Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Hair algae overran my tank and killed my cynarina, mushroom and GSP. Now left with live rock, hammer and octopus:( Thinking of converting the pico tank into FOWLR. How can I prevent the algae from overrunning? Do I need to totally restart and recycle my tank? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member [V]tEc Posted December 20, 2012 SRC Member Share Posted December 20, 2012 do water change, salt with di water. run FR with rowa or media to reduce po4. control feeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 I just changed the water. But what is FR with rowa or media? sorry really new to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekian Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I just changed the water. But what is FR with rowa or media? sorry really new to this Biopellet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Thanks for yr advice! We're currently using ceramic pellets. Are they the same? The hair algae is growing on the live rock and the sand as well. Do I need to change the live rock and sand as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekian Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 How old is the tank? What is the nitrate and PO4 level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Half a year. Not sure about the levels though. It's a really small dymax iQ5 tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekian Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Do you use DI water or tap water for top up and change? What is your water change routine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 I use distilled water for top up. For change, I use tap water with the dechlorinator and salt mix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 It is hard to control the nutrient level in a small nano tank. So you might have to do more regular water change to control it. Dosing Brightwell MB7 bacteria will help as well. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekian Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I use distilled water for top up. For change, I use tap water with the dechlorinator and salt mix Tap water introduce PO4 which promote nuisance algae. Better to use DI water for top up and water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Thanks for all the helpful advice. I will try it out and update you all if there are any changes. Thank you soooo much:) hopefully will make improvements to the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Ahhyi Posted December 20, 2012 SRC Member Share Posted December 20, 2012 My tank encounter same problem. I just off my lights a few days. Then now on only few hours aday. Problem solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Any more suggestions are welcome:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 My tank encounter same problem. I just off my lights a few days. Then now on only few hours aday. Problem solved. Thanks! Will try that too:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member tropic Posted December 20, 2012 SRC Member Share Posted December 20, 2012 No tap water at all. DI water or rodi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sengreef Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Try to get bino goby (Amblygobius bynoensis) ... I'm sure nobody know this goby is a hair algae eater like hector or rainford goby but this is bigger size compare to hector tiny fish tat 1 fish can consume my 2000L tank full of hair algae in not more than 3 weeks time ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member finind Posted December 21, 2012 SRC Member Share Posted December 21, 2012 the irony - green alage starts to grow on coralline alage covered liverock... after started running rowaphos in fluidizer for a few weeks to add salt to the wound.. that used to be hardworking turbo snail starts to "strike" ... siam the hair alage..NBz.. go buy another 2 bigger turbo hoping for the best... still they no interest ... siao!! 3 turbo zhor boh lxx!! now need hermit crab!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherman Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Get turbo snails, big one . Sea urchin. Good at clearing hair algae. I have the same problem 6 months ago. Quote 6.5 * 2 * 2 + 3.75 * 1.5 *1.5,(Decomn on 14/9/08) 4*2*2 + 2.5*1.25*1.25 (Decomn on 1/8/09) 5*2*2 (Fully LED light system, 140 3 watt SSC leds with 60 degree lens)(Decomm) 2.5*2*2(Fully LED Light System,96 3 watt SSC leds with 60 degree lens)(Decomm) 5*2.5*2(LED only) Eheim return 1 * pump 1 HP Daikin compressor with cooling coil 2 Jebao OW40, 1 ecotech MP40, 1X6085 Tunze wm, 1 CURVE 7 Skimmer 1 DIY 80 led control by Bluefish mini 1 radion XR30W G2, 2 Radion XR15G3 Sump area lite by 5 ft T5 , 6 * SSC 3 watt red LED for refugium 1 Full spectrum E27 led light 1 CR control by bubble count Start No Water Change since 1st Dec 2016 Add new 2.5x2x 1.5 ft [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pico Posted December 21, 2012 Author Share Posted December 21, 2012 I have already cleared all the hair algae infested corals. The tank is now really plain looking:(( Btw are turbo snails reef safe? I only have a 3g tank. Will it be big enough for the snail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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