Hair Algea Problem

bwitchn · 10/24/2012, 09:09 PM

I purchased a 120 gallon cube from someone who decided to leave the hobby. I also took his live rock and refugium. I set up the tank, added live sand and filled it with salt water. Tank cycled. But now in my third to fourth week its experiencing a large hair algae problem. The back overflow black cover is covered and it is growing on the rocks and sand bed. What do I do to get rid of it? The parameters are stable. I have chemipure carbon in the sock.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
Phosphate seems to be 0

I installed a Reef Octopus skimmer three days ago and last night I installed a Phosban reactor TLF 150. I added the bio pellets as media. But should I use something else? I added a cleaning crew of several turbo snails, nassarius, astreas, but they can't keep up apparently.

How do I clean it off the back of the wall overflow box cover without letting it get all over the tank to grow more?

I also read Hydrogen Peroxide helps. PLEASE HELP ME GET RID OF THIS. The tank is now 1 month set up.

I have a Biocube 29 gal that I set up over a year ago and it's doing great. I have corals and fish and have not experienced any problems "thank God" in that tank. I have SPS and everything is doing great a year later. No loss and no algae problems.

Thanks.

Shallow · 10/24/2012, 09:27 PM

The algae is part of the cycle.
Sounds like you've got it covered it should go away in time on its own but a clean up crew would certainly help.
My tank went diatoms, cyno, long algae, dust like algae then coralline.
Each step looks better than the last but is more annoying to remove.

bwitchn · 10/24/2012, 09:51 PM

Thanks. I hope so. I do have a lot of coralline growing.

snupa · 10/25/2012, 06:45 AM

Your tank is still really young. Therefore like the post above says its going through the natural cycling process. This might go on for a year where you notice random outbreaks of algae and cyano.
Also, snails help but only Mexican turbo snails are really known for eating hair algae and when the algae is too long they won't bother either. I would do manual removal for now with your fingers.

Also, hydrogen peroxide is NOT a good solution. It is the same as if you used bleach in your aquarium to get rid of algae. It will remove it, but will remove everything else. Do NOT use it!!

10/24/2012, 09:09 PM	#1
bwitchn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 219	Hair Algea Problem I purchased a 120 gallon cube from someone who decided to leave the hobby. I also took his live rock and refugium. I set up the tank, added live sand and filled it with salt water. Tank cycled. But now in my third to fourth week its experiencing a large hair algae problem. The back overflow black cover is covered and it is growing on the rocks and sand bed. What do I do to get rid of it? The parameters are stable. I have chemipure carbon in the sock. Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 0 Phosphate seems to be 0 I installed a Reef Octopus skimmer three days ago and last night I installed a Phosban reactor TLF 150. I added the bio pellets as media. But should I use something else? I added a cleaning crew of several turbo snails, nassarius, astreas, but they can't keep up apparently. How do I clean it off the back of the wall overflow box cover without letting it get all over the tank to grow more? I also read Hydrogen Peroxide helps. PLEASE HELP ME GET RID OF THIS. The tank is now 1 month set up. I have a Biocube 29 gal that I set up over a year ago and it's doing great. I have corals and fish and have not experienced any problems "thank God" in that tank. I have SPS and everything is doing great a year later. No loss and no algae problems. Thanks. Last edited by bwitchn; 10/24/2012 at 09:27 PM.

10/24/2012, 09:27 PM	#2
Shallow Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 26	The algae is part of the cycle. Sounds like you've got it covered it should go away in time on its own but a clean up crew would certainly help. My tank went diatoms, cyno, long algae, dust like algae then coralline. Each step looks better than the last but is more annoying to remove.

10/24/2012, 09:51 PM	#3
bwitchn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 219	Thanks. I hope so. I do have a lot of coralline growing.

10/25/2012, 06:45 AM	#4
snupa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 136	Your tank is still really young. Therefore like the post above says its going through the natural cycling process. This might go on for a year where you notice random outbreaks of algae and cyano. Also, snails help but only Mexican turbo snails are really known for eating hair algae and when the algae is too long they won't bother either. I would do manual removal for now with your fingers. Also, hydrogen peroxide is NOT a good solution. It is the same as if you used bleach in your aquarium to get rid of algae. It will remove it, but will remove everything else. Do NOT use it!!