axlroh
Member
Before I get whacked in the noggin with some caulerpa taxifolia, here's my very first post.
This question probably belongs in another forum category, so I'll move it if asked.
My Problem: half of my live rock is growing "wigs" of hair algae. I've scrubbed the rock with a toothbrush in a small bucket almost every other week but the "tufts" grow back. Seems the more often I scrub, the faster it grows back.
Once the hair algae gets a foothold in the many crevices of the live rock, it's very difficult to completely remove it. I've read in some posts that the "die-off" in the live rock itself is part of the source of phosphates. I've noticed that squirting the crevices or holes of some pieces of rock creates a small cloud of dust (looks like silt or mud). I've heard of the "dark tank" method of killing off the hair algae, but I have some pieces that are 30-40% coralline algae encrused, so..
I'll admit I tend to overfeed my fish, but am cutting down. I've tried feeding just once a day and found that difficult, so I feed twice a day and just cut way down on the frozen food.
I've been using Phosguard, which helps, slightly, but as I've now read phosphates should be 0.015 (?) or lower. I've just gotten a hold of some Phosban, now realize that I need the Phosban Reactor as well. My power compacts are 3-4 months old, but I have been wondering about the Sunpaq square pin (7000K and 440/420 actinic) bulbs.
Any suggestions, opinions on this problem are welcome. The hair algae "wigs" are driving me mad.
~axl
SG 1.023
Ammonia Undetectable
Nitrites Undetectable
Nitrates Undetectable
PH 8.2-8.4
Calcium 500ppm
Phosphate .10 or .20 (>0, < 0.25)
dKH 8-10
Tank
* 30G L, 45lbs of live rock, 1/2 in. of crushed coral in front half
* 2x65W Power Compact (Current Satellite), 8 hrs/day.
* 2 powerheads, Emperor 280 hang-on filter (biowheel removed)
Sump/Refugium
* 20G Sump/refugium (20G high std. glass tank) Mag Drive 7 return pump.
* Aqua-C Remora skimmer, w/Rio 1700 pump (old pump: Maxi-Jet 1200)
* Available space in sump is 80% full of Chaetomorpha, thick & bushy.
* 1.5 in. Caribsea Mineral Mud in refugium added a few weeks ago. Live rock rubble. Amphipods galore swimming in there.
* 1X65W Power compact 24x7 (tried 14 on/10 off in the past).
Inhabitants:
Royal Gramma
3 small Green Chromis
2 small Ocellaris Clowns
Six-Line Wrasse
Green Bubble Tip Anemone
small Feather Duster
5 Red-Legged Hermits
15 Dwarf Blue Legged Hermits
2 Zebra Turbo Snails
This question probably belongs in another forum category, so I'll move it if asked.
My Problem: half of my live rock is growing "wigs" of hair algae. I've scrubbed the rock with a toothbrush in a small bucket almost every other week but the "tufts" grow back. Seems the more often I scrub, the faster it grows back.
Once the hair algae gets a foothold in the many crevices of the live rock, it's very difficult to completely remove it. I've read in some posts that the "die-off" in the live rock itself is part of the source of phosphates. I've noticed that squirting the crevices or holes of some pieces of rock creates a small cloud of dust (looks like silt or mud). I've heard of the "dark tank" method of killing off the hair algae, but I have some pieces that are 30-40% coralline algae encrused, so..
I'll admit I tend to overfeed my fish, but am cutting down. I've tried feeding just once a day and found that difficult, so I feed twice a day and just cut way down on the frozen food.
I've been using Phosguard, which helps, slightly, but as I've now read phosphates should be 0.015 (?) or lower. I've just gotten a hold of some Phosban, now realize that I need the Phosban Reactor as well. My power compacts are 3-4 months old, but I have been wondering about the Sunpaq square pin (7000K and 440/420 actinic) bulbs.
Any suggestions, opinions on this problem are welcome. The hair algae "wigs" are driving me mad.
~axl
SG 1.023
Ammonia Undetectable
Nitrites Undetectable
Nitrates Undetectable
PH 8.2-8.4
Calcium 500ppm
Phosphate .10 or .20 (>0, < 0.25)
dKH 8-10
Tank
* 30G L, 45lbs of live rock, 1/2 in. of crushed coral in front half
* 2x65W Power Compact (Current Satellite), 8 hrs/day.
* 2 powerheads, Emperor 280 hang-on filter (biowheel removed)
Sump/Refugium
* 20G Sump/refugium (20G high std. glass tank) Mag Drive 7 return pump.
* Aqua-C Remora skimmer, w/Rio 1700 pump (old pump: Maxi-Jet 1200)
* Available space in sump is 80% full of Chaetomorpha, thick & bushy.
* 1.5 in. Caribsea Mineral Mud in refugium added a few weeks ago. Live rock rubble. Amphipods galore swimming in there.
* 1X65W Power compact 24x7 (tried 14 on/10 off in the past).
Inhabitants:
Royal Gramma
3 small Green Chromis
2 small Ocellaris Clowns
Six-Line Wrasse
Green Bubble Tip Anemone
small Feather Duster
5 Red-Legged Hermits
15 Dwarf Blue Legged Hermits
2 Zebra Turbo Snails