hair algae taking over my boyu tl550

M

Marjolein

Joined
22 May 2009
Posts
58
Reaction score
0
Location
Vanderbijlpark
Hi
I Have A Problem Please Help. Hair Algae Is Taking Over My Tank. What Can I Do? I Dont Have Water Paremeters Because I Dont Have A Test Kit. And It Is Quite Exspensive. Can You Please Help Me? What Causes It? And What Will Take It Away??
Thank You!!!:(
 
You should really take a water sample to your LFS and ask them to test it for you because that's where your answers lie. Something in the water is fueling the growth.
 
Perhaps one of the Masa members in your area could lend you a hand here and do the tests for you. Come on guys. Any volunteers?
 
Marjolein said:
It Is Almost R100 Per Test. I Have To Wait Till The End Of The Month.
Click to expand...

Hey Marjolein,

As soon as you are able to do so , please get your water parameters tested.
Without this information you are flying blindly.

Hair algae is normally fuelled by Nitrates & Phosphates in the water.
Nitrates can come from many sources such as the food you are adding , detritus left to accumulate in the tank and on the live rock and also from dead and dying organisms in the tank.

Just be aware that you may not pick up a Nitrate/phosphate reading from the test kits . This is due to the fact that the algae is "locking" down the Nitrates & Phosphates before it has a chance to leach into the water.

To sort the problem out you need to identify the source of the nitrates & phosphates.
(i.e. Detritus , uneaten food bits , dead organisms , water which you are adding etc.)

To curb the phosphates in the water you need to run a phosphate removal compound. There are quite a few on the market such as Chemi-Pure Elite , RowaPhos , Phosguard etc.
The phos removal compound goes in your return chamber.
It is a good idea to get a combination carbon and phos removal compound.

Question : What type of filtration are you running in the Boyu ?
( Bio balls , ceramic rings , skimmer etc.)

The battle with hair algae is a long one , but don't give up. It can be beaten.
Just be diligent and disciplined in your maintenance , water changes etc.;)
 
My Skimmer Is The Orginal One That I Bought With The Tank And I Dont Have Ceramic Rings And Bio Balls. I Have Lr In My 3 Chamber. And Filter Floss In My 1st, My Skimmer And Heater Is In My 2nd. Then I Have 2 Pumps In My 4th Chamber. One Pump That Go To The Front Of The Tank And The Other To My 2nd Chamber.
 
Marjolein said:
My Skimmer Is The Orginal One That I Bought With The Tank And I Dont Have Ceramic Rings And Bio Balls. I Have Lr In My 3 Chamber. And Filter Floss In My 1st, My Skimmer And Heater Is In My 2nd. Then I Have 2 Pumps In My 4th Chamber. One Pump That Go To The Front Of The Tank And The Other To My 2nd Chamber.
Click to expand...

If you are using filter floss you should also be changing it every 3rd day or it will become a nitrate trap. I think once you have tested your water you are going to see elevated nitrate levels. Do you do regular water changes?
 
I Do A Water Change Every 2 Weeks 25l. Must I Change The Filter Floss That Often Cause Normally I Do It If I Do A Water Change.
 
I would get rid of the filter floss - your skimmer should take it up anyway!
What do you top up with? Tap water or RO water? Maybe for now while you are "FLYING BLIND" without test kits you should start doing weekly water changes with RO water only. You can buy RO water from a LFS if you don't have a RO unit!

How long do you keep your DT lights on?
 
I would try and do the water changed weeky and then change the filter floss if you really want it. Try Lanzo at Dorry Pets for test kits. He is a sponsor and keeps the good stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom