Normal to have lots of hair algae in overflow?

[kurfer]

Was looking at my overflow, seem to have lots of this brownish/greenish hair algae. Doesn't seem to be anywhere else in my tank (other than pump return jets).

Is this normal or a potential problem brewing?

[JOEYRM7]

I am seeing the same plus bubble algae. Tagging along

[rfgonzo]

It is normal if you don't have any type of light blocker above your overflow. I use a sheet of acrylic and rap it in electrical tape and set it over the top of overflow, that way no light gets in.

[B.BASH]

you most likely have algae in your overflow due to high nutrient levels. If it stays in your overflow its not so bad. Actually acting like sort of an algae scrubber.However if it spreads to dt it can get ugly. test for nitrates and phosphates and reduce these levels. nitrate should be under 5 ppm and phos around .003

[kurfer]

My nitrates hover around .25 and pos 0.15, feed every other day and have an oversized skimmer...not sure how to reduce anymore.

[Stevenliu9]

Don't think it's a big problem. Most people's established tank I've seen have algae growing like jungle in an uncovered overflow- mainly because there is no cleaning crew to reach in there. Like RFgonzo said, you can place a cover over it. I strategically placed my lights away from the overflow for this reason.

[Kearnel]

I get it in mine, I just scrub it out every now and then. I have little patches of hair algae here and there in my dt, grows in some of the stupidest places. I suppose with hair algae or any nuisance algae, a stupid place is any place.

[SaltieG]

I made a cover for mine. Took a clear clipboard and cut it to fit over the overflow and painted it black. It works.

[2_zoa]

Originally Posted by kurfer

My nitrates hover around .25 and pos 0.15, feed every other day and have an oversized skimmer...not sure how to reduce anymore.

Your Phos is to high. They should be .03-.06 ish. Maybe some other info of your setup? I would wonder and worry about the HA growing in the overflow. That is a key indicator of a nutrient issue. IMO.

You can reduce the phosphates a couple ways. You can use GFO or, you can start carbon dosing or, you can setup a macro refugium. If you go the carbon route,(vodka, vinegar, sugar, vit-c, or any combo of them) it kinda seems like you may need to dose nitrates. Carbon dosing requires nitrates to get phosphates down if your system is one that requires nitrate dosing. Some systems require phosphate to be dosed. Carbon dosing with either nitrate/phosphate dosing is based on the redfield ratio.

[wrott]

Same as above, cover your overflows.
Even a couple of layers a foil works well, just replace it when it corrodes or you could have aluminum and alloys in the water.

[SGT_York]

nutrients aren't a significant issue, algae would cover everything if it weren't for snails eating it regardless of your nutrient levels, you have algae there because snails can't reach it. Either add some snails and deal with the flood or put a lid on it. Dark acrylic looks nice but is expensive, a simple tote bin lid cut to size works perfectly as well.

[AcroporAddict]

Any office depot or similar should gave black acrylic clipboards in stock for about $5 each. Buy one of them and use it to make your overflow cover. They work great.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by SGT_York

nutrients aren't a significant issue, algae would cover everything if it weren't for snails eating it regardless of your nutrient levels, you have algae there because snails can't reach it. Either add some snails and deal with the flood or put a lid on it. Dark acrylic looks nice but is expensive, a simple tote bin lid cut to size works perfectly as well.

Exactly right! Even in very low nutrient tanks, there is enough 'transient' nitrate and phosphate to,grow algae. Otherwise, the algae scrubber would be bald The reason algae grows in the overflow (and on the scrubber) but not in the display is that the herbivores cannot get to it. Either find a way to block out the light, or don't worry about it.