Raising mg levels to stop Hair algae

[ShaneW]

I've heard that by raising the levels of mg in the system, it helps to control algae.
I want to try this as my Hair algae is outta control. I'll scrub it all off and 2 weeks later its about 1-2cm long again.
I don't have a mg test kit so will have to go by observation. What could the negative effects and signs be of dosing too much?
How much should I dose? and How?
At the moment, I'm running aquiPhos pellets and dosing liquid phos remover every week...with no visible reduction in algae growth. And its starting to really make me wanna chuck everything, but my corals are looking really good.
Its a +-200Lt system, 2x 24W t5 (10Hrs/day), mostly softies but got some LPS and SPS. 2 x wrasse and a clown. Last time I tested, nitrate was about 3-5. Phos undetected by sh1t test kit (nutrafin).

 

[viper357]

Shane, from what I have read, an increase in magnesium is only beneficial in the removal of bryopsis algae and does not work for hair algae.

I have a link somewhere that explains it rather nicely with all the technical terms and what not, I will have a look for it later this evening.

 

[ShaneW]

Cool thanks Viper.... any suggestions for my situation? You must've tried a few things...anything help at all?

 

[Mashrie]

Shane, find the source first.
Phosphate will show zero on the test kits.(Being used up before you can test for it.)
There is only one factor that brings algae(And yes the only one): Excess nutrients.
Forget about raising magnesium.Keep removing the algae manually and keep dosing phosphate remover.

 

[viper357]

Cool thanks Viper.... any suggestions for my situation? You must've tried a few things...anything help at all?

yip, tried lots of things, have now resorted to removing ALL rock and substrate from tank, will be cooking rock for a few months and will be putting in new substrate.

 

[Mekaeel]

ive got the same problem.scrubb everything down and a few weeks later,its back up again.running rowa phos.also dosed liquid phosphate remover

 

[Smithers]

I had the same problem with hair algea a while back. Try and switch to GOOD RO water something with a tds of 0. Get good quality salt and do regular water changes.
What rock do you have in your tank and what substrate are you using ?

 

[ShaneW]

I'm using RO Tds 0 (I assume), Its the Reefmaster plus.
Using Live Sand as substrate... and LR as well as some sandstone.

 

[palmerc]

I've heard that by raising the levels of mg in the system, it helps to control algae.
I want to try this as my Hair algae is outta control. I'll scrub it all off and 2 weeks later its about 1-2cm long again.
I don't have a mg test kit so will have to go by observation. What could the negative effects and signs be of dosing too much?
How much should I dose? and How?
At the moment, I'm running aquiPhos pellets and dosing liquid phos remover every week...with no visible reduction in algae growth. And its starting to really make me wanna chuck everything, but my corals are looking really good.
Its a +-200Lt system, 2x 24W t5 (10Hrs/day), mostly softies but got some LPS and SPS. 2 x wrasse and a clown. Last time I tested, nitrate was about 3-5. Phos undetected by sh1t test kit (nutrafin).

Mr L (Stefan) has started running high magnesium levels in an attempt to control the hair algae in his system. He is running at around 1500ppm Mg (only for about a week so far).

Maybe you can contact him in a couple of weeks to see how it is working for him.

Clinton

 

[viper357]

Shane, have a read through this, it is mostly on Bryopsis but there is mention of hair algae in there somewhere

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25498

 

[AndreT]

Shane,

When you say Live Sand, do you mean sand from the ocean? If so, how long has it been in there. There can be quite a bit of die off from live sand and it will probably take quite some time to finish dieing off (if I can say that).

 

[Midasblenny]

I agree with Mashrie. Do not fiddle with water parameters , if you up the Magnesium levels you should up the calcium, berylium, boron, manganese, alkalinity etc etc. Sandstone has been reported to leach all sorts of nasty elements in the past but i guess it depends on where collection took place and what potential nasty chemicals it was/is exposed to.

 

[phat]

midas that makes sense dude, bats cave shane right by the sewerage pipe??

 

[ShaneW]

Yes, I think thats were it came from phat (I got it with the tank). I've been considering this for a while but my zoos are attached to a really big piece that I don't really want to remove.
Oh well...Time to remove then.
Thanks guys