Having a very odd Purigen problem with Algae

[apastuszak]

Ok, 55 gallon freshwater tank with a Fluval 305 Canister Filter on it. In the filter I only use ceramic noodles for bioloigical filtration and purigen. I have 4 bags of Purigen. I have 2 in the filter and 2 on standby. The Purigen has been regenerated 3 times.

So, here's the odd issue...

I run the filter with Purigren in it and all is fine. I then do my monthly Canister cleaning and toss the waiting Purigen in, and regenerate the old Purigen. During that month, I get hair algae all over the tank. I then clean the filtrer and use the other Purigen and all the hair algae dies. When I switch back to the other 2 bags of Purigen, the algae growns again.

Since you have to regenrate the stuff in bleach, I don't see how any algae spores could possibly survive the regeneration process.

I'm stumped.

 

[discuspaul]

You're right, there's no way algae spores could survive a bleaching of the Purigen.
Conclusion: There's no way the Purigen has anything to do with the hair algae taking over with one set of Purigen, then dieing when the next batch of Purigen is introduced.
Purely co-incidental - something else is at play here.

 

[apastuszak]

I would agree. But it does happen like clockwork with every filter cleaning. I cleaned the filter last week. If I clean it tonight and change the Purigen, the hair algae will be dead in 24-48 hours. If I clean it again in 2 days and change the Purigen, the algae will start to grow. The ONLY thing I change in the canister is the Purigen. Everything else is just rinsed and reused.

Very strange...

 

[FreshyFresh]

I too think it can't be related to the purigen, but did you ever try stopping the usage of the two bags that seem to make the algae re-appear?

 

[apastuszak]

I have not. That will be the next step.

 

[Duckie]

You can also try to leave the purigen out. If you get algae without purigen, then the 2 defective bags may simply be wore out and not working any more.

 

[discuspaul]

However, to my knowledge Purigen has no effect on algae. It only adsorbs undesirable dissolved elements in the water - doesn't kill algae spores.

 

[DavidZ]

I use Purigen and many other has nothing to do with Purigen.
I think the key is you cleaned the filter.
try to pick up your water quality and see if it affects the algae issue.