Got a 14 gallon biocube that's been established for about 8 months now.. Started noticing the green hair algae about 2 months ago.. I've just been removing it by hand, but it's starting to grow back faster.. My Ca is low and my PO4 is high, which I have determined is the cause.. My Ca is at 100 so I'll just get some additive to boost that up... My PO4 is at 2.0, but I'm not sure what to use to bring that down.. I was thinking possibly using Fluval Cearmax, which is supposed to remove phosphate.. But I was wondering if anyone had any better suggestions? Thanks
Green hair algae problem.. Need advice
- Thread starter jah29
- Start date
I would get a lawnmower blenny to help with the algae control. worked great for me. Just make sure that it eats flake food before buying it that way it won't starve when the algae is all gone. A lawnmower blenny is not a solution to ur problem as you stated before, it is most likely high phosphate, but it'll definitely help remove the algae so you don't have to constantly stick your arm in the tank
lawnmower blenny is a bad idea for a 14g. Use RO/DI water and do small frequent water changes and the algae will die off.
I've been using distilled water from the time I started the tank about a year ago.. I thought about a lawnmower blenny but they get way too big for a 14g and I don't want him to be cramped once he's full grown... I actually got some Fluval Lab Series Phosphate Remover on sale from an LFS which is going out of business.. Since I started using it the phosphate has went down from 2.0 to 0.25. I also put in two turbo snails which I was told would eat the algae... It's been about 2 weeks since I added the phosphate remover and 1 week since I added the turbo snails.. The agae problem seems to be getting better but is still pretty bad.. I think the main problem is the location of the tank.. It's in a small room with two big windows so it gets a lot of sunlight even though I always keep the blinds closed..
Be patient. Thats essential in saltwater tanks. If its getting better, continue to do water changes and be patient. Once the hair algae has nothing to feed on, it will choke it out. Hasty actions are a tanks worst enemy.
A year is still pretty new beleive it or not for a fully cultured eco - the long the tank runs the more effecient it will become with handling organic breakdown and it's by-products. Don't be fooled by testkit readings with algae issues - the algae is eating stuff like po4 and nitrous gases.
If it were me and I'm gettin' Cal 100 ( not 500) + p04 @ 2.0 with DI water - I'd be thinkin' I need to change the water more often and increase water circulation. I'd be thinkin' my 02 levels are low raising C02, and my TDS count is very high, maybe even skimmer needed high because of the PO4 w/ DI. I'd be wondering how in the world my my Calciums so low without a tank fulla stonies ( not like you got tons of coraline either) and be thinkin' not enuff circulation once again - Calciums probably falling from suspension. The brown diatoms are also suspect with DI water which should have zero silicates.
If it were me and I'm gettin' Cal 100 ( not 500) + p04 @ 2.0 with DI water - I'd be thinkin' I need to change the water more often and increase water circulation. I'd be thinkin' my 02 levels are low raising C02, and my TDS count is very high, maybe even skimmer needed high because of the PO4 w/ DI. I'd be wondering how in the world my my Calciums so low without a tank fulla stonies ( not like you got tons of coraline either) and be thinkin' not enuff circulation once again - Calciums probably falling from suspension. The brown diatoms are also suspect with DI water which should have zero silicates.