AlgaeFix Marine to control Hair Algae

[HighlandReefer]

Newsalt,

I dosed AF for quite a long period of time. Much longer then 13 doses. My chaeto turned to mush from this. So if you have any macroalgae I would watch it. Other then that, it did not effect my coral and fish and it did not eradicate the algae species I have (Derbesia).

[newsalt]

I don't have macro algea, and I don't know what type of algea I have in my display tank. I'll try to take a picture and post it.

[cherubfish pair]

Old light bulbs are other factors that come into play. Old bulbs can have considerably less output which can cause a shift between nutrient uptake in the zooxanthellae of corals versus nuisance algae. Whenever there's big changes in your tank, the organisms competing for limited resources will change in the order of their dominance.

[Ardeus]

Some weeks ago I reported that the product was doing nothing after many weeks of applying according to instructions.

I stopped dosing it and went back to just scrapping the rocks with a toothbrush. The algae stopped growing and I no longer need to use any product.

When the green algae stopped growing I had a cyano bloom that lasted for a few weeks. It's almost gone too now.

[HighlandReefer]

I'm sure the reason you finally achieved control was the combined effects of all your efforts and perhaps the AF too.

It feels good when you win a battle.

[Ardeus]

Yes it does , it makes a great difference in the way I enjoy the tank. I spend much more time near it now.

[reefhead165]

i just ordered some AlgaeFix From DFS....hopefully this stuff works for me i have been battling hair algae for about 2 years

[reefhead165]

should i take out the chaeto in my fuge?

[HighlandReefer]

I found that my chaeto was not effected until around the 12-13 dose. So, it will kill it if you dose to long. Perhaps removing it may be best.

Before you dose the AF, it is very important to remove as much algae from your tank as possible. As the algae dies, it will brake down and release phosphates and other waste products back into your water column.

[one4gatr]

Originally Posted by HighlandReefer

I found that my chaeto was not effected until around the 12-13 dose. So, it will kill it if you dose to long. Perhaps removing it may be best.

Before you dose the AF, it is very important to remove as much algae from your tank as possible. As the algae dies, it will brake down and release phosphates and other waste products back into your water column.

Highland... was that 12-13 doses at every 3 days? I just started this 3 days ago and on the 2nd 3 day does. Its already having a noticeable effect on my HA but my problem wasnt too severe. I would like to start adding this to my normal weekly dosing but not at the expense of my chaeto...

Thanks,

Mark

[HighlandReefer]

It was at dosing per the label, every three days.

[one4gatr]

Originally Posted by HighlandReefer

It was at dosing per the label, every three days.

Ok because label says to does 1x weekly once algae is under control. It looks like I will need between 3-5 doses to finish off what I have. I wonder if dosing 1x per week will have the same ill effects on the chaeto.

Mark

[HighlandReefer]

Whether 1X dosing a week will have effects on chaeto and possibly other macroalgae, is a good question. If you decide to try it, I would watch your chaeto for negative signs and stop if they appear.

[one4gatr]

Originally Posted by HighlandReefer

Whether 1X dosing a week will have effects on chaeto and possibly other macroalgae, is a good question. If you decide to try it, I would watch your chaeto for negative signs and stop if they appear.

Thanks. I will definitely post back on my experience.

[HighlandReefer]

[reefhead165]

just did my first dose....do i still run the skimmer?

[kevinpratt823]

Originally Posted by reefhead165

just did my first dose....do i still run the skimmer?

I would continue skimming, starve that algae of any nutrients you can. I've used this stuff as well, in much stronger doses than on the label, every other day(I'm not advocating it, just telling you what I did). After a week, I would routinely pluck algae out that came off in clumps very easily until there was very little visible. Now that I have nutrients under control also, you'd be hard pressed to find a strand of Hair Algae in my DT's

[1sirjustis]

ive been dosing MAF for about two weeks now! i just dosed the magical 5th dose today! i noticed a diff after the 2nd dose! the HA has completely stopped growing and is very very limp and sickly looking. no more cyano to! my question is this... my case of HA was pretty bad. i scrubbed off all that i saw before dosing. now that im at the point where its stopped growing. what do i do now? should i do a water change and try to remove what i can? or will the HA just wither away to nothing???

[HighlandReefer]

I would continue dosing and remove as much algae as you can just before the dose. AF will brake down within 24 hrs.

[1sirjustis]

what about the HA i cant get out!!! is it dead??? or will it grow back??? and at what point do i only dose once a week?

[HighlandReefer]

The hair algae you can't get to will hopefully die and wil brake down in your tank, releasing nitrate, phosphate & other organics. If you can't get to it, then you will want to watch your phosphate and nitrate levels. Running GFO for phosphate with an algae problem is a good idea anyway.

I would continue dosing until your algae is gone unless it does not seem to be working at all. Once the algae is gone, then cutting back to once per week may be good for a reasonable period of time to make sure you got this pest.

While dosing I would watch for any negative signs in your tank. Stop if something seems to be going wrong.

[reefhead165]

are you guys dosing every other day in the beginning?

[HighlandReefer]

I would stick to the labeled directions, every three days. I would also keep running your skimmer, since it will be important in pulling out the algae as it brakes down. If your running GAC & GFO, I would keep running them as well since they too will pull the waste products out of your water as the algae dies.

"Directions for use: It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Add 1 ml (1/5 tsp. for each 10 US gallons (38 L) or 5 ml (1 tsp.) for each 50 US gallons (190 L) or 50 ml. (10 tsp.) for each 500 US gallons (1,890 L) of aquarium water. Repeat dose every 3 days until algae is controlled. Siphon or scrape any dead algae from aquarium. Once algae growth is under control, add one dose per week. Weekly doses of AlgaeFix Marine will control Alger growth and reduce aquarium maintenance."

[Reverend Reefer]

i didn't follow the label instructions... well, at first i did, for maybe 2 weeks, then i stopped dosing cuz it worked! i now dose here and there. my macro (cheato) thinned out a bit and turned a light green but it survived the dosing. i no longer have GHA but i did get a cyano spike a little after a month. my fish and inverts seemed unaffected.

[1sirjustis]

when i looked at my dosage i factored in the rock displacement. so on a 90 gallon display and 20 sump 1-4 filled i recon thats 105 gallons, but with like 120 lbs of rock thats like 85-80 gallons... thought youd like to know.