Can't get rid of hair algae

[Paul B]

The reason you hear of so many "cures" that work is because hair algae will die off on it's own no matter what you do and we think it was our method. A tank can support only so much algae then it will exhaust whatever it needs and it will start to turn stringy and die. Then of course you have to get that dead stuff out of there or it will just start again. You can get sea hares, tangs, snails but these will do nothing but recycle the algae into more algae. A lighted refugium is the best idea because the hair algae can grow there and you can eliminate it easier from a refugium than a reef. I use an algae trough which sits slightly under the lights above and to the rear of the tank. I have a screen in there which can be rolled up to be cleaned of algae. Hair algae comes and goes in cycles, it can't be cured because it's not a disease. It grows on all healthy reefs in the sea. You don't see it because of the large amount of animals that eat it. This will not work in a tank because in the sea the wastes of the animals have unlimited water to dilute them. Algae is natural and it makes your tank healthier, you just don't want it growing in the same place as your corals thats why a refugium or algae trough is a good idea. The algae can grow but you don't see it.
Good luck.
Paul

[archie1709]

Originally posted by ncsaltwater
Algae thrive on nitrate, phosphates, and silicate. Even though your test shows zero it doesn't mean you don't have one of them in your system. In most cases your system is using them up (algae is using them) just as fast as they are being produced.

For the most part, the battle for nitrates and phosphates is just what you said "competition". If you starve the algae of it, it will die. Test for Nitrates and Phosphates constantly so you will see where you are at.

I used AZ-NO3 because my Nitrates bottomed out at 20ppms after so many water changes. Once I read about AZ-NO3, and how cellular respiration helps in the digestion and ultimately skimming out of nitrates, I tried it. My skimmer started skimming dry suds that turn into dark coffee in my collection cup. My nitrates started going down. At that point, the nitrates are consumed by these cellular respirating whatevers before algae consumes them.

With phosphates, I used Rowa Phos so the phosphates, again, is removed before they are ever consumed. The surface of my sand was covered with algae that holds the sand together. Now, they all died off and my sand is pretty much being bossed around by water current. Ups and downs I guess, but the battle rages on.