Which eats hair algae better??

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 02:05 PM

Which eats hair algae better, blue leg hermits or astrea/turbo snails? I know what the root causes are of hair algae, but I need to get rid of what I currently have by other means than by more manual removal as its not possible in many areas.

IFbettas · 06/26/2008, 02:15 PM

Astrea snails don't eat hair algea at all. They only eat diatoms and other algea like that.

NJGirlinPhx · 06/26/2008, 02:16 PM

Our turbos go to town on the hair algae...it's amazing how much they mow down in a day.

Slakker · 06/26/2008, 02:19 PM

I checked something else because I couldn't find the box for improved filtration/husbandry

hwttdz · 06/26/2008, 02:23 PM

This question may be confusing as turbo snail refers to at least three different species of snails.

Turbo fluctuosa - mexican turbo
Trochus (various)
Astrea tecta

Coincidentally I'm also interested because I just have way too much hair algae. I can't vote because I clearly don't know.

CyanoMagnet · 06/26/2008, 03:25 PM

Elevate magnesium levels to 1550 , that will kill hair algae.

sabbath · 06/26/2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slakker
I checked something else because I couldn't find the box for improved filtration/husbandry

+1

xJake · 06/26/2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CyanoMagnet
Elevate magnesium levels to 1550 , that will kill hair algae.

I thought that was for bryopsis.

I just try to keep my clean-up crew as diverse as possible and I don't have any algae problems. However, I do always see my mexican turbos mowing down any patches of algae that may pop up.

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CyanoMagnet
Elevate magnesium levels to 1550 , that will kill hair algae.

Nope. I tried that. And it worked for the bryopsis for the most part though as it was suppose to.

seapug · 06/26/2008, 05:16 PM

deal with your phosphate and the hair algae will go away. If your tank is large enough, a Tang can be a huge help, too.

nickts40 · 06/26/2008, 05:52 PM

Seconds that on phosphate removal.

IFbettas · 06/26/2008, 06:00 PM

I agree with getting a tang if you have the space and removing phosphate.

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 06:24 PM

I know about phosphate removal and all that is necessary, but I need to get rid of what I currently have. I assumed it would die off by now but hasn't my phosphates and nitrates both test at 0. I know they must not be since the algae is still there, but its not growing at all, so it may be. Its just not going away. I have a fuge with chaeto as well as 2 phosphate reactors running GFO. I feed a small amount every other day and have for a long time now. Only thing I can think of is the rocks perhaps leaching stored phosphate. Like I said, its not growing, its just not dying. So I need to find something to remove what I have, hence the poll asking what will eat it better, not what will stop it.

On that tang note, I currently have a yellow tang who doesn't touch it. Also had a lownmower blenny who never touched it as well as currently have 2 sea hares, one small and one large. They Don't really seem to eat it either. They seem more interested in film algae for some reason.

Gary Majchrzak · 06/26/2008, 06:27 PM

why not consider a sea hare or a blenny?

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
why not consider a sea hare or a blenny?

^One post up. I was adding that part while you replied.

spooda420 · 06/26/2008, 06:30 PM

Tagging along for the ride, I am in the same boat... I am running 3 TLF with po4 remover what I have is not going away...

Gary Majchrzak · 06/26/2008, 06:30 PM

what size is the aquarium?

nickts40 · 06/26/2008, 06:31 PM

Turn the lights of for a couple of days and see what happens.

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nickts40
Turn the lights of for a couple of days and see what happens.

Tried that twice with no success. Also just switched to 20k halides from my 14s in hopes of diverting even farther from its preferred spectrum.

Tank is currently a 55. I Know, I know, tang police, but I have a 125 that'll be in the works very very soon.

Gary Majchrzak · 06/26/2008, 06:37 PM

have you tried running a PO4 adsorber?

you use RO water, right?

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 06:48 PM

I run 2 phosban reactors with GFO in them as well as chaeto in the fuge. I only use RODi water (currently been testing a TDS of 2 on the output line) However, I also have a media bag of GFO in my RODI water storage container as well just in case theres some phosphate in those 2ppm. That media bag in the storage container was a somewhat recent addition though about 4 weeks ago, so before that there may have been a minute amount of phosphate entering via the RODI water.

Tang Salad · 06/26/2008, 06:53 PM

Your RODI should read zero for TDS. It may be time to change the DI resin.

If you can get your PO4 and Nitrate levels low enough, and keep them low enough for long enough, the algae will turn white and fall off on its own. This is by far the best way to deal with the problem. Any animal that eats it will just return the nutrients to the water to start it growing again.

MMM33732 · 06/26/2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tang Salad
Your RODI should read zero for TDS. It may be time to change the DI resin.

If you can get your PO4 and Nitrate levels low enough, and keep them low enough for long enough, the algae will turn white and fall off on its own. This is by far the best way to deal with the problem. Any animal that eats it will just return the nutrients to the water to start it growing again.

Odd thing is my TDS was reading 5, so I switched out the DI resin and then they spiked to like 30 for a little while then dropped to 2. Nitrates and phosphates have read 0 for a while now and its still there.. Not growing, not dying...just there. I'm not too worried about the nutrients returning to the water since I think the GFO, chaeto, and sulfur denitrator will take care of them pretty quick. My issue is simply removing it since it won't die.

downhillbiker · 06/26/2008, 07:08 PM

emerald crabs. but fix the phosphate problem too, that is most important.

Tang Salad · 06/26/2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MMM33732
My issue is simply removing it since it won't die.

Sorry to sound like a broken record...but it WILL die when you get your P and N low enough. It will turn white, then turn slimy and disintegrate. Your skimmer will provode the final blow by removing the dead stuff.

Forget the P test's reading, they are notoriously inaccurate. If the algae isn't dying, then your P is not at zero.

View Poll Results: Which eats hair algae better?
Blue leg hermit crabs	3	6.00%
Astrea/Turbo snails	18	36.00%
Both together	6	12.00%
Something else (Don't include sea hares or blennies)	23	46.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll

06/26/2008, 02:05 PM	#1
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	Which eats hair algae better?? Which eats hair algae better, blue leg hermits or astrea/turbo snails? I know what the root causes are of hair algae, but I need to get rid of what I currently have by other means than by more manual removal as its not possible in many areas.

06/26/2008, 02:15 PM	#2
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	Astrea snails don't eat hair algea at all. They only eat diatoms and other algea like that. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

06/26/2008, 02:16 PM	#3
NJGirlinPhx Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ahwatukee, Phoenix, AZ Posts: 172	Our turbos go to town on the hair algae...it's amazing how much they mow down in a day. __________________ ~Christine aka "Ninja Girl" (no, not really) Current Tank Info: See FrankAZ for details

06/26/2008, 02:19 PM	#4
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	I checked something else because I couldn't find the box for improved filtration/husbandry __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

06/26/2008, 02:23 PM	#5
hwttdz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY, NY Posts: 105	This question may be confusing as turbo snail refers to at least three different species of snails. Turbo fluctuosa - mexican turbo Trochus (various) Astrea tecta Coincidentally I'm also interested because I just have way too much hair algae. I can't vote because I clearly don't know.

06/26/2008, 03:25 PM	#6
CyanoMagnet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn ,NY Posts: 1,272	Elevate magnesium levels to 1550 , that will kill hair algae. __________________ Salifert - - - - - - Phosphates ud, ud Nitrates .0xxxppm, Alk 9dkh Calcium 445ppm mag 1380 PH 7.7-8.0 Salinity, 1.026 11/27/2008 Current Tank Info: 72 g bf,15g sump->16g qt,10g refugium w/ DSB and cheato (lots), T5 lighting 6x54watt (2x10k,2xab,blue act,super act),korallin 1501 ca reactor,sulfur denitrator(korallin),bullet 1 skimmer,phosban reactor(running carbon atm),2xtunze1500gph,3xkoralin

06/26/2008, 05:16 PM	#10
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	deal with your phosphate and the hair algae will go away. If your tank is large enough, a Tang can be a huge help, too. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

06/26/2008, 05:52 PM	#11
nickts40 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gillette, NJ Posts: 181	Seconds that on phosphate removal. __________________ Current Tank: 220G , 50G Sump, 3x400 12K Reeflux, Orca 250 skimmer, 4x6100 Tunze, GEO Kalk and 612 Calcium Reactor, ACIII Controller, Chiller

06/26/2008, 06:00 PM	#12
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	I agree with getting a tang if you have the space and removing phosphate. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

06/26/2008, 06:24 PM	#13
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	I know about phosphate removal and all that is necessary, but I need to get rid of what I currently have. I assumed it would die off by now but hasn't my phosphates and nitrates both test at 0. I know they must not be since the algae is still there, but its not growing at all, so it may be. Its just not going away. I have a fuge with chaeto as well as 2 phosphate reactors running GFO. I feed a small amount every other day and have for a long time now. Only thing I can think of is the rocks perhaps leaching stored phosphate. Like I said, its not growing, its just not dying. So I need to find something to remove what I have, hence the poll asking what will eat it better, not what will stop it. On that tang note, I currently have a yellow tang who doesn't touch it. Also had a lownmower blenny who never touched it as well as currently have 2 sea hares, one small and one large. They Don't really seem to eat it either. They seem more interested in film algae for some reason.

06/26/2008, 06:27 PM	#14
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	why not consider a sea hare or a blenny? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/26/2008, 06:30 PM	#16
spooda420 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: O'Fallon MO Posts: 1,688	Tagging along for the ride, I am in the same boat... I am running 3 TLF with po4 remover what I have is not going away... __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 250g, 150g sump, H&S 250x2 1260s, T5s, GEO CA reactor, MA Sulfur DeNITRIFIER XL, 300lbs LR, 6" DSB, running ozone, all controlled by the Apex controller.

06/26/2008, 06:30 PM	#17
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	what size is the aquarium? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/26/2008, 06:31 PM	#18
nickts40 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gillette, NJ Posts: 181	Turn the lights of for a couple of days and see what happens. __________________ Current Tank: 220G , 50G Sump, 3x400 12K Reeflux, Orca 250 skimmer, 4x6100 Tunze, GEO Kalk and 612 Calcium Reactor, ACIII Controller, Chiller

06/26/2008, 06:37 PM	#20
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	have you tried running a PO4 adsorber? you use RO water, right? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/26/2008, 06:48 PM	#21
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	I run 2 phosban reactors with GFO in them as well as chaeto in the fuge. I only use RODi water (currently been testing a TDS of 2 on the output line) However, I also have a media bag of GFO in my RODI water storage container as well just in case theres some phosphate in those 2ppm. That media bag in the storage container was a somewhat recent addition though about 4 weeks ago, so before that there may have been a minute amount of phosphate entering via the RODI water.

06/26/2008, 06:53 PM	#22
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Your RODI should read zero for TDS. It may be time to change the DI resin. If you can get your PO4 and Nitrate levels low enough, and keep them low enough for long enough, the algae will turn white and fall off on its own. This is by far the best way to deal with the problem. Any animal that eats it will just return the nutrients to the water to start it growing again. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

06/26/2008, 07:08 PM	#24
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	emerald crabs. but fix the phosphate problem too, that is most important. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump