hair algae

scubadiver1 · 02/10/2008, 07:53 PM

Have a 92 gallon reef lots of live rock and coral. Had no problems for years with hair but in the past 2 months it is showing up in many places. Any ideas how to get rid of it. Bulbs are only 4 months old.

EvilE · 02/10/2008, 07:55 PM

I am also having hair algae issues--I will tag on. I added a lettuce nudi and more snails, and a yellow tang recently, hoping they'll keep it down......

bbowler · 02/10/2008, 07:56 PM

use a phos reactor, make sure you use good ro water, dont over feed, invest in a small clean up crew. Like snails, crabs or even a sea hare.

scubadiver1 · 02/10/2008, 07:58 PM

Have phos reactor and use ro water. Also have crabs and 2 tangs

The Saltman · 02/10/2008, 08:15 PM

Increase water changes to 25% per week and run carbon also.

EvilE · 02/10/2008, 08:17 PM

so noone recommends cutting the lights?

The Saltman · 02/10/2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EvilE
so noone recommends cutting the lights?

Cutting the lights is only a temporary fix. You have to get to the root of the problem which is high phosphates. If you follow the above recommendations, you should eventually rid yourself of this algae.

TIMMYE · 02/10/2008, 08:21 PM

Have you tested Po4? What are they at? Also with a sea hair becarefull a they can die and poison the tank if they starve. But they are great at taking care of HA.

clekchau · 02/10/2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Saltman
Cutting the lights is only a temporary fix. You have to get to the root of the problem which is high phosphates. If you follow the above recommendations, you should eventually rid yourself of this algae.

alot of people follow the above and still have issues, also missing suggestions are to pick the algae off, scrub the algae off, increase flow etc etc

some people get to the point where they start over, i mean compeltely from scratch, selling everything including live rock, boiling it does no good sometimes it comes back too. if only there was an easy full proof way to get rid of it.

The Saltman · 02/10/2008, 08:42 PM

Algae means high phosphates and a high nutrient problem. Sometimes there are a buildup of nutrients inside the rock that could leach phosphates. Some reefers have used "Rock cooking" to rid themselves of this buildup.

Mark NJ · 02/10/2008, 09:03 PM

Went through the same thing myself about 3 years after it was up and running. Phosphates were 0 and nitrates were very low. I tried everything including upgrading lighting and scrubbing rocks. Finally someone suggested checking silicates which I thought only contributed to brown diatomic algae. I tested and they were sky high. I was also using RO water so I added a high silicate removal cartridge and with water changes and time the problem disappeared. Check your parameters and if NO3 and PO4 are within acceptable limits try testing for silicates. Good luck.

Ah-lim · 02/11/2008, 12:14 AM

I have blue tang,yellow and sailfin and none of them pecks on my hair algae....

EvilE · 02/16/2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ah-lim
I have blue tang,yellow and sailfin and none of them pecks on my hair algae....

Wow I guess I have lucked out then! My lettuce nudi AND my new yellow Tang, both are eating the hair algae!! I have quite a break out, but in a week I bet 40% of it is gone! I see my Yellow Tang eating it, nibbling at it all the time!

demonsp · 02/16/2008, 02:54 AM

Whene replacing bulbs or upgrading lights you need to re-adjust the light time to avoid algea blooms and system shock. Algea also present and ready to take over so its a constant battle. If your tank was in prime condition from readings to equipment to stocking then this alone would have only caused a minor change but if your tank was already lacking in some area then this wa its chance to bloom. Increasing flow for awile or even for good , reducing light time and weekly water changes untill under control.

Jazmine18 · 02/16/2008, 03:25 AM

I also am having a hair algae problem atm..I invested in aphos reactor buti was wondering if i got a lettuce nudi or a sea hair what would the eat once the algae is gone.?

demonsp · 02/16/2008, 03:27 AM

If your tank size is enough he should be fine. Hair algea usually from water source and lack of flow though.

Quote:

Originally posted by Jazmine18
I also am having a hair algae problem atm..I invested in aphos reactor buti was wondering if i got a lettuce nudi or a sea hair what would the eat once the algae is gone.?

dankman88 · 02/19/2008, 01:51 AM

and yes im having a hair algea prob. had the tank going for about 2 years lot of flow at first algea only grew on the back wall it got pretty longs so i did a massive water change like 40 percent in my 90 gallon...... after water change some of the floating algea is now growing on my rock like crazy....

02/10/2008, 07:53 PM	#1
scubadiver1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	hair algae Have a 92 gallon reef lots of live rock and coral. Had no problems for years with hair but in the past 2 months it is showing up in many places. Any ideas how to get rid of it. Bulbs are only 4 months old.

02/10/2008, 07:55 PM	#2
EvilE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 2,944	I am also having hair algae issues--I will tag on. I added a lettuce nudi and more snails, and a yellow tang recently, hoping they'll keep it down...... __________________ Targzissians Are Obviously Reptilian Current Tank Info: 55 gallon african cichlid FW, 55 Gallon mixed reef SW

02/10/2008, 08:17 PM	#6
EvilE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 2,944	so noone recommends cutting the lights? __________________ Targzissians Are Obviously Reptilian Current Tank Info: 55 gallon african cichlid FW, 55 Gallon mixed reef SW

02/10/2008, 08:21 PM	#8
TIMMYE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Central Wisconsin Posts: 857	Have you tested Po4? What are they at? Also with a sea hair becarefull a they can die and poison the tank if they starve. But they are great at taking care of HA. __________________ Honey, can I have a bigger one please? This is the last time I will upsize, I promise!

02/10/2008, 07:56 PM	#3
bbowler Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: orange county Posts: 79	use a phos reactor, make sure you use good ro water, dont over feed, invest in a small clean up crew. Like snails, crabs or even a sea hare.

02/10/2008, 07:58 PM	#4
scubadiver1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Have phos reactor and use ro water. Also have crabs and 2 tangs

02/10/2008, 08:15 PM	#5
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	Increase water changes to 25% per week and run carbon also.

02/10/2008, 08:42 PM	#10
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	Algae means high phosphates and a high nutrient problem. Sometimes there are a buildup of nutrients inside the rock that could leach phosphates. Some reefers have used "Rock cooking" to rid themselves of this buildup.

02/10/2008, 09:03 PM	#11
Mark NJ Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 104	Went through the same thing myself about 3 years after it was up and running. Phosphates were 0 and nitrates were very low. I tried everything including upgrading lighting and scrubbing rocks. Finally someone suggested checking silicates which I thought only contributed to brown diatomic algae. I tested and they were sky high. I was also using RO water so I added a high silicate removal cartridge and with water changes and time the problem disappeared. Check your parameters and if NO3 and PO4 are within acceptable limits try testing for silicates. Good luck.

02/11/2008, 12:14 AM	#12
Ah-lim Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 33	I have blue tang,yellow and sailfin and none of them pecks on my hair algae....

02/16/2008, 02:54 AM	#14
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Whene replacing bulbs or upgrading lights you need to re-adjust the light time to avoid algea blooms and system shock. Algea also present and ready to take over so its a constant battle. If your tank was in prime condition from readings to equipment to stocking then this alone would have only caused a minor change but if your tank was already lacking in some area then this wa its chance to bloom. Increasing flow for awile or even for good , reducing light time and weekly water changes untill under control.

02/16/2008, 03:25 AM	#15
Jazmine18 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 52	I also am having a hair algae problem atm..I invested in aphos reactor buti was wondering if i got a lettuce nudi or a sea hair what would the eat once the algae is gone.?

02/19/2008, 01:51 AM	#17
dankman88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago, IL Posts: 1	and yes im having a hair algea prob. had the tank going for about 2 years lot of flow at first algea only grew on the back wall it got pretty longs so i did a massive water change like 40 percent in my 90 gallon...... after water change some of the floating algea is now growing on my rock like crazy....