Phosban and Macro Algae Question (1 Viewer)

[JimmyOrangeSeed]

So, I have been battling algae ever since I upgraded my tank like 2 years ago. Mostly hair, but now and then some bubble and calurpa. I can easily remove all of it, but it just seems to grow way too fast. I obviously show zero nitrates and zero phosphates because all my algae.

I use RO/DI water, I do bi-monthly water changes, bought a 150g rated protein skimmer (I have a 75g), I replaced my bulbs, I added more flow, I cut my feeding down in half and I added some macro algae (red flame algae). But it really hasn't made any difference. I am thinking of adding more macro algae and trying out a phosban reactor.

I just ordered everything but my only real question is will the phosban reactor kill off my macro algae? Or will it just slow down the growth?

 

[kieffer_5]

the phosban reactor should "eat" up the phosphates which is what the algae eats so no not like a chemical kill but it will eventually "starve"

 

[reeffamily]

do you have a lawnmower bleeny or mexican snails?? maybe a rabbit fish?

 

[JimmyOrangeSeed]

Yea. That is what I was afraid of. I really like my macro algae, but it is obviously not doing its job. I am tempted to buy a lot more, but then I usually end up with my macro algae I know what to do with. I really wish freshwater plants grew in SW because then I would have zero problems

 

[JimmyOrangeSeed]

I have tried mexican snails. I can't seem to keep them alive. After about 2-3 weeks they die on me. I have a few hermit crabs but I would need a small army to deal with the amount of hair aglae I remove each week.

I also have a few Stomatella snails that hitched in on some rock but again, not enough to keep my algae in check.

Edit: Will a lawnmower bleeny survive without sand? I am running completely sandless atm because it was too much work to move sand and I am just trying it out.

 

[Nanofreak79]

the phosban reactor should "eat" up the phosphates which is what the algae eats so no not like a chemical kill but it will eventually "starve"

Not true! I have a reactor running gfo and also have a refugium growing cheato. It may not grow as fast but it does grow. I even have flame macro that I cut back fairly regularly.

 

[Nanofreak79]

Yea. That is what I was afraid of. I really like my macro algae, but it is obviously not doing its job. I am tempted to buy a lot more, but then I usually end up with my macro algae I know what to do with. I really wish freshwater plants grew in SW because then I would have zero problems

From most readings it sounds like to make a real difference the refugium should be equal to the size of your system to make a real difference. Of course this isn't the norm. I use mine for an area to grow my pods for my mandarins. I'm not really expecting it to help control an algae outbreak.

 

[kieffer_5]

Not true! I have a reactor running gfo and also have a refugium growing cheato. It may not grow as fast but it does grow. I even have flame macro that I cut back fairly regularly.

well thats what it does so it is true but obviously if it doesnt take out all the phosphates.. in all cases.. then there is still some left for other things to live off of..i know its not the right terms but i look at it as if the reactor eats up the phosphates so that the algae cant...so if the reactor doesnt eat it all up the algae can live off the scrapes

 

[Nanofreak79]

well thats what it does so it is true but obviously if it doesnt take out all the phosphates.. in all cases.. then there is still some left for other things to live off of..i know its not the right terms but i look at it as if the reactor eats up the phosphates so that the algae cant...so if the reactor doesnt eat it all up the algae can live off the scrapes

No your saying that running gfo will eventually starve and kill off the macro algae, which is not the case. I'm not arguing that running a reactor with gfo doesn't remove phosphates. Take it for what you want. I'm just trying to explain you can have both and still have a happy healthy tank free from nuisance algae!

 

[Nanofreak79]

I have tried mexican snails. I can't seem to keep them alive. After about 2-3 weeks they die on me. I have a few hermit crabs but I would need a small army to deal with the amount of hair aglae I remove each week.

I also have a few Stomatella snails that hitched in on some rock but again, not enough to keep my algae in check.

Edit: Will a lawnmower bleeny survive without sand? I am running completely sandless atm because it was too much work to move sand and I am just trying it out.

Most lawnmower blenny hop around on the rocks! I dont think having a bb tank will matter. They will eat the hair algae. plus they have lots of personality IMO.