Do I want to stop the "hairy green algae?"

JaredSD · 10/29/2006, 06:18 PM

I have some hairy or mossy looking green algae growing in my tank. I don't have any snails, so should I just scrub my rocks every now and then? It seems to be giving some color to my rocks, but is it okay? Also, how can I limit algae?

TCC · 10/29/2006, 06:22 PM

In MHO, the green algae will get worse, and you won't enjoy it so much. As you're asking for opinions, I would say get some snails. I had the best luck on that algae with Mexican snails. Anyway, I think that's what they're called. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in. Happpy reefkeeing!

thatguy · 10/29/2006, 06:24 PM

Hair algae is bad. From my understanding it is due to excessive nutrients.

I am no expert and freely admit I could be wrong, but I don't think I am in this instance.

ACBlinky · 10/29/2006, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JaredSD
Do I want to stop the "hairy green algae?"

Does a bear go in the woods? LOL yes, you want to get rid of it. IME lowering phosphates to undetectable levels is enough to send hair algae packing, but a few turbos for insurance never hurt

chrisstie · 10/29/2006, 06:39 PM

A little green hair algae stopped cyano from coming back in my tank;p
And yes I do regular water changes, practically starve my fish, have no measurable nitrates or phosphates and good flow. Cutting back on the lighting wont solve the issue.

What you can do is everytime you do a water change or see a chance to yank some of it out manually? go for it

James983 · 10/29/2006, 06:40 PM

I agree with Blinky. A little hair algae is too much. I had an outbreak and changed my RO filters and hair algea is kaput! If you have it, it's because theres too much nutrients in your water.

TCC · 10/29/2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ACBlinky
..... but a few turbos for insurance never hurt

Yes that's it! Mexican Turbo snails. For me, they cleaned it right up.

vanmo92 · 10/29/2006, 07:39 PM

yeah. i think you should definetly get rid of it.

vanmo92 · 10/29/2006, 07:44 PM

yeah. i think you should definitely get rid of it.

TekCat · 10/29/2006, 07:47 PM

Manually removing it would in turn export nutrients that went into their growth. Snails help, but they then poop the same nitrients and they stay in tank. Manually removing is just like harvesting macro algea. So, a combination of snails and manual removal would be (IMHO) the way to go.

Sk8r · 10/29/2006, 08:02 PM

It's a phase tanks go through. Getting a full cleaning crew, snails, conchs, hermits, bristleworms, will cycle the phosphates through so your skimmer can pick it up; Phosban can give you some additional help.

curtisc63 · 10/29/2006, 08:08 PM

I have heard that "old" lighting can contribute to algae growth as the light spectrum shifts. You may want to look at your lamp age in addition to the above suggestions - yes Turbos will work.

CC

TekCat · 10/29/2006, 08:42 PM

Old lighting had proven to be an urban myth. Algea will not grow without nutrients (phosphates/nitrates) no matter how old your lights are. So, pluck it out, snail it out, and keeping NO3 and PO4 in check will do wounders in a long run. However new (young) bio-systems are not yet balanced out, so it is quite common to go through different algal outbreaks.

10/29/2006, 06:18 PM	#1
JaredSD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 60	Do I want to stop the "hairy green algae?" I have some hairy or mossy looking green algae growing in my tank. I don't have any snails, so should I just scrub my rocks every now and then? It seems to be giving some color to my rocks, but is it okay? Also, how can I limit algae?

10/29/2006, 06:24 PM	#3
thatguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CO Posts: 513	Hair algae is bad. From my understanding it is due to excessive nutrients. I am no expert and freely admit I could be wrong, but I don't think I am in this instance. __________________ #something witty Current Tank Info: in my memories

10/29/2006, 06:39 PM	#5
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	A little green hair algae stopped cyano from coming back in my tank;p And yes I do regular water changes, practically starve my fish, have no measurable nitrates or phosphates and good flow. Cutting back on the lighting wont solve the issue. What you can do is everytime you do a water change or see a chance to yank some of it out manually? go for it __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS

10/29/2006, 07:39 PM	#8
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	yeah. i think you should definetly get rid of it. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

10/29/2006, 07:44 PM	#9
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	yeah. i think you should definitely get rid of it. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

10/29/2006, 06:22 PM	#2
TCC Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 285	In MHO, the green algae will get worse, and you won't enjoy it so much. As you're asking for opinions, I would say get some snails. I had the best luck on that algae with Mexican snails. Anyway, I think that's what they're called. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in. Happpy reefkeeing!

10/29/2006, 06:40 PM	#6
James983 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,223	I agree with Blinky. A little hair algae is too much. I had an outbreak and changed my RO filters and hair algea is kaput! If you have it, it's because theres too much nutrients in your water.

10/29/2006, 07:47 PM	#10
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	Manually removing it would in turn export nutrients that went into their growth. Snails help, but they then poop the same nitrients and they stay in tank. Manually removing is just like harvesting macro algea. So, a combination of snails and manual removal would be (IMHO) the way to go.

10/29/2006, 08:02 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It's a phase tanks go through. Getting a full cleaning crew, snails, conchs, hermits, bristleworms, will cycle the phosphates through so your skimmer can pick it up; Phosban can give you some additional help. __________________ 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%.

10/29/2006, 08:08 PM	#12
curtisc63 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Columbia MD Posts: 49	I have heard that "old" lighting can contribute to algae growth as the light spectrum shifts. You may want to look at your lamp age in addition to the above suggestions - yes Turbos will work. CC

10/29/2006, 08:42 PM	#13
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	Old lighting had proven to be an urban myth. Algea will not grow without nutrients (phosphates/nitrates) no matter how old your lights are. So, pluck it out, snail it out, and keeping NO3 and PO4 in check will do wounders in a long run. However new (young) bio-systems are not yet balanced out, so it is quite common to go through different algal outbreaks.