Hair Algae Predators

Reefer07 · 03/29/2009, 08:34 PM

I just got over months worth of battling bryopsis and it is finally gone. However, I now have hair algae growing in slowly. What would be some good ways to maybe stop this growth. Or perhaps some inverts that would eat the algae?
I have a very low nutrient system and I am currently dosing prodibio.

46FiatYamaha · 03/29/2009, 08:40 PM

you could try hermits, mine do a good job of controlling algae

Mopar Reefer · 03/29/2009, 09:02 PM

Something is fuleing your GHA growth, what are your parameters phosphates and nitrates. Do you use ro/di water or tap?

buzzer · 03/30/2009, 02:31 PM

sea hare and mexican turbos worked for me but I also realised I had bio balls that might be causing the issue in the system so removed them and within 2 months the tank has been cleared of this 2 year long nightmare.

dean1977 · 03/30/2009, 04:20 PM

mexican turbos will eat almost 100% of the crap algea. In a 29 gallon tank I would just like 3 of them and sit back and be patient. If you get too many they will literally eat it all then starve to death (and immediately start rotting).

Chuck H. · 03/30/2009, 06:38 PM

Reefer07,

How did you defeat the Bryopsis? I'm currently battling a batch trying the Tech-M method. I'd figure compared to that algae, the other varities wouldn't be so hard to get rid of.

bubbly · 03/30/2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reefer07
I just got over months worth of battling bryopsis and it is finally gone. However, I now have hair algae growing in slowly. What would be some good ways to maybe stop this growth. Or perhaps some inverts that would eat the algae?
I have a very low nutrient system and I am currently dosing prodibio.

I don't think your system is as low on nutrients as you may think -- the nutrients are the "fuel" that the "fires" of bryopsis and hair algae feed on. Your bryopsis was eating the phosphates and nitrates and growing -- now that it's gone the nutrients are fueling the hair algae outbreak, although it's growing slowly b/c you have gotten rid of most of the nutrients but there is still some to fuel the growth.

If you just get a critter that eats hair algae, those nutrients will still be there to fuel the next pest that comes to your system.

I would up the water changes, the skimming power of your system, and maybe supplement the prodibio with a stronger form of carbon dosing.

It's all about the nutrients -- as soon as I got my carbon dosing regime going well (I was very careful so I started very slowly) , my hair algae and bubble algae growth stopped in its tracks and the existing hair algae started turning white and dying.

"remote deep sandbeds" (in your sump or somewhere else) can also help.

Jova · 03/30/2009, 10:56 PM

definately get the parameters in check. I also do not recommend the mexican turbo snails because from what I've experienced, normal reef temperatures are just too high and they don't last long, and as mentioned prior, they often starve, die, and then rot in the tank. They are sold everywhere, but personally I feel that the mexican turbo snails are not a good invert for a tank unless it's a cooler temp. tank.

hoosierpat · 03/30/2009, 11:10 PM

Nerites and astreas have been working for me.

jenglish · 03/30/2009, 11:46 PM

mollies will adapt to SW and eat hair algae, but something that eats algae does not remove the nutrients

Reefer07 · 04/01/2009, 03:26 PM

Nitrates < 5 on salifert
Phosphates I have never measured but I only have 4 fish and I feed half cube a day.
I skim real wet. I don't see how I could get my nutrients down any lower.

Chuck, I have no clue how I got the bryopsis to disappear but I tried just about every method out there.

03/29/2009, 08:34 PM	#1
Reefer07 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,090	Hair Algae Predators I just got over months worth of battling bryopsis and it is finally gone. However, I now have hair algae growing in slowly. What would be some good ways to maybe stop this growth. Or perhaps some inverts that would eat the algae? I have a very low nutrient system and I am currently dosing prodibio.

03/30/2009, 06:38 PM	#6
Chuck H. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South East Virginia Posts: 560	Reefer07, How did you defeat the Bryopsis? I'm currently battling a batch trying the Tech-M method. I'd figure compared to that algae, the other varities wouldn't be so hard to get rid of. __________________ Chuck H. Current Tank Info: Radion Powered Elos Midi mixed-reef in progress and 65 Undulate Trigger FOWLR species tank

03/30/2009, 11:46 PM	#10
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	mollies will adapt to SW and eat hair algae, but something that eats algae does not remove the nutrients __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

03/29/2009, 08:40 PM	#2
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	you could try hermits, mine do a good job of controlling algae

03/29/2009, 09:02 PM	#3
Mopar Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 465	Something is fuleing your GHA growth, what are your parameters phosphates and nitrates. Do you use ro/di water or tap?

03/30/2009, 02:31 PM	#4
buzzer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 413	sea hare and mexican turbos worked for me but I also realised I had bio balls that might be causing the issue in the system so removed them and within 2 months the tank has been cleared of this 2 year long nightmare.

03/30/2009, 04:20 PM	#5
dean1977 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: south jersey Posts: 535	mexican turbos will eat almost 100% of the crap algea. In a 29 gallon tank I would just like 3 of them and sit back and be patient. If you get too many they will literally eat it all then starve to death (and immediately start rotting).

03/30/2009, 10:56 PM	#8
Jova Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 201	definately get the parameters in check. I also do not recommend the mexican turbo snails because from what I've experienced, normal reef temperatures are just too high and they don't last long, and as mentioned prior, they often starve, die, and then rot in the tank. They are sold everywhere, but personally I feel that the mexican turbo snails are not a good invert for a tank unless it's a cooler temp. tank.

03/30/2009, 11:10 PM	#9
hoosierpat Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete, IL Posts: 862	Nerites and astreas have been working for me.

04/01/2009, 03:26 PM	#11
Reefer07 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,090	Nitrates < 5 on salifert Phosphates I have never measured but I only have 4 fish and I feed half cube a day. I skim real wet. I don't see how I could get my nutrients down any lower. Chuck, I have no clue how I got the bryopsis to disappear but I tried just about every method out there.