Turf algae, GSP and Magnesium

I've seen a lot of algae threads and some people mention the magnesium thing. Later they seem to mostly say it didn't work.... but I don't know.

I grow turf algae in my algae turf scrubber(Got my PO4 to .02 ). Can't really make it out in your pic. It keeps algae out of the display. Honestly I don't think the magnesium is going to do anything.

Are you running a GFO reactor?

 

In the large aquarium here at Penn State we did have to eradicate it. We did a similar process as you are: magnesium introduction. This took place two years ago before I was taking care of the tank. I can tell you that it worked, however this year we have a recent outbreak of hair algae...

From my understanding the magnesium binds to and replaces the phosphate in a chemical induction pathway in the algae. this pathway is also present in some bacteria that harness phosphates. I was not there to dose this mag so I cannot help you farther, however I can tell you that it did work in eradicating the algae.

 

Thanks to all who have tried to help so far, anyone else?

 

I didn't know what you called it but I had it in my tank. Still have some. water parms are perfect, I thuoght, that cant be if I have it. So had lfs check prams-they were perfect. Tanks only 5 months old, so I have new lights. I scooped up all I could, it was worse the next day. As I was sitting their scratching my head when I noticed that the sun was comeing in on the spots where algae is at. comeing in from a different angle with the diffrent season. I've put a blanket up over the window and it is going away. you might want to check your tank at different times of day. mine only comes in between 2pm and 6pm.

 

Well, the window isn't an issue but thanks for trying. You had something different, this will not come off. I tried brushing it HARD and it is like bristles on a brush. I even used that sonic brush. Since I am not getting any "sure fire" remedies, I may try some ideas I have contemplated such as actinic only for 2-3 days or no light at all. Seems strange to me that there are no people on this vast forum who have encountered and remedied Turf algae.........hmmm.

 

Good luck! Please let us all know what worked. Algae seems to be a never ending battle.

 

well I had a bad case of green turf algae, tried everything to eradicate it short of chemicals.
Theres even a pic of it in the algae id thread. Finally got rid of it with some advice from you unclejed. So I will try to pass my experience with it.

One thing I tried was raising my mag up to 1800 (i know I was desperate), I left it there for 3 months, it did hinder the growth of it but it didn't kill it. I didn't noticed any adverse affects on the corals at all. even the cream colored sp opened up everyday. Then I picked up some Green star polyps like the one in your pick and oddly enough if my mag goes above 1500 they close up for days sometimes only a few will come out(its kinda frustrating because it took me a while to figure out why). But my cream colored ones come out no matter what.
Hopefully you can get rid of the turf algae, I know how much of a PITA that stuff can be.

 

Hey Horton, where have you been? Say, you say I helped, well, what did I tell you?!! I am probably employing the advice I gave you but refresh my memory, o.k?

 

Just been finishing up school, last semester finally!

Well as a last resort I tried that algefix by api(you had recommended I try it before tearing my tank down). The funny thing is its not so pose to work on turf algae but after a year of battling it, it wipe it out in a week to the point of my phos jumped off the scale because it all died at once. within a month I was able to get the phos down to 0 and my tank has been clear of turf algae ever since.

here is some of the stuff I tried:
picked up a phos reacter (didn't help because all the phos was bound up in the turf algae)

got a rodi unit and started doing weekly water changes( didn't help even after six months)

picked up a sea hare ( he got so big I took him back after six months lol)

raised mag to 1800 (seem to hinder the growth but didn't kill it)

took the live rock out and scrubed it (stuff would just grow back).

picked up some fuzzy chitons (they would clean off a rock really good but not all of it) But they were the best at eating it.

so in the end it was the algeafix that did it. As much as I hate to resort to chemicals to fix a problem.

 

It doesn't matter what type of chemicals you use. If the nutrients are there it will always come back. There has to be some sort of nutient export ... Be it vodka,macro,micro scrubber,GFO ect. Quick fixes won't work long term.