Green Hair Algea

stagger19 · 01/17/2007, 06:30 PM

Hi, I have a fairly new 55 gal setup with live rock thats fully cycled.
No Live stock yet, or cleanup crew yet, getting ready to populate.

I use only Ro/DI Water, and have some brown diatom algea growing on the sand which I believe is normal in this stage?

I also have some green grass or hair algea growing on 2 rocks.

Should I get a cleanup crew that will target and help eat and control this grass\Algea?

Any suggestions???

teena · 01/17/2007, 06:41 PM

they say the emerald crab is the best thing for that, i seen a post a few days ago where they had a video on one eating alot of it, if i can find it ill let you no so you can see it,

teena · 01/17/2007, 06:49 PM

ok i found it go to the 16th page on new to the hobby ( first attempt to post video on photo bucket) is the thread

Henry Bowman · 01/17/2007, 09:39 PM

You should also check for phosphates and or run a phosphate reactor. New(er) tanks usually have high phosphates produced during the cycle. Phosphates fuel algae growth. The cleanup crew should help also.

Ti · 01/17/2007, 10:36 PM

don't get the emerald it's hit or miss.

InLimbo87 · 01/17/2007, 11:29 PM

I agree with everyone's post in saying stay away from emerald crabs. The best thing that you can do is carefully pull the hair algae out, and make sure to keep your water as "clean" as possible (which will be pretty hard to do during cycle). I battled hair algae for months, and finally have rid my tank almost entirely of it. Good luck

frederickk · 01/18/2007, 08:03 AM

You can carefully pull the hair algae out, or you can also add a few mexican turbo snails. THey will do the job in a week or so.

chrisstie · 01/18/2007, 08:27 AM

Turbos are awesome, green sea slug (lettuce nudibranch) seem to help too...

I have 0 phosphates and still get the stuff. I am guessing the initial algae I had dying off is feeding growth of new algae. Next time I set up a tank maybe I will go cured rock route lol ;p

steri · 01/18/2007, 09:19 AM

I like personally like emralds. Very cool creatures and fun to watch. I got 2 in my tank. They eat macro algae that has started to grow.

I will say though. In my cleaning crew I started out with Mexican Turbos and Pink turbos (snails) and they had my LR clean as a whistle in about a week or so. I highly recommend them!

01/17/2007, 06:30 PM	#1
stagger19 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 122	Green Hair Algea Hi, I have a fairly new 55 gal setup with live rock thats fully cycled. No Live stock yet, or cleanup crew yet, getting ready to populate. I use only Ro/DI Water, and have some brown diatom algea growing on the sand which I believe is normal in this stage? I also have some green grass or hair algea growing on 2 rocks. Should I get a cleanup crew that will target and help eat and control this grass\Algea? Any suggestions???

01/17/2007, 06:41 PM	#2
teena Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: memphis tn collierville Posts: 1,219	they say the emerald crab is the best thing for that, i seen a post a few days ago where they had a video on one eating alot of it, if i can find it ill let you no so you can see it, __________________ im pouring all my rainey day money in my reef tank, Current Tank Info: 210 inwall w/soft corls

01/17/2007, 06:49 PM	#3
teena Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: memphis tn collierville Posts: 1,219	ok i found it go to the 16th page on new to the hobby ( first attempt to post video on photo bucket) is the thread __________________ im pouring all my rainey day money in my reef tank, Current Tank Info: 210 inwall w/soft corls

01/17/2007, 09:39 PM	#4
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	You should also check for phosphates and or run a phosphate reactor. New(er) tanks usually have high phosphates produced during the cycle. Phosphates fuel algae growth. The cleanup crew should help also. __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

01/17/2007, 10:36 PM	#5
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	don't get the emerald it's hit or miss. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/17/2007, 11:29 PM	#6
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	I agree with everyone's post in saying stay away from emerald crabs. The best thing that you can do is carefully pull the hair algae out, and make sure to keep your water as "clean" as possible (which will be pretty hard to do during cycle). I battled hair algae for months, and finally have rid my tank almost entirely of it. Good luck __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

01/18/2007, 08:03 AM	#7
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	You can carefully pull the hair algae out, or you can also add a few mexican turbo snails. THey will do the job in a week or so.

01/18/2007, 08:27 AM	#8
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	Turbos are awesome, green sea slug (lettuce nudibranch) seem to help too... I have 0 phosphates and still get the stuff. I am guessing the initial algae I had dying off is feeding growth of new algae. Next time I set up a tank maybe I will go cured rock route lol ;p __________________ 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

01/18/2007, 09:19 AM	#9
steri Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aurora, IL. Posts: 2,361	I like personally like emralds. Very cool creatures and fun to watch. I got 2 in my tank. They eat macro algae that has started to grow. I will say though. In my cleaning crew I started out with Mexican Turbos and Pink turbos (snails) and they had my LR clean as a whistle in about a week or so. I highly recommend them! __________________ 220g: French Angel, Emperor Angel, Passer Anger, Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Snowflake Moray Eel, Lunar Wrasse Current Tank Info: 220 with T5HO lighting. ETSS skimmer.