Hair Algae and tank cycle

Iostream · 10/17/2007, 02:39 PM

Forgive me for a silly question, but it has been years since I cycled a tank, and this is certainly the first time with uncured live rock. I have massive amounts of hair algae in the tank now. This is an RSM 34g with 45-50lb of mail order live rock and 70lb of sand, source water was RO/DI. The cycle has been moving along fine. It is now about 5 weeks in, and nitrates spiked, followed by the algae bloom. Nitrates are finally down to 5ppm. All other parameters are in check. I know the nitrates are what actually fed the algae and made the bloom occur.
My question is, do I need to actually remove the hair algae in some way, or should it recede on its own once it runs out of nitrates to consume, with the algae itself decomposing and furthering the cycle? I am not in any real rush here, I just want to know if there is something else I should do, or if it will take care of itself.

Thanks

jamiep · 10/17/2007, 02:42 PM

Removing the hair algae would be best if you can do it. It will remove nitrates and phosphates from your water when you remove it. If you leave it to die, it will only release them back into your water!

Iostream · 10/17/2007, 02:44 PM

Hopefully there are little to no phosphates in the water using the RO/DI, but nitrates I can understand... Then again, wouldn't those nitrates help continue the cycle as they get converted?

kevin2000 · 10/17/2007, 04:09 PM

My 02

Starting off a tank with hair algae covered live rock is guaranteed to give you grief in the future.

Consider covering the tank and leaving it in the dark for an extended period of time to insure that all of the algae is gone.

For future reference .. many aquarist will cure their uncured live rock in a separate covered container outside the house .. this helps with the stink often associated with the curing process and eliminates the alga's that tend to cover the rock.

ayort · 10/17/2007, 04:31 PM

I've been fighting this stuff for years. I just found this site a few months ago and have all but cured my hair issue.

Hair usually won't grow without phosphate. Once it has this otherwise seemingly neutral substance (That seems to be in everything down to the salt you use) it grows over everything. It never reciedes until you starve it for phosphates. Even then the stuff will continue to grow it just gets softer and easier to pull off the rocks, and slightly more brown.

The phosphates are most likely trapped in the rock itself. So water changes just reduce the amount in the water which is quickly replaced by the rock through osmosis.

I suggest a phosphate reactor and any iron (ferric oxide) phosphate media. Don't use the white ceramic as it will only absorb for a day or two then start leaching it back into the tank.

Then buy 10 or so tequilla(wavy) astrias, they will eat it faster then it can grow.

10/17/2007, 02:39 PM	#1
Iostream Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 433	Hair Algae and tank cycle Forgive me for a silly question, but it has been years since I cycled a tank, and this is certainly the first time with uncured live rock. I have massive amounts of hair algae in the tank now. This is an RSM 34g with 45-50lb of mail order live rock and 70lb of sand, source water was RO/DI. The cycle has been moving along fine. It is now about 5 weeks in, and nitrates spiked, followed by the algae bloom. Nitrates are finally down to 5ppm. All other parameters are in check. I know the nitrates are what actually fed the algae and made the bloom occur. My question is, do I need to actually remove the hair algae in some way, or should it recede on its own once it runs out of nitrates to consume, with the algae itself decomposing and furthering the cycle? I am not in any real rush here, I just want to know if there is something else I should do, or if it will take care of itself. Thanks

10/17/2007, 02:44 PM	#3
Iostream Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 433	Hopefully there are little to no phosphates in the water using the RO/DI, but nitrates I can understand... Then again, wouldn't those nitrates help continue the cycle as they get converted? __________________ Click on the little red house to see my 90G build thread. Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 34G started 9/07 90G Reef Ready restarted 10/11

10/17/2007, 02:42 PM	#2
jamiep Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 458	Removing the hair algae would be best if you can do it. It will remove nitrates and phosphates from your water when you remove it. If you leave it to die, it will only release them back into your water!

10/17/2007, 04:09 PM	#4
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 Starting off a tank with hair algae covered live rock is guaranteed to give you grief in the future. Consider covering the tank and leaving it in the dark for an extended period of time to insure that all of the algae is gone. For future reference .. many aquarist will cure their uncured live rock in a separate covered container outside the house .. this helps with the stink often associated with the curing process and eliminates the alga's that tend to cover the rock.

10/17/2007, 04:31 PM	#5
ayort Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arvada, Colo. Posts: 38	I've been fighting this stuff for years. I just found this site a few months ago and have all but cured my hair issue. Hair usually won't grow without phosphate. Once it has this otherwise seemingly neutral substance (That seems to be in everything down to the salt you use) it grows over everything. It never reciedes until you starve it for phosphates. Even then the stuff will continue to grow it just gets softer and easier to pull off the rocks, and slightly more brown. The phosphates are most likely trapped in the rock itself. So water changes just reduce the amount in the water which is quickly replaced by the rock through osmosis. I suggest a phosphate reactor and any iron (ferric oxide) phosphate media. Don't use the white ceramic as it will only absorb for a day or two then start leaching it back into the tank. Then buy 10 or so tequilla(wavy) astrias, they will eat it faster then it can grow.