Hydrogen Peroxide to kill algae?

From what i have read Prior to your post. IMO i think its a crap shoot.

Hydrogen peroxide can be nasty stuff to corals.  I've been experimenting on its mortality rate with SPS, and even diluted to 1/10th strength, it still kills Montipora and Pocillopora as a dip (those are the only two SPS I have in a large quantity.)  It also inhibits calcification.  Corals after a dip have grown slower than the controls (dipped only in plain saltwater) when kept under the same conditions.  Based on what I've seen with a dip, I won't use it for dosing.  I had what I suspected were dinos, and I didn't do anything to get rid of them except continue maintenance and dose Prodibio BioClean (I swear by the stuff...might be snake oil for all I know though...but I can't explain its benefits otherwise.) 

builderofdreams wrote: From what i have read Prior to your post. IMO i think its a crap shoot. Good Luck. Keep us posted.

Sounds like you have been reading in the wrong places as every place I've looked had nothing but pisitive about the topic. I don't doubt there is negative but my tank looks like its killing the bad without any ill effects. Your smart to doubt though as I did at first. The HP may not kill all algae but i would bet it kills most.

What hobbyists post is much different than what scientific studies are showing. I suggest reading scientific publications before touting the benefits too loud. Like i said, it damages the corals and reduces further calcification.

Trevor40- if you have ONLY read positive things, then it is you who needs to read more. I'm on my phone, but I can send enough articles later to scare you.

What strength hydrogen peroxide are you talking about?  I assume the over the counter drug store type, then 1 part peroxide to 10 parts RO water? Or are you using mixed salt water for the dilution dip?

Thanks!

I don't dose Hydrogen Peroxide to the tank as it oxidizes very fast in the aquarium becoming ineffective. I have had great success using it as a dip for Zoanthids and other soft corals like mushrooms and other polyps.

Used straight over the counter strength (3%)kills all algae. Zoanthids can be dipped for 1 to 5 minutes and returned to the tank. They will look all bubbly and retracted for about an hour then will open right back up. More sensitive corals like Acros, Montipora and other SPS should not be dipped in Hydrogen Peroxide but if you can remove their rock and use a pipette (eye dropper) and treat the plug or rock, let it sit in the open air for 3 to 5 minutes then replace in the tank. The next day the algae will be gone and you shouldn't see any ill affects on the corals.

I've treated rocks with Digi, Acros, Chalice, Zoanthids, Leathers, Candy Canes and others with no ill affects as long as you treat the rock and not the SPS. I always use straight 3% over the counter Hydrogen Peroxide. Once you place the piece back in the tank you will see bubbles rise off the rock for a few minutes while the HP oxidizes. When the bubbles stop the HP is virtually gone in the tank.

I dip new corals that are infested with algae on the plugs...I ususally do about 20-30% peroxide and rest salt water for 2-3 minutes....never lost an SPS, zoa, lps, etc...works great for me, within a day or two all the algae is usually gone.  When using it on zoanthids, you'll see microbubbles form on the coral, but no worries, all my corals always recover within the day.

Edited by bur01014 - May 31 2012 at 10:18am

what if you are doseing vodka? will it kill the bacteria grown by the vodka?

Through vodka dosing, i have found out that it rids algae problems but then can cloud your water with a bacterial bloom later... Sounds like peroxide is the best way to go.