Hair Alge questions

Saltdog813 · 12/02/2009, 03:55 PM

I have had a few runins with this stuff but I clean my tank often. I received about 180 lbs of LR for a well established tank. Its mostly on the rocks where the light hits it the most. Also a lil brown film is on some of the top rocks also. I used a tooth brush to clean the rocks and a turkey baster to blast stuff out of the way. I was told by my LFS store that I need to increase the water flow over the rocks, and to cut down the amount of time I have my T5's on and use my Actinc 7100K more. Do you all sugest using any chemicals or just continue to clean and less HO light. Oh and I did pick up 5 more snails and they clean like a hoover but they move at a snails pace ha ha lol !

DC_40gallon · 12/02/2009, 04:36 PM

I have the same scenario. The brown powder like is diatoms.

I've tried everything from buying my own rodi unit, 25% water changes every 4 days, new T5 bulbs, increased flow, etc.

Now I'm buying a phosban reactor should be here
tomorrow.

I'd buy one of those now if I were you.

bertoni · 12/02/2009, 04:39 PM

Is this the 150 g tank? What's the total flow in it? How long have you had it set up?

Krystalklear · 12/02/2009, 05:29 PM

Would stay away from chemicals. Maybe add a seahare to battle the hair algae and when the job is done give it away.

ebman74 · 12/02/2009, 05:44 PM

Run GFO in a reactor to cut Phosphates. If you are using any mechanical filtration such as sponges remove them. Vacuum the substrate or remove it from the tank and rinse all of the hair algae out of it before returning it. Check to see if the tank is getting any direct sunlight from a window; if so take measures to protect it. If you are not using RO/DI water, start doing so even if you have to buy some containers and get it from your lfs. Try removing rocks with hair algae and scrub them, then turn your lights off for a couple days. Make sure your lights aren’t on too long or are too old. Don't over feed your fish. Worst case there are chemicals you can use, but if you have a fuge with good algae it needs to be removed because the chemical will kill it too.

slick6669 · 12/02/2009, 07:03 PM

is having any form of sponges in your tnak bad tho? in my sump theres a black sponge that the water goes through before getting to the return pump

bertoni · 12/03/2009, 12:01 AM

Sponges can cause harm only if they're killed and decay in the tank, or overgrow a favorite coral.

captsluggo · 12/03/2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slick6669

is having any form of sponges in your tnak bad tho? in my sump theres a black sponge that the water goes through before getting to the return pump

Slick, the fear is if they are not cleaned frequently enough, they could contribute to nitrate and other issues. YMMV
Captsluggo

jaypeeroe · 12/03/2009, 01:21 AM

did you start with RO water or Tap?

joet3580 · 12/03/2009, 04:41 AM

id also try mexican turbo snails

Bontrager · 12/03/2009, 06:55 AM

From my experience with diatoms, I never had any when using distilled water purchased in 1 gallon containers. In an interest to save money I discovered that the local Walmart was selling R/O water from a Culligan dispensing machine for .37c a gallon. I used this water for changes and topping off.

Tha is when I started having diatoms problems. Forum members claims that it may be from high silicates in that water but according the the 5 steps that this water goes thru ( one step is an R/O filter) I never thought that there would be any problem with this water ( as pure as the driven snow).

Good luck!

To be fair to "Culligan" I never had their water tested for silicates but it seem very suspicious. It's still tempting to pay only .37c per gallon of water but before I do I will have it tested first.

ebman74 · 12/03/2009, 08:13 AM

Just like others said...Sponges are really only bad when not cleaned every day or two. I was suggesting removing them while you scrub the rocks or glass and sand because they will get clogged real fast. R/O water is not good ennough for our inhabitents, they need the next stage of DI. R/O is for us to drink.

bertoni · 12/03/2009, 03:33 PM

I'm not sure why sponges would need to be cleaned, or what that means, but I had sponges all over a couple of my tanks, and had no problems with them. I'm not sure how they could cause a problem, other than those I stated. They consume very small food items, like bacteria.

Or do you mean dead sponges used for filtration?

spoofer · 12/03/2009, 05:37 PM

raise the alk up to around 9-11 and keep your maganesium high around 1350 and prune be careful to prune all the clumps....if you have larger patches you can also directly inject mag to the area...

good luck .... be careful when you groom that it doesn't spread...... another alternative is to completely cut off the light to the infected rocks..... in a bucket covered ....obviously this could cause some problems but it will kill it

12/02/2009, 03:55 PM	#1
Saltdog813 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Apollo Beach FL, Posts: 144	Hair Alge questions I have had a few runins with this stuff but I clean my tank often. I received about 180 lbs of LR for a well established tank. Its mostly on the rocks where the light hits it the most. Also a lil brown film is on some of the top rocks also. I used a tooth brush to clean the rocks and a turkey baster to blast stuff out of the way. I was told by my LFS store that I need to increase the water flow over the rocks, and to cut down the amount of time I have my T5's on and use my Actinc 7100K more. Do you all sugest using any chemicals or just continue to clean and less HO light. Oh and I did pick up 5 more snails and they clean like a hoover but they move at a snails pace ha ha lol ! __________________ Jack Marineland 150 gallon Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Rectangle/cube Sea Horse tank, 150 Gal Marineland SW Reef

12/02/2009, 04:39 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Is this the 150 g tank? What's the total flow in it? How long have you had it set up? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/03/2009, 12:01 AM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Sponges can cause harm only if they're killed and decay in the tank, or overgrow a favorite coral. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/03/2009, 03:33 PM	#13
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'm not sure why sponges would need to be cleaned, or what that means, but I had sponges all over a couple of my tanks, and had no problems with them. I'm not sure how they could cause a problem, other than those I stated. They consume very small food items, like bacteria. Or do you mean dead sponges used for filtration? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/03/2009, 05:37 PM	#14
spoofer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Uptown-Chicago, IL Posts: 654	raise the alk up to around 9-11 and keep your maganesium high around 1350 and prune be careful to prune all the clumps....if you have larger patches you can also directly inject mag to the area... good luck .... be careful when you groom that it doesn't spread...... another alternative is to completely cut off the light to the infected rocks..... in a bucket covered ....obviously this could cause some problems but it will kill it __________________ "Nothing good ever happened fast in a Reef Aquarium- there is no quick fix's to Reef tanks!" Current Tank Info: 120g Tech Tank, Vortech MP40, Apex, ATI 8x54, Vertex IN-180, Mag 9.5, Phos & Carb Reactors, Kalk Drip via reefdosingpumps.com sentry model, 40 gallon Breeder DYI Sump

12/02/2009, 04:36 PM	#2
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	I have the same scenario. The brown powder like is diatoms. I've tried everything from buying my own rodi unit, 25% water changes every 4 days, new T5 bulbs, increased flow, etc. Now I'm buying a phosban reactor should be here tomorrow. I'd buy one of those now if I were you.

12/02/2009, 05:29 PM	#4
Krystalklear Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NYC, New York Posts: 72	Would stay away from chemicals. Maybe add a seahare to battle the hair algae and when the job is done give it away.

12/02/2009, 05:44 PM	#5
ebman74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gainesville, Va Posts: 103	Run GFO in a reactor to cut Phosphates. If you are using any mechanical filtration such as sponges remove them. Vacuum the substrate or remove it from the tank and rinse all of the hair algae out of it before returning it. Check to see if the tank is getting any direct sunlight from a window; if so take measures to protect it. If you are not using RO/DI water, start doing so even if you have to buy some containers and get it from your lfs. Try removing rocks with hair algae and scrub them, then turn your lights off for a couple days. Make sure your lights aren’t on too long or are too old. Don't over feed your fish. Worst case there are chemicals you can use, but if you have a fuge with good algae it needs to be removed because the chemical will kill it too.

12/02/2009, 07:03 PM	#6
slick6669 Science and Honor! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal, paramount Posts: 1,791	is having any form of sponges in your tnak bad tho? in my sump theres a black sponge that the water goes through before getting to the return pump

12/03/2009, 01:21 AM	#9
jaypeeroe Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: St. Joseph Posts: 71	did you start with RO water or Tap?

12/03/2009, 04:41 AM	#10
joet3580 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 53	id also try mexican turbo snails

12/03/2009, 06:55 AM	#11
Bontrager Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 123	From my experience with diatoms, I never had any when using distilled water purchased in 1 gallon containers. In an interest to save money I discovered that the local Walmart was selling R/O water from a Culligan dispensing machine for .37c a gallon. I used this water for changes and topping off. Tha is when I started having diatoms problems. Forum members claims that it may be from high silicates in that water but according the the 5 steps that this water goes thru ( one step is an R/O filter) I never thought that there would be any problem with this water ( as pure as the driven snow). Good luck! To be fair to "Culligan" I never had their water tested for silicates but it seem very suspicious. It's still tempting to pay only .37c per gallon of water but before I do I will have it tested first.

12/03/2009, 08:13 AM	#12
ebman74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gainesville, Va Posts: 103	Just like others said...Sponges are really only bad when not cleaned every day or two. I was suggesting removing them while you scrub the rocks or glass and sand because they will get clogged real fast. R/O water is not good ennough for our inhabitents, they need the next stage of DI. R/O is for us to drink.