a significantly useful effect of sponges in reef tank.

Jake Adams was very much against sponges in a reef tank. He said in all his dives he never saw a thriving reef loaded with sponges. The sponges are invasive, kill coral, and take up valuable real estate. None of which are wanted in a reef tank

 

[Fishn28]

Today consisted of a routine water change and replacing my gfo and Purigen. I manually removed as much algae as possible and there’s a noticing difference in the amount on the rocks. I’ll attach images later

 

[Waters]

I have a whole section of my sump dedicated to encrusting sponges....whether or not they do anything is debatable but they turn my sump yellow lol.

 

[Subsea]

no. im thinking they are 0 because of the algae

This is bad logic. Opportunistic algaes like dinoflagellates, GHA & Cynobacteria thrive when ornamentals fail with zero nutrients. You need to feed your reef and get some suitable herbivores like bulldozer urchins.