Hair algae

simpp88 · 11/09/2012, 08:07 PM

Anyone know of any dips that will kill hair algae? I have heard that hydrogen peroxide can work, but don't really want to experiment.

jamesbaur13 · 11/09/2012, 10:19 PM

Personally, I wouldn't go as far as dipping a rock because of hair algae. Hair algae is common throughout the hobby. Even if you rid your tank completely of it, it wouldn't take much for it to come back.

Start with the water you use to do water changes... test it for phosphate.

If you have algae you have nitrate and phosphate. Test for both. A high amount of one or the other will give you a place to start, but realize you will not get a true representation of whats going on due to the algae consuming the available nutrients.

Next, test alkalinity. Make sure you are around 9dkh or higher.

Lastly, try Mexican Turbos if you can support them.

skykingcory · 11/10/2012, 08:13 AM

Treat the problem and not the symptoms. I would try lowering your phosphates with GFO or water changes.

OceanSpray · 11/10/2012, 09:21 AM

I used an all out assault approach to combat the hair algae outbreak that was choking down my setup. It had become a massive problem in my system, and was clogging my overflows and just looking bad in general. I couldn't take it anymore. I decided to declare war on the crap, and prepared myself for a full scale war. I pulled all my rock and placed it into a large container filled with clean saltwater I was mixing for a water change. The water wasn't heated though, and was much colder than the water in my display. I hoped the temperature shock would help kill the stuff. I let it sit there for about 5 hours while I cleaned everything else. Then I replaced the bulbs in my T5 fixture, as they were a few months overdue for a change. I added a phosphate reactor filled with GFO and carbon, and did a water change. I also added a couple of Mexican Turbos and a couple of Urchins. I used the opportunity to totally re-arrange how the rock was placed in the tank, to get better flow and to turn it so that anywhere the algae had been, would be turned away from the light as much as possible. That was two weeks ago today, and It has worked even better than I expected. The hair algae is about 98 percent gone, and seems to be on the way to total extinction. The water is much more clear, and my corals have extended more than I have ever seen before. I don't know which one of the steps did the most good, but a total assault on the stuff has done wonders for my setup in only two weeks. It made me feel like an idiot for being lazy and waiting so long and letting it get out of control. I also thoroughly cleaned my water change container and tested all my water parameters and the output of my RODI system. I think overall my biggest issue leading to the problem was dreading the effort to get rid of it. If small steps don't work, try total war!

MinnFish · 11/10/2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanSpray

I used an all out assault approach to combat the hair algae outbreak that was choking down my setup. It had become a massive problem in my system, and was clogging my overflows and just looking bad in general. I couldn't take it anymore. I decided to declare war on the crap, and prepared myself for a full scale war. I pulled all my rock and placed it into a large container filled with clean saltwater I was mixing for a water change. The water wasn't heated though, and was much colder than the water in my display. I hoped the temperature shock would help kill the stuff. I let it sit there for about 5 hours while I cleaned everything else. Then I replaced the bulbs in my T5 fixture, as they were a few months overdue for a change. I added a phosphate reactor filled with GFO and carbon, and did a water change. I also added a couple of Mexican Turbos and a couple of Urchins. I used the opportunity to totally re-arrange how the rock was placed in the tank, to get better flow and to turn it so that anywhere the algae had been, would be turned away from the light as much as possible. That was two weeks ago today, and It has worked even better than I expected. The hair algae is about 98 percent gone, and seems to be on the way to total extinction. The water is much more clear, and my corals have extended more than I have ever seen before. I don't know which one of the steps did the most good, but a total assault on the stuff has done wonders for my setup in only two weeks. It made me feel like an idiot for being lazy and waiting so long and letting it get out of control. I also thoroughly cleaned my water change container and tested all my water parameters and the output of my RODI system. I think overall my biggest issue leading to the problem was dreading the effort to get rid of it. If small steps don't work, try total war!

Great job. Success story u got to love.

skykingcory · 11/10/2012, 12:29 PM

Mine was getting pretty bad. Started running GFO and within a week it had changed colors and was gone in about two. Anytime I started to see an outbreak starting I would fire up the reactor and within days it would be gone. I would run that GFO for 3-4 weeks. It would take 3-4 months before I would see hints of it showing back up.

Denzil · 11/11/2012, 02:48 AM

I'm glad to hear that I picked up the dual BRS Carbon/GFO system. I'll probably get that started running once my 40B is completely cycled.

11/09/2012, 08:07 PM	#1
simpp88 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 184	Hair algae Anyone know of any dips that will kill hair algae? I have heard that hydrogen peroxide can work, but don't really want to experiment.

11/09/2012, 10:19 PM	#2
jamesbaur13 Apsiring Alhcohlolic Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 772	Personally, I wouldn't go as far as dipping a rock because of hair algae. Hair algae is common throughout the hobby. Even if you rid your tank completely of it, it wouldn't take much for it to come back. Start with the water you use to do water changes... test it for phosphate. If you have algae you have nitrate and phosphate. Test for both. A high amount of one or the other will give you a place to start, but realize you will not get a true representation of whats going on due to the algae consuming the available nutrients. Next, test alkalinity. Make sure you are around 9dkh or higher. Lastly, try Mexican Turbos if you can support them. __________________ 120G AGA Dual Overflow, 40G B Sump, SRO-2000int, 2 Eheim 200w Heater, Eheim 1262 Return, BRS C & GFO React., BR-1000ss Biopellet React., Tunze 5017 ATO, 2 MP-40wes, DIY 76LED (36RB,24NW,6B,6CW,4Moon)

11/10/2012, 09:21 AM	#4
OceanSpray Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama / Roll Tide Posts: 162	I used an all out assault approach to combat the hair algae outbreak that was choking down my setup. It had become a massive problem in my system, and was clogging my overflows and just looking bad in general. I couldn't take it anymore. I decided to declare war on the crap, and prepared myself for a full scale war. I pulled all my rock and placed it into a large container filled with clean saltwater I was mixing for a water change. The water wasn't heated though, and was much colder than the water in my display. I hoped the temperature shock would help kill the stuff. I let it sit there for about 5 hours while I cleaned everything else. Then I replaced the bulbs in my T5 fixture, as they were a few months overdue for a change. I added a phosphate reactor filled with GFO and carbon, and did a water change. I also added a couple of Mexican Turbos and a couple of Urchins. I used the opportunity to totally re-arrange how the rock was placed in the tank, to get better flow and to turn it so that anywhere the algae had been, would be turned away from the light as much as possible. That was two weeks ago today, and It has worked even better than I expected. The hair algae is about 98 percent gone, and seems to be on the way to total extinction. The water is much more clear, and my corals have extended more than I have ever seen before. I don't know which one of the steps did the most good, but a total assault on the stuff has done wonders for my setup in only two weeks. It made me feel like an idiot for being lazy and waiting so long and letting it get out of control. I also thoroughly cleaned my water change container and tested all my water parameters and the output of my RODI system. I think overall my biggest issue leading to the problem was dreading the effort to get rid of it. If small steps don't work, try total war! __________________ "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 90 - Mixed Reef / 30 Sump

11/10/2012, 08:13 AM	#3
skykingcory Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portageville, MO Posts: 54	Treat the problem and not the symptoms. I would try lowering your phosphates with GFO or water changes.

11/10/2012, 12:29 PM	#6
skykingcory Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portageville, MO Posts: 54	Mine was getting pretty bad. Started running GFO and within a week it had changed colors and was gone in about two. Anytime I started to see an outbreak starting I would fire up the reactor and within days it would be gone. I would run that GFO for 3-4 weeks. It would take 3-4 months before I would see hints of it showing back up.

11/11/2012, 02:48 AM	#7
Denzil Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 63	I'm glad to hear that I picked up the dual BRS Carbon/GFO system. I'll probably get that started running once my 40B is completely cycled.