AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae

[Witch-King]

I think this is Derbesia and I'm at a loss on how to beat it. I figured I would post here, but if this is Derbesia I read that Algae fix couldn't eradicate it. The tank has been up for years and is thriving better than ever before, but I missed months of water changes while doing a house remodel and now I'm stuck with these clumps of the worst algae I've ever experienced. I recently increased mag with tech m from 1250 to 1600 and still showing no change 5 days into treatment.

[KCombs]

^ I got that stuff, I pull it and it grows back in the same spot....
...only thing is it hasn't spread from the single spot I see it...
...not sure whats going on in your tank, but my infestation doesn't seem aggressive at all after 1yr,,,,

[el aguila]

I just finished Chem Clean with a large water change on Sunday. Will probably do 40G water changes every 3 days for 3-5 water changes.

Looks like what I thought was cyno must be a type of algae because the chemiclean didn't phase it.

With the difference in chemical composition between the Chemiclean and the AlgaeFix, how long should I wait before dosing the AF? I have also switched out carbon and GFO yesterday and am wet skimming.

Am thinking about dosing AF over a 2 hour period since there are some negative comments about dosing AF to larger tanks. Spot applying locally to major infestations. Next dose manually pull previously hit algae out and proceeding to another area of rock.

[el aguila]

Originally Posted by el aguila

I just finished Chem Clean with a large water change on Sunday. Will probably do 40G water changes every 3 days for 3-5 water changes. 190DT /w 450G total water volume

Looks like what I thought was cyno must be a type of algae because the chemiclean didn't phase it.

With the difference in chemical composition between the Chemiclean and the AlgaeFix, how long should I wait before dosing the AF? I have also switched out carbon and GFO yesterday and am wet skimming.

Am thinking about dosing AF over a 2 hour period since there are some negative comments about dosing AF to larger tanks. Spot applying locally to major infestations. Next dose manually pull previously hit algae out and proceeding to another area of rock.

[bertoni]

ChemiClean probably is an antibiotic, most likely erythromycin, but we don't know for sure. Algae Fix is a general poison to which many algae are more susceptible than the animals we want to keep.

I would wait until the skimmer is back to normal and the corals and other animals have been fine for a week before starting on the Algae Fix, but I am the cautious sort.

[el aguila]

Originally Posted by bertoni

ChemiClean probably is an antibiotic, most likely erythromycin, but we don't know for sure. Algae Fix is a general poison to which many algae are more susceptible than the animals we want to keep.

I would wait until the skimmer is back to normal and the corals and other animals have been fine for a week before starting on the Algae Fix, but I am the cautious sort.

I think waiting a week is probably a good idea. I have changed 230G thus far and the skimmer returned to normal yesterday. At this point everything "looks normal".

[dirtyBit]

I've not found an answer to this but can I use the PondCare AlgaeFix? It get twice as much as the Freshwater for the same price. It seems to have the same % of the active ingredient.

[bertoni]

You would need to match the ingredient list in the saltwater product. From what I can tell, the ingredients are the same, but the web page I was checking might be wrong.

[dirtyBit]

Thanks, I'm going to give it a try.

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck! Let us know how it works!

[biecacka]

not sure about the pond one, but i spoke with the manufacturer and they told me that the marine and the freshwater are 100% the same.
corey

[bertoni]

That's what I would think. I would guess that they just use different labeling and container sizes for the different markets.

[crabbyjoe]

i meant to post some before and after pics when i started using AF but unfortunately forgot to take pictures! :/

i honestly saw no change in hair algae after an 8 dose cycle in my tanke. the only thing that died off were my snails resulting in more nutrients in the water and yes, you guessed it.. more algae.

Back to square one. i'm moving my 56g into a 90g soon and hoping to have a chance to directly attack rocks w/ a lot of hair algae when i break the reef down.

[RegalAngel]

Originally Posted by dirtyBit

I've not found an answer to this but can I use the PondCare AlgaeFix? It get twice as much as the Freshwater for the same price. It seems to have the same % of the active ingredient.

....YES!

I have a 1 gal. bottle hooked up to a doser and dose 30ml three times a week into my 300g DT. Works to slow down the growth of green algae.

RA

[asylumdown]

I developed a serious GHA problem when I removed my fish for an ich treatment. It's a long story, but my tank had zero nutrient export for almost 6 weeks (no skimmer, no water changes, no GFO, no pellets) and I was still feeding the tank. I knew i was going to have problems, but I didn't know how bad they were going to be. When I got things working again properly, I started a really aggressive nutrient reduction campaign, started changing the water almost every other day, and got a small army of Mexican turbos. While that slowed the growth of the algae down, it wasn't stopping or reversing the trend at all. I was manually removing probably 2 pounds of the stuff a week. We can't get Algaefix Marine in Canada, so I ordered some from Asia on Ebay. I'd say the results speak for themselves. These pics are after 4 doses, and yes I went on a bit of a coral shopping spree while I was dosing. I've also noticed a dramatic increase in the rate of coral growth since the algae started to recede. I've been changing thick, algae covered filter socks every day:

Before: Front


After: Front


Before: Back


After: Back


Some closeups
Before:

After:


Before:

After:


I'm going to have to give away most of my turbos soon. Now if I can find a permanent source of aiptasia control, my tank will be exactly where I want it for once!

[bertoni]

Looks like good results!

If you find the Aiptasia cure, please let us know.

[RonV]

asylumdown thank you for posting the pics, I also have a bad GHA problem. I going the try AlgaeFix Marine to clean up my tank.

bertoni, what Aiptasia? You must have very good eyes, I looked and I didn't see any but I am getting old and my eyes are not like they were when I was young.

[bertoni]

I was referring to the last sentence in the post.

[RonV]

Sorry, I understand now.

[biecacka]

Can't remember if I have seen this before or not but can one dose AF and chemi clean at the same time?
Corey

[HighlandReefer]

I wouldn't dose both AF and Chemiclean at the same time. One kills algae & perhaps other small microbes. The Chemiclean is an antibiotic which kills many bacteria and cyanobacteria. The combination of the two may not be desirable.

[bertoni]

I agree. I'd space out the dosing and give the tank some time to recover.

[mrabolli]

You think if adding to a tank with no livestock you could up the dose significantly?

[HighlandReefer]

If you increase the dose enough, AF will kill all micro-organisms. The active ingredient is used as a sterilant at higher doses. AF will break down within 24 hrs.

[AcroporAddict]

[QUOTE=Witch-King;20581042]I think this is Derbesia and I'm at a loss on how to beat it. I figured I would post here, but if this is Derbesia I read that Algae fix couldn't eradicate it. The tank has been up for years and is thriving better than ever before, but I missed months of water changes while doing a house remodel and now I'm stuck with these clumps of the worst algae I've ever experienced. I recently increased mag with tech m from 1250 to 1600 and still showing no change 5 days into treatment.
[QUOTE]

Tech M works against bryopsis. I have never heard it said it works against derbesia.