Another Hair Algae Question

[ChelseaRanee]

My 70 litre tank has been up and running for 6 weeks, and has had a Ghost Sleeper Goby and a Peppermint Shrimp in it for the past week. Now I think I have green hair algae. Could someone please confirm this (sorry for the horrible pics).

Next question is how to get rid of it? I am going away first thing Tuesday morning and will be away for 10 days, so I need to either get on top of it before then or leave it til I come back. So far I have only added an API phos-zorb pouch into the filter (only about an hour ago). I have 2x 1600litre/hr powerheads and lights are on a 10 hour timer each day. Is shortening the photoperiod or increasing/decreasing the flow going to help?


My water parameters are:

pH 8.2
KH 10
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0.25ppm
Salinity 1.024

Sorry about the long rambling question and thanks in advance for any help :)

It is being blown over by the powerhead in this photo, but it look more like strands and less like fuzz in real life
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b455/ChelseaRanee/20140411_222248.jpg (http://s1045.photobucket.com/user/ChelseaRanee/media/20140411_222248.jpg.html)

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b455/ChelseaRanee/20140411_225650.jpg (http://s1045.photobucket.com/user/ChelseaRanee/media/20140411_225650.jpg.html)

Its right in the center of this photo on top of the rock
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b455/ChelseaRanee/20140411_225712.jpg (http://s1045.photobucket.com/user/ChelseaRanee/media/20140411_225712.jpg.html)

[MarksReef]

You will need to get them phosphates WAY down. The API phos-zorb is a good start but may be used up quick with .25 PPM po4's.
Some large water changes will help also.
What are you using for water? RODI?

[ChelseaRanee]

I initially used tap water (on advice from the LFS) our water is of good quality compared to some though. I am now using RO water from the supermarket though as no one here sells RODI water

[Sk8r]

COping with hair algae: it's going to get much worse before it gets better, usually. A gfo reactor is an answer...but it takes a while. Months. YOu might also try flipping over rocks as they get really obnoxiously deep in the stuff. And pulling it off by hand.

[Spork3245]

I initially used tap water (on advice from the LFS) our water is of good quality compared to some though. I am now using RO water from the supermarket though as no one here sells RODI water

Even if you could buy RODI water from your LFS, it adds up in cost very quickly (most LFS sell RODI for 30-50 cents per gallon in my experience).
Buy your own RODI system, they aren't overly expensive and will save you a lot of headaches with algae and coral keeping: http://www.purewaterclub.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=95&osCsid=19daecb6eac8295bdeac7b050978c1ee

[ChelseaRanee]

Its already next on the list of things to buy :-) just waiting until I get back from my holiday. Only reason I didnt was the cheapest here is over $200 and that was only RO. Are the cheaper ones on the link above any good? Is there any point in going fir expensive brands?

[Spork3245]

Its already next on the list of things to buy :-) just waiting until I get back from my holiday. Only reason I didnt was the cheapest here is over $200 and that was only RO. Are the cheaper ones on the link above any good? Is there any point in going fir expensive brands?

I've been using PureWaterClub's for awhile now, it reads 0 TDS on my TDS meter and, AFAIK, that's all that really matters. The membrane lasts about 12 months and the chambers last about 6 months each. I originally bought a 50gpd unit but quickly realized that it took *forever* for it to fill buckets so about 2 months ago I upgraded to a 150gpd unit.

[ChelseaRanee]

And they even do International Shipping :) I'll have a look into GFO reactors tonight.

When it comes to hair algae is more flow better? I'll do a water change today then again on Monday. What else should I be doing? Should I shorten the photoperiod (I have my lights on a 10 hour timer)?

[moe458]

Its already next on the list of things to buy :-) just waiting until I get back from my holiday. Only reason I didnt was the cheapest here is over $200 and that was only RO. Are the cheaper ones on the link above any good? Is there any point in going fir expensive brands?

150gph shouldn't be that expensive I would say around 130-150 bucks max.

Secondly, try to cut down the feeding before it get's out of hand.
GFO does help in this situation.

What I had was Two little fishes 150 with rowaphos. that helped a great deal.

However in the long run you may want to consider running a sump and refugium to get away from this GFO business. However you need to get rid of GHA now before you start refugium because the turf algae is always stronger than something in the fuge.

get a good Phosphate kit to understand what your levels are are.

[ChelseaRanee]

I live in New Zealand and everything (not just fish stuff) here is WAY overpriced. At the moment I am only feed 2 tiny hikari seaweed extreme pellets every second day to my goby because I know how bad overfeeding can be. How often do you suggest feeding? I probably won't get a sump as the tank is in my bedroom and I literally have no space but I got the biggest tank that would fit. I am looking to upgrade at the end of the year when I move though and will be going big (like 1200 litres+).

[moe458]

Every other day is fine.
Siphon the sand when doing water changes. Turkey blast the rocks