Algae Attack!

[nighthawk]

My tank has been taken over with hair algae. I have no idea what's caused the attack, but in about 2 days all my LR and LS is pretty much covered with hair algae. It's taking over the sides and back of the tank and the overflow boxes as well.

I've got about 50&50 snails& hermits as well as Blacksailfin goby and a couple of nubiranchs. These all usually keep up the any algae that's going on in my tank, but for some reason this huge crop has come up practically overnight and it's beginning to choke out my feather dusters and other sessile inverts.

the only thing that I can think of is that I did a water change a few days prior to this event. I typically 'cure' my water for a day or two before adding salt and then another 3 days mised before adding it to my tank. I don't have a RO/DI so I'm using city water. My parameters seem fine, but nitrates seem to be climbing since the outbreak. I'm about 2hrs from a 'LFS' so it's hard to get really good water testing done.

Any suggestions or is the tank doomed?

[betiuminside]

I don't think it is doomed... BUT I used to use Tap Water and it is terrible , I had all kinds of algaes!!!
so... try to get some containers and try to start buying R/O water... maybe a walmart location. Have you checked phosphates??
Those were killing me as well.... In other words... is going to take a lil to bring the nitrates and phosphates down... but it can be done... lots of water changes.... try to get a phosban reactor... or simple put some phosban in a filter bag and dump it in the sump... (worst case escenario).

My tank was perfect for 3 months and then... BOOM, algea all over the place....

So BUY water from LFS or Walmart.... 25 cents p/gal until you get your unit.

Ohh and very good thing that you have lots of hermits, snails and nubiranchs 8)

[GaryP]

Have you made any recent changes to the supplements, salt, or foods you are using? Those are usually the source of phosphates that will trigger an algae bloom.

Another possibility is the die-off of some critter(s). Also check to make sure your skimmer is working properly. If you have not torn it down and cleaned the eductor and pump with vinegar in a while it would be a good idea to do so now. I did that to mine last week and its amazing how much better it's working now.

[nighthawk]

I talked to someone else who has a freshwater tank here and they said they are experiencing the same thing, and have recently done a water change.

Looks like it may be time to invest in an alternate source of water. Guess I'm in the market for a RO/DI now... :lol

Thanks for the help. I'll get some Walmart water to supliment and see if that improves things.

[betiuminside]

Check the readings on the Walmart water ... the water I am buying from the is 7ppm which is not THE BEST, but still good on the Culligan station..

[MattK]

If you're in the market for a RO/DI, check this out:
http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=...ic&t=20016

[nighthawk]

Thanks for the link. Do you need to be a member to put in for that order? I've never officially joined up since I live pretty far away from the local area and work precludes me from coming to many meetings. I've been 50/50 about joining anyway to keep the site going with all the great info, but it'd be more than worth it to get in on a deal like this and save my tank.

[GaryP]

There isn't any requirement on that particular order. Some vendors do give a discount to charter members, but that isn't one of them.

That isn't to say that we wouldn't love to have you as a charter member.