Hair algae, always comes, help?

Maxi · 08/04/2009, 03:48 PM

Hair algae in my aquarium started when I went away for vacation. I came back, and no one in the house knows how to properly feed apparently.
So, its been a 7 month battle since my vacation. Everytime I do a waterchange, (every other 2 weeks) I syphon out hair algae, and pull it out.

It mostly grows on the koralia pumps all the way at the top of the tank. How is it possible that it grows on the strongest flow path of the aquarium?
I don't overfeed, I keep lights on from 12:00pm until 10:00pm.
Water changes of 3 gallons every other 2 weeks, I dose 2 part.
I have a skimmer, sump, filter sock, all the good stuff.
Everythings alive and kicking, no deaths of anything, not even snails. Maybe once in a while a snail is flipped upside down and the hermits get it.
No direct sunlight, the fish room is completely dark. All windows covered in black curtains.
I don't understand. How does it thrive?

badwrasse · 08/04/2009, 03:58 PM

do you have phosphates? I would start there if someone overfeed while you were gone. do you flake food? check nitrates too

Bondrake · 08/04/2009, 04:34 PM

Hair algae likes high flow, and yeah... check your nitrates and phosphates. If you have a reactor, some GFO could help out your phosphates.

Also, I would change a more significant amount of water at once (say 15 gallons) to keep the pollutant level in check occasionally.

RobbsReef85 · 08/04/2009, 05:01 PM

yeah check phosphates and nitrates (aka algae food)

also your gonna want to remove as much as possible by hand.

I hear Red Sea Sailfin Tangs are great at removing it.

I personally use Sea Hares. I have about 6 of them in my tank and I can literally track their progress.

scuba guy ron · 08/04/2009, 05:10 PM

I feel your pain. I dealt with this problem for my first year. Your tests probly wont show any poor readings since it is all being taken up by the algae. What I would suggest is for you to,

first test all water to include your top off water as well as your salt water you are using in your water changes to make sure there are no phosphates and nitrates present. If that isnt the problem then your live rock may be leaching it into the tank (especially if your tank never properly cycled.

Second, if water tests are ok, add blue legged crabs as well as a phosban reactor. The phosban reactor worked for my problem in aprox 6 mos.

third, If possible add some micro algae as well as some mangroves to your sump to compete for the nutrients .

badwrasse · 08/04/2009, 11:20 PM

+1
you da man ron,

Flipper62 · 08/04/2009, 11:38 PM

Something is feeding it, like High Phosphates. You need to find out what is causing it.

When you said water changes every other 2 weeks ??? is that every 4 weeks ??? or did you realy mean every 2 weeks.

are you using any products like Chemi-pure...or Pura-Complete...Or Carbon ???

These are products that trap phosphates & Nitrates out of the water. The problem is that they need to be changed out often. Carbon is great, but needs to be changed out every 2 to 3 weeks. If you dont, it will become a nitrate trap & will start releasing it back into the tank.

08/04/2009, 03:48 PM	#1
Maxi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,381	Hair algae, always comes, help? Hair algae in my aquarium started when I went away for vacation. I came back, and no one in the house knows how to properly feed apparently. So, its been a 7 month battle since my vacation. Everytime I do a waterchange, (every other 2 weeks) I syphon out hair algae, and pull it out. It mostly grows on the koralia pumps all the way at the top of the tank. How is it possible that it grows on the strongest flow path of the aquarium? I don't overfeed, I keep lights on from 12:00pm until 10:00pm. Water changes of 3 gallons every other 2 weeks, I dose 2 part. I have a skimmer, sump, filter sock, all the good stuff. Everythings alive and kicking, no deaths of anything, not even snails. Maybe once in a while a snail is flipped upside down and the hermits get it. No direct sunlight, the fish room is completely dark. All windows covered in black curtains. I don't understand. How does it thrive?

08/04/2009, 03:58 PM	#2
badwrasse Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. louis Posts: 1,203	do you have phosphates? I would start there if someone overfeed while you were gone. do you flake food? check nitrates too __________________ GOT CRABS? Current Tank Info: 90gal RR,rock wall in progress, MRC sump, reef octopus XP2000I skimmer, marineland pro lighting 2-150w MH 4-54w T5's, hydor wavemaker with 2 #4 controllable pumps, and QuietOne 4000HH return pump.

08/04/2009, 05:10 PM	#5
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	I feel your pain. I dealt with this problem for my first year. Your tests probly wont show any poor readings since it is all being taken up by the algae. What I would suggest is for you to, first test all water to include your top off water as well as your salt water you are using in your water changes to make sure there are no phosphates and nitrates present. If that isnt the problem then your live rock may be leaching it into the tank (especially if your tank never properly cycled. Second, if water tests are ok, add blue legged crabs as well as a phosban reactor. The phosban reactor worked for my problem in aprox 6 mos. third, If possible add some micro algae as well as some mangroves to your sump to compete for the nutrients . __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef

08/04/2009, 11:20 PM	#6
badwrasse Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. louis Posts: 1,203	+1 you da man ron, __________________ GOT CRABS? Current Tank Info: 90gal RR,rock wall in progress, MRC sump, reef octopus XP2000I skimmer, marineland pro lighting 2-150w MH 4-54w T5's, hydor wavemaker with 2 #4 controllable pumps, and QuietOne 4000HH return pump.

08/04/2009, 11:38 PM	#7
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Something is feeding it, like High Phosphates. You need to find out what is causing it. When you said water changes every other 2 weeks ??? is that every 4 weeks ??? or did you realy mean every 2 weeks. are you using any products like Chemi-pure...or Pura-Complete...Or Carbon ??? These are products that trap phosphates & Nitrates out of the water. The problem is that they need to be changed out often. Carbon is great, but needs to be changed out every 2 to 3 weeks. If you dont, it will become a nitrate trap & will start releasing it back into the tank. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/04/2009, 04:34 PM	#3
Bondrake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gilbert Posts: 93	Hair algae likes high flow, and yeah... check your nitrates and phosphates. If you have a reactor, some GFO could help out your phosphates. Also, I would change a more significant amount of water at once (say 15 gallons) to keep the pollutant level in check occasionally.

08/04/2009, 05:01 PM	#4
RobbsReef85 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 343	yeah check phosphates and nitrates (aka algae food) also your gonna want to remove as much as possible by hand. I hear Red Sea Sailfin Tangs are great at removing it. I personally use Sea Hares. I have about 6 of them in my tank and I can literally track their progress.