Hairy Algae (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

:? How do I get rid of the Hairy Algae in my tank? I have plucked and scrubbed until I am blue in the face. I would appreciate any advice.

 

[Guest]

Try water changes.

 

[boudster]

refugium

Do you have a refugium?

 

[fins]

Use some type of phosphate remover.

Here are a few links that may help

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium...lgae_control_article_2.asp?ast=NL0405B12&key=

http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

 

[AggieBrandon]

phosphate removers help but you should try to find the source of the problem and eliminate it. Could be too much flake food...your water source...salt mix...etc

Brandon

 

[Guest]

Thank you for all the information. I guess I will test my nitrates, roll up my sleeves and keep plucking. I do have a lawn mower blemmie and at the rate he is eating, he will out grow the tank soon. 58gallon with a sump.

 

[AggieBrandon]

I would try doing a couple nice water changes...20% every two weeks or so or even more frequently would help.

Brandon

 

[Guest]

I set that tank up about 5 months ago. Let see if we can figure out why hairy algae is growing. The tank is 58 gal none RR with 20 gal refugium sump. 192w power compact 30w actinic. She had a Eheim 2217 so we use it. NO skimmer of any kind. She does 15% water change per two weeks. Tank does not sit direct by window but this time of year it does get some direct heat to one side of the tank. Nitrate always been 0, calcium at 450, she use DI water so I don't expect any phosphate. Animals included a tiny blue tang, lawnmover blenny, nemo, blue line sand shifting goby, cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp, some blue leg hermit, red leg hermits, mexican turbo snails. Lot of corals (no acros)and they all doing very well.
Wendy please add anything that not mention.

 

[AggieBrandon]

what do you feed and what kind of substrate did you use?

 

[yellowbelley]

hey i was wondering what if u have a tank that sits near a window? how does that contribute to hair algae growth? thanks

 

[AggieBrandon]

Light of the right spectrum (bad light) will cause bad algae to grow but there has to be other nutrients that the hair algae is feeding on to continue growing. One way to eradicate is to manually remove it, do some water changes (dilution is the solution), and find the source of the nutrients that the algae is feeding off of and control it.

Brandon

 

[Guest]

60 lbs aragonite grade reef sand, 20 lbs aragalive reef sand in the sump. She knows not over feed.

 

[AggieBrandon]

Macro in Fuge? That Eheim may be the cause...If I remember right that is one of the canister filters. If you have a return pump to send water back to the tank may wnat to get rid of the canister. They are notorious for getting funky quick.

Brandon

 

[Guest]

:? I feed once a day. Either a pinch of Tetra Marine flakes or a cube of Brine shrimp or mysis shrimp. Alternating everyother day. I do a 15% water change everyother week. I am a regular water buyer of Kenny's. I clean the Eheim every two to three weeks. I wash the top substrate and replace the carbon filters.

I do worry about the heat around the aquarium in the afternoon. I keep the window blinds closed and I do not receive direct light, but it still gets plenty warm. My temp stays between 78 and 81. I have bought a fan to help remove some of the heat from the lights. Everytime I test, my nitrates are 0 and my calcium is between 400 and 450.

I now have red slime in my sump/ refrugium and I am worried about not having enough algae in the sump. Ugh! Kind of conflicting.

 

[Guest]

You should really invest in a skimmer. Skimmers help reduce your chances of phospate buildup. We are also talking about a NEW tank. You have to give it a couple of months before its really established. Having a good cleanup crew such as snails, shrimp, tangs, etc will decrease the problems you are having. Start doing a 5-10% water change weekly. I have always done a 5% weekly water change and it helps replenish all the minerals and elements in your tank and also removes toxins and other misc water params that your tanks needs to stay healthy.

One thing you didnt mention... try to decrease your lighting photoperiod for now. More lighting equals more algae. Good water flow is also a good idea covering all dead spots.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Cakepro]

I had a tank that is essentially live rock with fish (one koran angel, a threadfin goby, and a stunted little false percula clown) and a few soft corals (mushrooms, zoanthids, etc.). The tank was absolutely covered with hair algae ~ giant huge hairy clumps of it. It was in horrendous shape, and removing it by hand didn't even make a dent in it ~ the live rock was literally completely covered (quite a few people saw it and can tell you how horrid it was).

I was prepared to take down the tank and start from scratch, but on a whim, I made one last-ditch effort. I aquired a lawnmower goby, a sailfin tang, and a cleanup crew consisting of scarlet hermits, dwarf blueleg hermits, and astrea snails. I began doing 10 gallon water changes every few days with Crystal Seas Bioassay salt, and within 3 weeks, every last trace of hair algae is completely GONE from the tank. There is not a single strand left in the tank. I think it's a miracle.

~ Sherri

 

[PygmyAngel]

Sherri,

Do you still have the lawnmower blenny and sailfin tang, and if so, what are they eating now?

I am just curious as I am having a hair algae outbreak in my 75g and am wanting to try your method....

Pygmy

 

[Cakepro]

I do still have them, and they keep the rockwork sparkling clean. I feed them nori and mysis shrimp, which they love. They are both very happy in my 75 gallon tank, so don't let the tang police scare you off.

~ Sherri

 

[PygmyAngel]

Well, my concern was having them starve once all the hair algae is gone. I wanted to see what they were eating, so it seems like they are doing ok. Plus, I already have a large Molly Miller blenny and a medium one from Galv. but they are definitely not Lawnmowers, as they do not eat the hair algae...I already got rid of one blenny since I had 3, and if I get a Lawnmower one I'll have 3 again....oh well. Also, you don't have any other tangs in your 75, do you? Well, I do....that's the other thing.

I know I can do some serious water changes, clean the tank, and clean out the media, and put some phosphate sponge stuff in there....just don't know if that will be enough. It sure would be great / convenient to have a fish that will eat it all up.

sigh....