Green Hair Algae

jtgrimes · 12/22/2009, 12:54 PM

So I haven't seen a clean rock in about a month now. Green Hair Algae everywhere. I have changed the food I was feeding and trying not to over feed. Everything in the tank seems to be happy! Is there anything I can do or get to eliminate this algae all together??

jfarris1976 · 12/22/2009, 01:48 PM

check your mitrates and phosphates levels. See what they are to start with.

stingythingy45 · 12/22/2009, 01:49 PM

Make sure you're using ro/di water for top offs and mixing.

rednkfish · 12/22/2009, 01:51 PM

i did all the above and added a sea hare it ate it all up

mehaffydr · 12/22/2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtgrimes

So I haven't seen a clean rock in about a month now. Green Hair Algae everywhere. I have changed the food I was feeding and trying not to over feed. Everything in the tank seems to be happy! Is there anything I can do or get to eliminate this algae all together??

Get rid of its nutrition source! There has to be something feeding it.

Overloaded tank?
Overfeeding?
Wrong Food?
NON RO/DI water?

johnc43113 · 12/22/2009, 03:52 PM

What about fish load? I keep mine bare minimum. I have a blue damsel in a 29 reef. That is all I am keeping in there. I feed it about 10 spectrum pellets a day and use R/O.

jtgrimes · 12/22/2009, 04:30 PM

I am using Ro/Di water. I have stopped feeding as much as well. I have been doing water changes when need be. I hoping it will stop soon.

mehaffydr · 12/22/2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtgrimes

I am using Ro/Di water. I have stopped feeding as much as well. I have been doing water changes when need be. I hoping it will stop soon.

What about light? are they new or old. Sometimes old bulbs can create alge problem.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/22/2009, 04:53 PM

Have you thought about carbon dosing? fixed my algae problem for good.

blueridge · 12/22/2009, 07:43 PM

Is carbon dosing different from just running carbon in a reactor?

Reefobsession · 12/22/2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueridge

Is carbon dosing different from just running carbon in a reactor?

No, carbon dosing is dosing vodka, vinegar, or sugar.

jtgrimes · 12/23/2009, 10:46 AM

Never tried carbon dosing, not sure on how it works.

Chiefsurfer · 12/23/2009, 10:50 AM

how long have you had the problem? If you have been overfeeding, and phosphates built up for a long time, it can be absorbed by your rock. Even after you stop overfeeding, it can leach enough to keep algae alive for a LONG time.

jtgrimes · 12/23/2009, 12:11 PM

It's been about a month now. I switched to new foods about two weeks ago and gave my tank a good cleaning as well. Ill admit I was feeding the fish pretty good and they are nice and FAT.

I got a Phosphate Reactor on there now a few weeks ago to see if that helps as well.

I am also thinking it may be time to change my halides. Got 150w 14k Phoenix Halides.

Reefobsession · 12/23/2009, 01:57 PM

Also make sure to change out the media weekly for about 2 weeks to month, depending on how much phosphate is in your system. GFO is like a sponge, it can only take in so much phosphate. I would do this until you see a decrease in algae on your rocks. Once you see a big difference, then cut back to changing GFO out every 2 to 3 weeks. Then some people are lucky to make it to 6 eventually.

tran901 · 12/28/2009, 08:22 AM

i have this problem also. i have been out of town for a week, and it started off with one or two rocks when i left...when i came back...about half of my rocks and sand have it now. i had an automatic fish feeder on it, and i hope that is what is causing it. i am going to do a 15gallon water change today, and try and suck out and scrub the algae from the rocks.

what else should i do??

stubby 58 · 12/28/2009, 08:45 AM

Sometime it takes a long time to fix it . I have it in my 58 not as bad as it was . Old lights , to much food and the wrong kind (flake) , poor husbandry (water change) , your rocks and sand can absorb phosphates and then leech back into system . I have gone to frozen food (mysis) and other blended frozen foods ,look at the ingredients of the food lots of them have phosphates . Clean the rock with a tooth brush before a water change , once a week water changes of 10% . Cut back on your feedings ever other day . It has been a very long road for me but it is almost gone now . stubby

jtgrimes · 12/28/2009, 09:44 AM

Thanks Stubby for the feedback. I have also switched to mysis and have been doing water changes as well. I am starting to see a change but very slow one.

rcranf1 · 12/28/2009, 10:23 AM

I have lots of palys and zoas, anyone have any idea how to get the alage off of them without harming the coral itself. my hermits emeralds and snails dont touch it on the plant

dwhanc00 · 12/28/2009, 11:30 AM

Anyone have a good link to a vodka, sugar or vinegar dosing?

Felix T Cat · 12/28/2009, 02:06 PM

I have had GREAT success with Cats Eye turbo snail and emerald crabs. My tank went though a massive HA break out when I set it up and within seconds of hitting the sand my emerald was ripping out chunks and eating it. A week later it was almost completely gone and the emerald was a VERY VERY dark green color and double in size.

12/22/2009, 12:54 PM	#1
jtgrimes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eastern ,NC Posts: 322	Green Hair Algae So I haven't seen a clean rock in about a month now. Green Hair Algae everywhere. I have changed the food I was feeding and trying not to over feed. Everything in the tank seems to be happy! Is there anything I can do or get to eliminate this algae all together?? __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Rimless - https://www.*********.com/threads/jtgrimes-110-gallon.637759/

12/22/2009, 01:49 PM	#3
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Make sure you're using ro/di water for top offs and mixing. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

12/22/2009, 04:30 PM	#7
jtgrimes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eastern ,NC Posts: 322	I am using Ro/Di water. I have stopped feeding as much as well. I have been doing water changes when need be. I hoping it will stop soon. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Rimless - https://www.*********.com/threads/jtgrimes-110-gallon.637759/

12/22/2009, 04:53 PM	#9
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Have you thought about carbon dosing? fixed my algae problem for good. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/23/2009, 10:46 AM	#12
jtgrimes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eastern ,NC Posts: 322	Never tried carbon dosing, not sure on how it works. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Rimless - https://www.*********.com/threads/jtgrimes-110-gallon.637759/

12/22/2009, 01:48 PM	#2
jfarris1976 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Valparaiso IN. Posts: 114	check your mitrates and phosphates levels. See what they are to start with.

12/22/2009, 01:51 PM	#4
rednkfish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: monee Posts: 385	i did all the above and added a sea hare it ate it all up

12/22/2009, 03:52 PM	#6
johnc43113 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Circleville, OH Posts: 109	What about fish load? I keep mine bare minimum. I have a blue damsel in a 29 reef. That is all I am keeping in there. I feed it about 10 spectrum pellets a day and use R/O.

12/22/2009, 07:43 PM	#10
blueridge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 63	Is carbon dosing different from just running carbon in a reactor?

12/23/2009, 10:50 AM	#13
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	how long have you had the problem? If you have been overfeeding, and phosphates built up for a long time, it can be absorbed by your rock. Even after you stop overfeeding, it can leach enough to keep algae alive for a LONG time.

12/23/2009, 12:11 PM	#14
jtgrimes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eastern ,NC Posts: 322	It's been about a month now. I switched to new foods about two weeks ago and gave my tank a good cleaning as well. Ill admit I was feeding the fish pretty good and they are nice and FAT. I got a Phosphate Reactor on there now a few weeks ago to see if that helps as well. I am also thinking it may be time to change my halides. Got 150w 14k Phoenix Halides. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Rimless - https://www.********.com/threads/jtgrimes-110-gallon.637759/ Last edited by jtgrimes; 12/23/2009 at 12:17 PM.*

12/23/2009, 01:57 PM	#15
Reefobsession Moved On Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,037	Also make sure to change out the media weekly for about 2 weeks to month, depending on how much phosphate is in your system. GFO is like a sponge, it can only take in so much phosphate. I would do this until you see a decrease in algae on your rocks. Once you see a big difference, then cut back to changing GFO out every 2 to 3 weeks. Then some people are lucky to make it to 6 eventually.

12/28/2009, 08:22 AM	#16
tran901 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Memphis, tn Posts: 403	i have this problem also. i have been out of town for a week, and it started off with one or two rocks when i left...when i came back...about half of my rocks and sand have it now. i had an automatic fish feeder on it, and i hope that is what is causing it. i am going to do a 15gallon water change today, and try and suck out and scrub the algae from the rocks. what else should i do??

12/28/2009, 08:45 AM	#17
stubby 58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ama TX Posts: 217	Sometime it takes a long time to fix it . I have it in my 58 not as bad as it was . Old lights , to much food and the wrong kind (flake) , poor husbandry (water change) , your rocks and sand can absorb phosphates and then leech back into system . I have gone to frozen food (mysis) and other blended frozen foods ,look at the ingredients of the food lots of them have phosphates . Clean the rock with a tooth brush before a water change , once a week water changes of 10% . Cut back on your feedings ever other day . It has been a very long road for me but it is almost gone now . stubby

12/28/2009, 09:44 AM	#18
jtgrimes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eastern ,NC Posts: 322	Thanks Stubby for the feedback. I have also switched to mysis and have been doing water changes as well. I am starting to see a change but very slow one. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Rimless - https://www.*********.com/threads/jtgrimes-110-gallon.637759/

12/28/2009, 10:23 AM	#19
rcranf1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft Lewis WA Posts: 319	I have lots of palys and zoas, anyone have any idea how to get the alage off of them without harming the coral itself. my hermits emeralds and snails dont touch it on the plant

12/28/2009, 11:30 AM	#20
dwhanc00 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Independence, KY Posts: 194	Anyone have a good link to a vodka, sugar or vinegar dosing?

12/28/2009, 02:06 PM	#21
Felix T Cat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Honey Brook, PA Posts: 557	I have had GREAT success with Cats Eye turbo snail and emerald crabs. My tank went though a massive HA break out when I set it up and within seconds of hitting the sand my emerald was ripping out chunks and eating it. A week later it was almost completely gone and the emerald was a VERY VERY dark green color and double in size.