Phos-Zorb

[Corax]

Anyone used this product before?

[kreblak]

I am using it currently. I don't know if its working yet. My green hair algae is out of control, so I am basically having to go all out against it. I had an emerald crab, a sea urchin, several blue legged hermits, and am using the phos-zorb.

[Guy W]

I used it to clear up the post cycling diatom bloom. Worked like a champ.

Guy

[Corax]

I'm fighting the ultimate algae, the dreaded BRYOPSIS, and I've eliminated all other possible food sources. Phosphate and silicate are the only things left that could be fueling this crud, so now they gotta go/be confirmed gone.

I read that test kits don't detect all types of phosphates, so I'm hoping that is the source of my problems.

[mogurnda]

I haven't tried any of them, because some are reputed to irritate soft corals. Don't know if that's an issue for you.

[kreblak]

Corax,
How can you tell the difference in between bryopsis and derbesia algaes? I haven't been able to locate a singe decent picture of derbesia to try to determine what I have in my tank. I fear that I might have bryopsis as well. The good news is that my emerald crab and sea urchin really seem to have turned the tide against this crud. My LR is noticably cleaner, as is the dead coral. Hopefully the phos-zorb will work as well as it did for GuyW and clear up this mess.

[Corax]

The problem with them is that they contain aluminum (oxide, I think) and that is known to bother some types of coral. I'm hoping that my BTA won't be bothered by it. So far he seems a tad bit withdrawn, but that is normal after I do a water change which I did at the same time I introduced the PZ. Time will tell..

Kreblak, I honestly have no idea. My (insert evil algae name of your choice here) was identified by a friend of mine locally. I'd honestly never heard of derbesia until you typed it. I will be looking into it though, thank you =)

[kreblak]

evil algae

You got that right! :D I hate this stuff! Incidentally, I came across derbesia while googling "Marine green hair algae." According to one web site, derbesia is the species most likely to be referred to as "green hair aglae." I just can't find any pictures of it anywhere. I have found thousands of photos of bryopsis, and my evil algae looks similar, but mine seems fluffier.

My LFs is intent on selling me a powder blue tang to control the algae. In a 46 gallon, I don't see a powder blue tang thriving. Plus, tangs can't eat enough algae to control the full fledged attack I have underway.

[Corax]

1.) You are correct, a tang of any type shouldn't be put in a tank that size.

2.) If you do indeed have the dreaded BRYOPSIS, a tang will not touch it. One of the only fish that will eat it is called a Foxface Lo, which I have in my tank. He eats it, but mine is beyond what one fish can handle. Incedentally, BRYOPSIS is poisonous to most fish, tangs included.

Tell me, does your algae sway in the current like evil, green prairie grass? Mine seems to have a couple different stages of growth. First, it starts off as a slimy, short fuzzy-ness to the rocks, then it grows longer and stronger to sway in the current.

Edit: spelling

[kreblak]

Yes, my algae starts off as fuzz, then develops into long strands of evil, choking, repugnant, ugly a$$ algae that definitely sways in the current. My longest strand is well over 8 inches long. It is really concentrated on my heater. I don't know why.

PS- Corax, it is good to see you posting here in SW again! I thought maybe we had lost you to GCC...;)

[Corax]

To be honest, you had. The bryopsis or whatever it is I have (I'm questioning mine now...) had absolutely burnt me out on keeping tanks. I've gone so far as to call my LFS inquiring about them taking my fish.... But, someone posted in GCC the other day and it made me remember how much I like this crap =) So, I came to read, posted a few times, and now I know I'm not gonna give it up.

PZ update.. I did a water change and algae harvest Wednesday night and installed the PZ pouch in my filter. So far knock on wood) I see no re-growth of the algae. Normally, it would be fuzzing up by the next morning but so far, nada. Infact, on the rock my BTA lives on, I was unable to get all of it off manually. However, those patches seem to be gone. Also, my Foxface has been picking at it more than usual.

If this little $9 bag of white powder does the trick, I'm personally gonna go to the company that makes it and kiss the owner. =)

[Corax]

The heater comment rings so true with me. Mine is (or was, I scraped it clean) covered with it, paicularly on the coil section. Must be the heat, I guess this crud likes it hot.

[kreblak]

Seriously, my heater was absolutely covered with this gunk. I took it out and rinsed it off in the sink, and the regrowth came mostly on the coils. I have found that my snails and my urchin are doing some pretty decent work on the glass against this green menace, and it appears that my blue legged hermits and emerald crab are trying their hardest to rid the LR, substrate, and dead coral of algae. I think that my cleaner shrimp is even getting in on the act. I saw him on the glass happily picking at hair algae. I'm not seeing much regrowth since adding the P-Z a week ago.

My turbos used to clean the heater, but no one goes near it now. Maybe this is why the algae has gotten out of control there... or maybe this stuff just likes the heat.

[kreblak]

I just thought I would add a little blurb about the incredible success I have had with phos-zorb in the last few days. My QT tank was suffering quite a diatom bloom.... not anymore. My show tank looks much better, as the green hair algae is NOT regrowing as it is eaten by my inverts.

One side note, my two blue legged hermits have doubled in size during the last month. I am quite certain this is due in no small part to the sheer abundance of hair algae for them to feast on.

[Corax]

Wonderful to hear, and I have a bit of an update of my own..

Ok, for a few days after I put the PZ in the tank, my BTA seemed to withdraw. I'd read that PZ and other phosphate removers contain aluminum and that aluminum is not great for inverts. However, my BTA has since re-opened and there is an interesting development. It appears, still early and very hard to see from the angle of the thing, but it appears to have a second mouth/orifice..... Could this be the early stages of a split? Color me excited folks =)

As for the algae, so far so good. No regrowth on the known hot spots (anemone's rock, skimmer box and another rock it seems paticularly pleased with..) and overall the "green" look of the tank seems to be dissipating.

[roger1]

kreblak , can you post a pic of your algae please?

[Max]

Umh roger1 this post is about 2 years old you had to do some digging to find this one ;). I found you a pic of hair it's pearling http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/blsbossalgae1.htm