Hair algae

sambrinar · 06-09-2008, 08:28 PM

what is the best way to get rid of hair algae. and can you have too many cleaner critters??

12 gal nano

thanks

seafoodlovers · 06-09-2008, 09:37 PM

Oh how I feel your pain!!!! It was taking over my tank. I bought 2 sea hares but no one told me they eat mostly new stuff not existing stuff! I ended up sucking it up and one Sunday my boyfriend and I took ALL the rock out (little by little) all 80 something lbs of it. and gently scrubed it with a veggie brush an a soft toothbrush. it was very time consuming, but so worth it! We ended up liking the aquascaping so much better! it didn't get rid of all of it but enough that now all the snails crabs etc. keep it under control. The one mistake we made when we set up the tank was we didn't use RO water. lesson learned!! We have been doing weekly 5gal water changes with RO water to hopefully correct that! If you hear any other good advice I'd love to hear it too! as I'm still at war.

Caroline

sambrinar · 06-09-2008, 10:00 PM

Nice to know I'm not alone, evil, evil monsters

mettjl03 · 06-10-2008, 12:22 AM

I have the same issue... Some of the other members suggested more snails and a phosphate remover

SJS · 06-10-2008, 12:41 AM

Yep - best way to combat algae is to figure out where it is coming from. For me the biggest culprit was non - RO/DI water. Also watch prepared foods - lots of phosphates - if you use frozen foods rinse in RO water first. Adjust your light schedule - try cutting back the time a little... Also - look to see if your tank gets direct sunlight - that can be a problem.
I would try to correct whatever is causing it first. Make sure you have a good clean up crew, snails and a few crabs to take care of any left over food. Dont over do the clean up crew as they put out poop too and you can end up with another problem!
Watch the phosphates - and be careful of things like Purple Up or other stuff - remember if you cant test for it - dont use it!!!

vdituri · 06-10-2008, 01:33 AM

Steph has a ton of good info in her post.
The RO water would be 1st on the list.
Most cleanup critters have trouble with HA once it gets long.
Too tough apparently.
Removing by hand and siphoning the pieces out with the other hand.
Algae blennies are good. You can also S L O W L Y acclimate freshwater mollies to saltwater and they have reputation as algae rabbits.
These are some great small cleaners.

06-09-2008, 09:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
seafoodlovers Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mt. Pleasant SC Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hair algae Oh how I feel your pain!!!! It was taking over my tank. I bought 2 sea hares but no one told me they eat mostly new stuff not existing stuff! I ended up sucking it up and one Sunday my boyfriend and I took ALL the rock out (little by little) all 80 something lbs of it. and gently scrubed it with a veggie brush an a soft toothbrush. it was very time consuming, but so worth it! We ended up liking the aquascaping so much better! it didn't get rid of all of it but enough that now all the snails crabs etc. keep it under control. The one mistake we made when we set up the tank was we didn't use RO water. lesson learned!! We have been doing weekly 5gal water changes with RO water to hopefully correct that! If you hear any other good advice I'd love to hear it too! as I'm still at war. Caroline

06-10-2008, 12:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
mettjl03 Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hair algae I have the same issue... Some of the other members suggested more snails and a phosphate remover

06-10-2008, 12:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
SJS Achilles Tang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SO CAL - Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 826 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hair algae Yep - best way to combat algae is to figure out where it is coming from. For me the biggest culprit was non - RO/DI water. Also watch prepared foods - lots of phosphates - if you use frozen foods rinse in RO water first. Adjust your light schedule - try cutting back the time a little... Also - look to see if your tank gets direct sunlight - that can be a problem. I would try to correct whatever is causing it first. Make sure you have a good clean up crew, snails and a few crabs to take care of any left over food. Dont over do the clean up crew as they put out poop too and you can end up with another problem! Watch the phosphates - and be careful of things like Purple Up or other stuff - remember if you cant test for it - dont use it!!! __________________ Steph 300 gallon dt, 90 gallon fuge, 35 gallon fuge, 35 gallon sump, 4 Ecotech Vortechs, T-5 lights

06-10-2008, 01:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,730 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hair algae Steph has a ton of good info in her post. The RO water would be 1st on the list. Most cleanup critters have trouble with HA once it gets long. Too tough apparently. Removing by hand and siphoning the pieces out with the other hand. Algae blennies are good. You can also S L O W L Y acclimate freshwater mollies to saltwater and they have reputation as algae rabbits. These are some great small cleaners. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

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