Hair Algae Eradication Experiment - successful
by
, 01-09-2014 at 09:17 PM (2075 Views)
Having run two previous successful tests on algae patches in my tank and having no negative results to date, I thought I share the process.
I used the following-
1 cap full of peroxide
1/2 tsp baking soda
Baby medicine eye dropper
Small plastic dosing cup
Turkey baster
Mix the peroxide and baking soda together in a small cup and mix until the baking soda is dissolved but viscous. Suck up into the eye dropper about 1ml of the mixture.
Turn off all of the flow and skimming to your tank. Wait until everything falls still and then slowly spread the mixture on to a small patch of algae.
Set 5 minutes on a timer and watch as the mixture starts to emit bubbles.
Once the five minutes has lapsed take a turkey baster and try to suck out all of the peroxide / baking soda sludge dumping it into a waste container.
Within three days I found that all of the algae in that area was gone and after a waiting period of one week had not grown back.
Below are the prep and process pics and video. I will post the results picture in an follow up in a few days. I just performed the procedure a few minutes ago.
DISCLAIMER- this process worked for me with not visible side effects. I do not however know for certain that you would have the same results. Please proceed with caution if you attempt this treatment. You should run carbon after this process for a few days. I always do so for me that is a no-brainer. I would also limit the amount of this mixture that you put into your tank. I have done no more than a quarter size patch of algae for fear of collateral damage.
As you can see there is a huge Duncan colony to the left, a zoo colony directly below and an ORA Birds of Paradise sps colony at the base of this algae growth. I chose this area to test how the mixture does so close to these organisms.
Video of the reaction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jW3W66h-jQ
This shows the siphoned peroxide/BS as well as a bunch of already dead algae that just sloughed off the rock. Again, this was in 5 minutes flat.
TIME LAPSE = 48 hours
The strip right down the center of this patch is what I burned out.
DAY 3-At day three the algae is still withering with no additional treatment
If you experiment please do post your experience. I would love to hear from you.
Dave