green hair algae...

SHLove16 · 06/28/2007, 05:07 PM

Okay, so I think I have 2 tiny patches of green hair algae on the same small rock. one patch is probably the size of a dime and the other is probably half the size of a dime. Is this common? What exactly is causing it, and should I remove it? I have the standard 12g Nanocube with stock lighting so I don't think it's from that...any replies will be appreciated.
Thanks,
-Simon

sir_dudeguy · 06/28/2007, 05:11 PM

Yes, very common unfortunately haha. It got there on rock or something that you put in your tank and must have just started growing.

Stuff that makes it grow...regular nutrients...check your nitrates, phosphates, and hair alga also used iron i believe, so test that.

For getting rid of it...I'm no expert at that part of it...besides keeping the levels down, make sure you've got a good variety of snails (maybe a mexican turbo, some ceriths, a few astreas, and maybe a nerite, but i've never tried nerites.) But you want a variety because all snails eat different things, so the more variety, the better chance something eats it, you know?

You could also try a small emerald crab. Make sure its small though...they can get a bit aggressive as they get bigger

hth

SHLove16 · 06/28/2007, 05:16 PM

Alright thanks, so is it possible if I get my levels good again it will die off or something? My purigen pad needs to be "bleached" so I have a purigen pad and a chemi-pure pad soon to be delivered to my door. I have 3 nassarius snails, and 2 hermits, maybe I should pick up another type soon. Anyways, it's not "out of control" or anything, just a small patch that I don't want to see get larger...
Thanks again.

sir_dudeguy · 06/28/2007, 05:20 PM

Ya those nassarius snails dont touch algae so they're no help for that. The hermits might help a little, but i dont like them and suggest the other snails over them. There's also a sea hare that eats the stuff REALLY good i think..

lat0403 · 06/28/2007, 05:34 PM

I have a rock that has a small patch of hair algae on it, too. I pulled it out myself at first, but now the snails usually take care of it.

fish2 · 06/28/2007, 07:05 PM

it mostly feeds on nitrates and light

SHLove16 · 06/28/2007, 08:25 PM

Hmm...that's kind of strange then because I have the Standard 12G nano-cube's stock lighting (which can't even support brains and some other LPS's), and my nitrates are like 2.5 or less....

Maybe the new purigen pad, and chemi-pure on top of me pulling out the algae will work....

danch · 06/29/2007, 08:31 AM

If you've got thinks living in water (producing waste) and light, you'll have some algae. Enlist the help of herbivores, and control the waste, and you'll control the algae, but you'll never eliminate all algae.

xian · 06/29/2007, 08:48 AM

I just posted this somewhere else but Nassarius snails are carnivorous scavengers, they eat food that settles into the sand but not algae.

Personally, I would add 10 astrea or trochus snails and 2 turbo's.

I thought that the standard buld in a nanocube was a 65w fluorescent? IMO more than enough for a brain with quality water.

SHLove16 · 06/29/2007, 11:10 AM

Thanks, everyone...

Nope...24 watt

06/28/2007, 05:07 PM	#1
SHLove16 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 208	green hair algae... Okay, so I think I have 2 tiny patches of green hair algae on the same small rock. one patch is probably the size of a dime and the other is probably half the size of a dime. Is this common? What exactly is causing it, and should I remove it? I have the standard 12g Nanocube with stock lighting so I don't think it's from that...any replies will be appreciated. Thanks, -Simon

06/28/2007, 05:11 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Yes, very common unfortunately haha. It got there on rock or something that you put in your tank and must have just started growing. Stuff that makes it grow...regular nutrients...check your nitrates, phosphates, and hair alga also used iron i believe, so test that. For getting rid of it...I'm no expert at that part of it...besides keeping the levels down, make sure you've got a good variety of snails (maybe a mexican turbo, some ceriths, a few astreas, and maybe a nerite, but i've never tried nerites.) But you want a variety because all snails eat different things, so the more variety, the better chance something eats it, you know? You could also try a small emerald crab. Make sure its small though...they can get a bit aggressive as they get bigger hth __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

06/28/2007, 05:20 PM	#4
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Ya those nassarius snails dont touch algae so they're no help for that. The hermits might help a little, but i dont like them and suggest the other snails over them. There's also a sea hare that eats the stuff REALLY good i think.. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

06/28/2007, 07:05 PM	#6
fish2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: fordland mo Posts: 170	it mostly feeds on nitrates and light __________________ reefing is like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to get Current Tank Info: 92 bow 40+ corals

06/29/2007, 08:31 AM	#8
danch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 614	If you've got thinks living in water (producing waste) and light, you'll have some algae. Enlist the help of herbivores, and control the waste, and you'll control the algae, but you'll never eliminate all algae. __________________ Asking dumb questions since '06! Or, a dumby asking questions since '06! Current Tank Info: 29G FW, 75G LPSing

06/28/2007, 05:16 PM	#3
SHLove16 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 208	Alright thanks, so is it possible if I get my levels good again it will die off or something? My purigen pad needs to be "bleached" so I have a purigen pad and a chemi-pure pad soon to be delivered to my door. I have 3 nassarius snails, and 2 hermits, maybe I should pick up another type soon. Anyways, it's not "out of control" or anything, just a small patch that I don't want to see get larger... Thanks again.

06/28/2007, 05:34 PM	#5
lat0403 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 220	I have a rock that has a small patch of hair algae on it, too. I pulled it out myself at first, but now the snails usually take care of it.

06/28/2007, 08:25 PM	#7
SHLove16 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 208	Hmm...that's kind of strange then because I have the Standard 12G nano-cube's stock lighting (which can't even support brains and some other LPS's), and my nitrates are like 2.5 or less.... Maybe the new purigen pad, and chemi-pure on top of me pulling out the algae will work....

06/29/2007, 08:48 AM	#9
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	I just posted this somewhere else but Nassarius snails are carnivorous scavengers, they eat food that settles into the sand but not algae. Personally, I would add 10 astrea or trochus snails and 2 turbo's. I thought that the standard buld in a nanocube was a 65w fluorescent? IMO more than enough for a brain with quality water. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

06/29/2007, 11:10 AM	#10
SHLove16 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 208	Thanks, everyone... Nope...24 watt