DLANDINO Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 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 peroxide1/2 tsp baking sodaBaby medicine eye dropperSmall plastic dosing cupTurkey basterMix 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 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 hoursThe 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 treatmentIf you experiment please do post your experience. I would love to hear from you.Dave Link to comment
Jaden1592 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 wow cool, I want to try this Link to comment
Coastie Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 May try it on some bubble algae. Link to comment
BoxOfCrayons Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 May try it on some bubble algae. I'd be careful about bubble algae incase the spores get released. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Really neat idea. I was using straight peroxide but with this method I could use less and be more effective. Link to comment
xiaoxiy Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 This is awesome! So, in light of how much my skunk cleaner shrimp likes to meddle with things (it superglued its claws together last night after messing with a newly glued frag), how would you recommend keeping him occupied while I do this to the hair algae that is slowly invading my tank? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 It'll figure something out pretty quickly, since the peroxide will kill it. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 This is awesome! So, in light of how much my skunk cleaner shrimp likes to meddle with things (it superglued its claws together last night after messing with a newly glued frag), how would you recommend keeping him occupied while I do this to the hair algae that is slowly invading my tank? That gives me a good idea of how to keep my cleaner shrimps claws out of the corals I am trying to feed... Link to comment
vegasgundog Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 This is awesome! So, in light of how much my skunk cleaner shrimp likes to meddle with things (it superglued its claws together last night after messing with a newly glued frag), how would you recommend keeping him occupied while I do this to the hair algae that is slowly invading my tank? When spot feeding my acans, I give my cleaner a small piece of raw shrimp first so he will go away for a while. Link to comment
DLANDINO Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Can't wait to see individual results. Good luck everyone. Link to comment
brandon429 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I am very impressed its been hard doing in tank work trying to find ways to localize the peroxide in a large dilution of water, this rocks. im linking to the big rc peroxide thread as well. baking soda not a big deal to add to our tanks. I have no idea chemically how it interacts w peroxide but your pics are great and you took time to document this very well. pics that show safe before and after applications kind of supercede any chemistry theories on good/bad interactions imo, your corals dont seem to mind at all. very nice job~ Link to comment
DLANDINO Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thank you. Chemical reaction was a big concern of mine as well. I will do some digging and come up with an answer. The reason I chose the baking soda was because it is basically something that we add to our tanks now and is safe. But, the combination... Is there a link for the other thread that I can check out once linked. Link to comment
GHill762 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I'd keep a close eye on your alk since you're using an alk buffer as an ingredient in your algae killer.. interesting results though.. this may be the next evolution in peroxide treatments.. Link to comment
andi.rahl Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Can't wait to see individual results. Good luck everyone. I'm gonna go try this now! I've been battling hair algae on one of my rocks for like months now. Have you tried it on rocks with gha that have coralline on them, though? My rock with the algae is nearly solid purple Sorry, I can't tell if your rock has coralline because of the lighting. that or I'm blind, not sure which. Link to comment
DLANDINO Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 I'm gonna go try this now! I've been battling hair algae on one of my rocks for like months now. Have you tried it on rocks with gha that have coralline on them, though? My rock with the algae is nearly solid purple Sorry, I can't tell if your rock has coralline because of the lighting. that or I'm blind, not sure which. I have tried it on well seasoned rocks but not specifically ones with coralline. If you are concerned just pick a descrete spot with coralline and no HA and see how it goes. Good luck! Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I'm gonna go try this now! I've been battling hair algae on one of my rocks for like months now. Have you tried it on rocks with gha that have coralline on them, though? My rock with the algae is nearly solid purple Sorry, I can't tell if your rock has coralline because of the lighting. that or I'm blind, not sure which. Coralline is very sensitive to peroxide, in my spot treatments of rock with any on it it always died and turned white before the algae did. Link to comment
andi.rahl Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Coralline is very sensitive to peroxide, in my spot treatments of rock with any on it it always died and turned white before the algae did. thanks for the warning. I know that it will grow back eventually, though. So I guess for now it'll be an acceptable loss because this gha needs to go. I'll take pictures. Link to comment
BulkRate Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Very interesting write up! I've always been leary of dosing just about anything, but the recent addition of a mandarin (and its subsequent training onto prepared foods) has led to a bloom of HA over the past three weeks. If the hermit crabs & snails stop making progress against it this looks to be an excellent alternative. To the other posters on this thread - is Lysmata amboinensis' sensitivity to peroxide shared by Lysmata debelius (blood/scarlet cleaner shrimp)? If yes I'd have to rehome mine... about how long for the treated tank to become safe for it? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 The few hours that it will take for the peroxide to break down. Link to comment
andi.rahl Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I didn't put it on all of it because my dropper sucked. I might just take the rock out and put the mixture on the spots then rinse it in water change water in a few days. I'll let you know how that goes, if I rememberhttp://s1289.photobucket.com/user/shinynic/media/IMAG2177_zpsscbypuyq.jpg.html'>after I have tried it on well seasoned rocks but not specifically ones with coralline. If you are concerned just pick a descrete spot with coralline and no HA and see how it goes. Good luck! it was more of a curiosity than a concern but thank you. I tried it on part of the rock with the main issue. ^ Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 This is fantastic! Could you specify the amount of H2O2 you use? Do you know how much is in a capful? Sometimes it says on the bottle. If not, could you measure with your dosing cup? Thanks. I'm going to have to try this. Link to comment
andi.rahl Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 This is fantastic! Could you specify the amount of H2O2 you use? Do you know how much is in a capful? Sometimes it says on the bottle. If not, could you measure with your dosing cup? Thanks. I'm going to have to try this. mine was a teaspoon Link to comment
DLANDINO Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 This is fantastic! Could you specify the amount of H2O2 you use? Do you know how much is in a capful? Sometimes it says on the bottle. If not, could you measure with your dosing cup? Thanks. I'm going to have to try this. Yes, I will measure when I get home tonight and post the ml/s Link to comment
brandon429 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2082359&page=60 I think currently it is the largest repository on the web of before and after pics. huge. both shrimps mentioned above are peroxide sensitive. a mechanism for holding p in place underwater is helpful!! someone earlier pondered using gelled peroxide meant for hair treatments. but it didnt have such good documentation, more of an idea Link to comment
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