Hair algae

onthecourt4life · 08/11/2007, 10:06 PM

what is a good clean up crew member that eats hair algae and is totally reef safe

SSalty · 08/11/2007, 11:48 PM

With your size of tank, a Tang is out of the question. However, I have heard good things about Lawmower Blennys.

uscharalph · 08/12/2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SSalty
With your size of tank, a Tang is out of the question. However, I have heard good things about Lawmower Blennys.

Neither of my Tangs or my Lawnmower Blenny touch Hair Algae. I needed to pick at it and fix what is causing it.

joeychitwood · 08/12/2007, 03:38 PM

I had a Lawnmower Blenny that ate hair algae. When the HA was gone, it ate flakes, and unfortunately when the HA returned, the blenny wouldn't touch it, eating only flake foods.

aninjaatemyshoe · 08/12/2007, 04:07 PM

I've read that increasing magnesium in the tank is a very effective method of killing hair algae. You have to increase it beyond what you would normally dose. Do a search in the threads for more info.

smcdonn · 08/12/2007, 04:18 PM

Just get some phosban. It cleaned up my hair algae in less than 2 months.

Kiel'thalin · 08/12/2007, 04:21 PM

how long has the tank been setup, it might just be a normal phase of the tank. Most if not all the cases of nuisance hair hair is caused by lack of nutrient export. In other words you are feeding the tank more than what your filter can take out. This can be caused by too many fish too soon, overfeeding your fish, or just a lack of skimming, another helper is having macro algae, like cheato, growing in a fuge enviroment to out compete the nuisance algae. Right now adding more fish might only increase your problems....

spooda420 · 08/12/2007, 04:26 PM

sea hares are doing a good job on mine, also look for the cause or the source of food, you have high po4 and/or nitrates. elimiate those and you will starve the HA out.

08/11/2007, 10:06 PM	#1
onthecourt4life Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 170	Hair algae what is a good clean up crew member that eats hair algae and is totally reef safe

08/11/2007, 11:48 PM	#2
SSalty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 562	With your size of tank, a Tang is out of the question. However, I have heard good things about Lawmower Blennys. __________________ "once you've tasted excess, everything else tastes bland"

08/12/2007, 04:07 PM	#5
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	I've read that increasing magnesium in the tank is a very effective method of killing hair algae. You have to increase it beyond what you would normally dose. Do a search in the threads for more info. __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

08/12/2007, 04:18 PM	#6
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	Just get some phosban. It cleaned up my hair algae in less than 2 months. __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

08/12/2007, 04:26 PM	#8
spooda420 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: O'Fallon MO Posts: 1,688	sea hares are doing a good job on mine, also look for the cause or the source of food, you have high po4 and/or nitrates. elimiate those and you will starve the HA out. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 250g, 150g sump, H&S 250x2 1260s, T5s, GEO CA reactor, MA Sulfur DeNITRIFIER XL, 300lbs LR, 6" DSB, running ozone, all controlled by the Apex controller.

08/12/2007, 03:38 PM	#4
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I had a Lawnmower Blenny that ate hair algae. When the HA was gone, it ate flakes, and unfortunately when the HA returned, the blenny wouldn't touch it, eating only flake foods.

08/12/2007, 04:21 PM	#7
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	how long has the tank been setup, it might just be a normal phase of the tank. Most if not all the cases of nuisance hair hair is caused by lack of nutrient export. In other words you are feeding the tank more than what your filter can take out. This can be caused by too many fish too soon, overfeeding your fish, or just a lack of skimming, another helper is having macro algae, like cheato, growing in a fuge enviroment to out compete the nuisance algae. Right now adding more fish might only increase your problems....