Dark Green Hair Algae

LaFishLover · 06/29/2006, 12:07 PM

I have a 24 gal. Aquapod reef tank with fish and coral. My tank is about 6 months old. I am having green hair algae that seems to be taking over. I was using well water as my top off water but buying my salt water for water changes from my local fish store. I do water changes every other week. I have just started buying RO water from my fish store instead of using the well water. I have spairingly used Kalkwasser Mix from Kent Marine. I was told it would help plus changing my top off water should take care of it. Any help or suggestions is apreatied.

idratherbediving · 06/29/2006, 01:19 PM

Do you have the tank any ware near a window? Sunlight can cause huge problems with hair algae. If so block the sunlight from the tank.

chem-e · 06/29/2006, 02:30 PM

You may also want to check the LFS' RO water to see what the parameters are. I've heard of cases where filters aren't being replaced very often, so to be safe, you should check the water before placing it into the tank.

I'm dealing with HA myself and I've since bought my own RO/DI system to do weekly water changes. I feel that I'm slowly making progress, but I think the thing holding me back is that my cleanup crew is undersized, so I plan to pick up some more critters.

LaFishLover · 06/30/2006, 11:30 AM

My tank is sort of under a skylight and I have seen the summer sun shine on it for about 15 minutes or so but just on the front part of the tank. What type of cleenup crew should I have and how many doe my 24 gal. I have 3 red legged and 2 blue legged hermit crabs, a few snails, 1 cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp, 1 pistol shrimp, 1 pygmy angle, 6 line wrasse, and a cardinal.

ottemann · 06/30/2006, 11:40 AM

You really need to check the phosphates and nitrates in the tank and the water you are adding. I just had a problem with the salt mix being 0.25ppm which is way too high. Once you get the phosphates to almost zero youi can take a tooth brush to the HA then the snails should be able to handle it. It is a real battle once the HA takes over. I have been battling for months now and am just making progress.
Bill

imtopora · 06/30/2006, 07:45 PM

I have faught HA for months and now I am getting the upper hand. I added a cleanup crew from etropicals.com(a sponser) and now they have free shipping on $60 or more cleanup crew orders.HTH

idratherbediving · 07/01/2006, 03:32 AM

I have a lot of windows in the room where my reef is and a spinney sea urchin takes care of about 80% of my HA.

06/29/2006, 12:07 PM	#1
LaFishLover Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 35	Dark Green Hair Algae I have a 24 gal. Aquapod reef tank with fish and coral. My tank is about 6 months old. I am having green hair algae that seems to be taking over. I was using well water as my top off water but buying my salt water for water changes from my local fish store. I do water changes every other week. I have just started buying RO water from my fish store instead of using the well water. I have spairingly used Kalkwasser Mix from Kent Marine. I was told it would help plus changing my top off water should take care of it. Any help or suggestions is apreatied. __________________ Lamar Methvin

06/29/2006, 02:30 PM	#3
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	You may also want to check the LFS' RO water to see what the parameters are. I've heard of cases where filters aren't being replaced very often, so to be safe, you should check the water before placing it into the tank. I'm dealing with HA myself and I've since bought my own RO/DI system to do weekly water changes. I feel that I'm slowly making progress, but I think the thing holding me back is that my cleanup crew is undersized, so I plan to pick up some more critters. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

06/30/2006, 11:30 AM	#4
LaFishLover Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 35	My tank is sort of under a skylight and I have seen the summer sun shine on it for about 15 minutes or so but just on the front part of the tank. What type of cleenup crew should I have and how many doe my 24 gal. I have 3 red legged and 2 blue legged hermit crabs, a few snails, 1 cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp, 1 pistol shrimp, 1 pygmy angle, 6 line wrasse, and a cardinal. __________________ Lamar Methvin

06/30/2006, 07:45 PM	#6
imtopora Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 40	I have faught HA for months and now I am getting the upper hand. I added a cleanup crew from etropicals.com(a sponser) and now they have free shipping on $60 or more cleanup crew orders.HTH __________________ Peace Steve "If your not laughing you aint living" Carlos Mencia Current Tank Info: 55g, 40g sump/fuge, tun$e 6060, 400w xm 20k, 2 110w vho actinic, 3 mj 1200, mrc mr 2 w/ genx pcx 55,

06/29/2006, 01:19 PM	#2
idratherbediving Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clay NY Posts: 88	Do you have the tank any ware near a window? Sunlight can cause huge problems with hair algae. If so block the sunlight from the tank.

06/30/2006, 11:40 AM	#5
ottemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 13	You really need to check the phosphates and nitrates in the tank and the water you are adding. I just had a problem with the salt mix being 0.25ppm which is way too high. Once you get the phosphates to almost zero youi can take a tooth brush to the HA then the snails should be able to handle it. It is a real battle once the HA takes over. I have been battling for months now and am just making progress. Bill

07/01/2006, 03:32 AM	#7
idratherbediving Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clay NY Posts: 88	I have a lot of windows in the room where my reef is and a spinney sea urchin takes care of about 80% of my HA.