Long Hair Algae Epidemic

jpgwold · 09/03/2006, 09:09 PM

I have had my aquarium running since February of this year I have had a problem with long hair algae since June. I have not been able to beat it. I have scrapped it off the glass and off the LR. I cannot get all of it off because I have alot off smaller feather dusters. I have used a toothbrush which worked really well but it keeps coming back.

Please help me I need suggestions. It is an eye sore and I want to beat it. Thanks ahead of time for all your comments.

affan · 09/03/2006, 09:11 PM

Check your PO4. Unless your phosphate is undetectable by a good kit, you won't win the battle. Cheap kits may not be able to detect PO4 levels bound up in the algae.

ADA33 · 09/03/2006, 09:14 PM

Also a 100 goldens will help get it under control.

jpgwold · 09/03/2006, 09:15 PM

What is a golden?

ADA33 · 09/03/2006, 09:26 PM

Here is a Astraea
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...pcatid=563&N=0

The ones I bought were called golden Astraea and were purchased at reeftopia.com
anyway I did get 100 of them for my 75 and it has helped keep my Hair Algea under control.

Sk8r · 09/03/2006, 09:33 PM

pincushion urchin. FIghting conch. All good munchers, coral-safe. You have to pull the long fibers off with a toothbrush, wind and yank. Then the munchers can handle the shorter stuff. It also keeps it from blocking the downflow weir and flooding your floor.

bureau13 · 09/03/2006, 09:34 PM

Can ANY test kit detect phosphates that are bound up in algae? I don't see how they could.

jds

Quote:

Originally posted by affan
Check your PO4. Unless your phosphate is undetectable by a good kit, you won't win the battle. Cheap kits may not be able to detect PO4 levels bound up in the algae.

annamarie421 · 09/03/2006, 09:41 PM

I have a pincushion urchin that has gone to town on hair algae in my tank. It's a fascinating creature too! You can see where it's been, because it leaves a white trail behind it (it reomves the coraline as well as hair algae), but I don't care that much about having purple rocks.

Good luck!

Anna

booncool · 09/03/2006, 10:01 PM

I also have that nuisance algae in my tank too and i can't get rid of it no matter how much i tried.

09/03/2006, 09:09 PM	#1
jpgwold Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kansas Posts: 96	Long Hair Algae Epidemic I have had my aquarium running since February of this year I have had a problem with long hair algae since June. I have not been able to beat it. I have scrapped it off the glass and off the LR. I cannot get all of it off because I have alot off smaller feather dusters. I have used a toothbrush which worked really well but it keeps coming back. Please help me I need suggestions. It is an eye sore and I want to beat it. Thanks ahead of time for all your comments.

09/03/2006, 09:33 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	pincushion urchin. FIghting conch. All good munchers, coral-safe. You have to pull the long fibers off with a toothbrush, wind and yank. Then the munchers can handle the shorter stuff. It also keeps it from blocking the downflow weir and flooding your floor. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/03/2006, 09:11 PM	#2
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	Check your PO4. Unless your phosphate is undetectable by a good kit, you won't win the battle. Cheap kits may not be able to detect PO4 levels bound up in the algae.

09/03/2006, 09:14 PM	#3
ADA33 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 3,131	Also a 100 goldens will help get it under control.

09/03/2006, 09:15 PM	#4
jpgwold Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kansas Posts: 96	What is a golden?

09/03/2006, 09:26 PM	#5
ADA33 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 3,131	Here is a Astraea http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...pcatid=563&N=0 The ones I bought were called golden Astraea and were purchased at reeftopia.com anyway I did get 100 of them for my 75 and it has helped keep my Hair Algea under control.

09/03/2006, 09:41 PM	#8
annamarie421 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 390	I have a pincushion urchin that has gone to town on hair algae in my tank. It's a fascinating creature too! You can see where it's been, because it leaves a white trail behind it (it reomves the coraline as well as hair algae), but I don't care that much about having purple rocks. Good luck! Anna

09/03/2006, 10:01 PM	#9
booncool Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 25	I also have that nuisance algae in my tank too and i can't get rid of it no matter how much i tried.