black hair algae

pony_killer · 02/02/2007, 05:42 PM

I don't know if anyone else has had this issue before but I noticed that if I leave my lights OFF in the morning for a short period of time, I have a small algae problem on my sand bed. The algae consists of the top layer of sand being blackish/grey and if you look closely at it it looks like theres black hair on it...weird. But after a few hours of the lights being on its gone. Any idea on what may be the cause? How can I solve this problem? Thanks

NanoCube-boy · 02/02/2007, 06:49 PM

with lighting on and it's gone? algaes love light, but it goes away with the light on? hm... iono.

NanoCube-boy · 02/02/2007, 06:50 PM

You can put a conch in, they eat anything that is on the way. They love algaes and detrius.

pony_killer · 02/02/2007, 08:57 PM

yeah ive been looking for a conch but all the lfs in my area don't have any in stock...any suggestions? snails and crabs aren't doing much either.

NanoCube-boy · 02/02/2007, 09:11 PM

If you want a canch really bad, order one online. Try brushing it off? MAybe...

pony_killer · 02/06/2007, 08:14 PM

i did a 50% water change yesterday night after work and vaccumed most of the algae, but today i noticed a few small spots here and there...hope it doesn't grow back.

pony_killer · 02/07/2007, 04:02 PM

well it looks like its growing back already...oh and i have a nitrate problem! tested the water today and nitrates were at 20. should i just stick to water changes and let it go down on its own or should i buy some additives and see if it helps?

NanoCube-boy · 02/08/2007, 05:56 PM

addictives won't do anything. Try lower your nitrate buy water change and adding carbon. Also, test for phosphate. I think you might have high phosphate. How much do you feed you tank? How man gallon is your tank, and what kind of filters are you running, that will help me understand whats going on.

pony_killer · 02/08/2007, 08:18 PM

46 gallon bowfront
hang on back fuge with miracle mud & chaeto...but the chaeto doesn't look to healthy anymore, its all breaking apart and the top layer is white and just doesn't look right...also the water in the fuge isn't clear and i can hardly see whats inside of it. i have 36" PC lighting that i haven't changed since July of 06, coralife superskimmer 65, and a couple of powerheads for flow. thats about all i have.

NanoCube-boy · 02/08/2007, 08:41 PM

What kind of lighting do you have for your fug? how much and often do you feed?

If your chaets doesn't look good then consider changing them to a healthier one.

02/02/2007, 05:42 PM	#1
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	black hair algae I don't know if anyone else has had this issue before but I noticed that if I leave my lights OFF in the morning for a short period of time, I have a small algae problem on my sand bed. The algae consists of the top layer of sand being blackish/grey and if you look closely at it it looks like theres black hair on it...weird. But after a few hours of the lights being on its gone. Any idea on what may be the cause? How can I solve this problem? Thanks

02/02/2007, 06:49 PM	#2
NanoCube-boy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,930	with lighting on and it's gone? algaes love light, but it goes away with the light on? hm... iono.

02/02/2007, 06:50 PM	#3
NanoCube-boy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,930	You can put a conch in, they eat anything that is on the way. They love algaes and detrius.

02/02/2007, 08:57 PM	#4
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	yeah ive been looking for a conch but all the lfs in my area don't have any in stock...any suggestions? snails and crabs aren't doing much either.

02/02/2007, 09:11 PM	#5
NanoCube-boy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,930	If you want a canch really bad, order one online. Try brushing it off? MAybe...

02/06/2007, 08:14 PM	#6
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	i did a 50% water change yesterday night after work and vaccumed most of the algae, but today i noticed a few small spots here and there...hope it doesn't grow back.

02/07/2007, 04:02 PM	#7
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	well it looks like its growing back already...oh and i have a nitrate problem! tested the water today and nitrates were at 20. should i just stick to water changes and let it go down on its own or should i buy some additives and see if it helps?

02/08/2007, 05:56 PM	#8
NanoCube-boy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,930	addictives won't do anything. Try lower your nitrate buy water change and adding carbon. Also, test for phosphate. I think you might have high phosphate. How much do you feed you tank? How man gallon is your tank, and what kind of filters are you running, that will help me understand whats going on.

02/08/2007, 08:18 PM	#9
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	46 gallon bowfront hang on back fuge with miracle mud & chaeto...but the chaeto doesn't look to healthy anymore, its all breaking apart and the top layer is white and just doesn't look right...also the water in the fuge isn't clear and i can hardly see whats inside of it. i have 36" PC lighting that i haven't changed since July of 06, coralife superskimmer 65, and a couple of powerheads for flow. thats about all i have.

02/08/2007, 08:41 PM	#10
NanoCube-boy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,930	What kind of lighting do you have for your fug? how much and often do you feed? If your chaets doesn't look good then consider changing them to a healthier one.