I need your help...mollies for hair algae?

ANNIESREEF · 02/17/2007, 07:51 AM

I have been reading alot lately about mollies for hair algae control. I have been battling HA for about 6 months now. I have even resorted to feeding only every other day. I do not add any supplements to my water only a smidgen of DT's oyster eggs about once a week.
So, what is the best molly and how do I acclimate it for an established SW aquarium? I need simple but specific details please.
I have used turbo's, cerith's and a couple other snails but they do not live long enough to rid my tank of the HA. I do not know the source of my problem and am tired of a GREEN, MOSSY tank! Please help folks!
Thanks.

sir_dudeguy · 02/17/2007, 09:08 AM

have you tried emerald crabs?

And you need to tell us all your water parameters.

If you say that you've tried snails and they're not living that means something is already wrong to begin with (which might be the cause of both snails dieing and the alga) So i wouldnt even try the emerald crabs untill you get your params under control, because cerith snails (and other snails) are very easy to keep imo....if they're dieing that fast, then no other inverts will do well most likely. I would suspect nitrates to be the cause.

joeychitwood · 02/17/2007, 09:20 AM

I have not found Mollies to be of much use in battling hair algae. The only fish I've seen eat HA in my tank was a Lawnmower Blenny. After the HA was gone, he ate flakes, and once some HA came back, he would no longer eat it.

I've resorted to scrubbing it off rocks with a wire brush, and in some cases, I've had to kill it with boiling hot water on affected parts of the LR, out of the tank, of course.

Sk8r · 02/17/2007, 09:23 AM

What you've got is phosphate buildup, and it won't show in a phosphate test, because it's not loose: it's in that algae. You need successive water changes, plus phosban, plus a really strong skimmer, to help out any critter that eats the stuff. If you're feeding flake or pellet, or using non ro/di water, that could be a source of phosphate. That should stop, and then you should go about removing the phosphate, and that will stop your algae.

Psychographic · 02/17/2007, 09:25 AM

Get a Sea Hare, while the SH is doing it's job, start testing your water and FIND the problem as you need to fix the source of nutrients that are feeding the HA.

I bet you have Phosphate in your tank a common food source for Algea, in which a Phosphate reactor will do wonders to slow down your HA growth.

Navyblue · 02/17/2007, 09:26 AM

IME, food that you dissolve in water like phyto or golden pearl pollutes water way more than fish food.

And also, a fuge with chaeto works wonders and tackles the root problem, it sure beats mollies IMO. As for what eat hair algaes, I found the most reliable to be tangs and foxface, if your tank size allows.

Ephraim · 02/17/2007, 10:09 AM

I've found that a lawnmower blenny works great. They also have great personality and make a great addition to the tank

sds · 02/17/2007, 10:11 AM

my red sea sailfin tang loves hair algae

chucksta1 · 02/17/2007, 04:30 PM

I just got done putting in two Dalmation Mollies in my tank. Here's what I did. Put them in my plastic "New Fish" (dollarstore) plastic container, with custom drilled water diffusing system ( two 3/16 holes drilled in the sides). Dropped in an airstone and threw in a bit of tank water whenever I remembered it for a day and a half. When the SG was balanced in and out, I just slid "em into the tank.......

It would seem, however, that the Mollies and the Yellow Tailed Damsels. will never be friends. The Mollie adjustment to salt was the easy part. Will the Damsels kill the Mollies? Don't know, too soon to tell (2 wks) I don't see them very often, but they're still there. They had to learn where to hide where they wouldn't get eaten. Unfortunately, that's not where the hair algae was.

Point being, there's no compatibility list for Mollies, it can be done, but a Sea Hare is way funkier looking and is not as subject as much to predation.

ANNIESREEF · 02/17/2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
What you've got is phosphate buildup, and it won't show in a phosphate test, because it's not loose: it's in that algae. You need successive water changes, plus phosban, plus a really strong skimmer, to help out any critter that eats the stuff. If you're feeding flake or pellet, or using non ro/di water, that could be a source of phosphate. That should stop, and then you should go about removing the phosphate, and that will stop your algae.

Ok, I do scrub the rocks and glass. I do feed flake food. Other than my bumble bee snails, I haven't had them to live long. I have a cleaner shrimp that has been with me for about a year now-so why are the snails dying? I have seen the 3 blue legged crabs eating on turbo's but that is it. I will do the test as soon as my test kits are returned(my son borrowed them). I have the Remora pro skimmer which I think is doing a great job. I think I will wait until I get my test kit back and go from there. Oh, I only use RO/DI water!
Thanks anyway guys. I will be back...

02/17/2007, 07:51 AM	#1
ANNIESREEF Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 578	I need your help...mollies for hair algae? I have been reading alot lately about mollies for hair algae control. I have been battling HA for about 6 months now. I have even resorted to feeding only every other day. I do not add any supplements to my water only a smidgen of DT's oyster eggs about once a week. So, what is the best molly and how do I acclimate it for an established SW aquarium? I need simple but specific details please. I have used turbo's, cerith's and a couple other snails but they do not live long enough to rid my tank of the HA. I do not know the source of my problem and am tired of a GREEN, MOSSY tank! Please help folks! Thanks. __________________ "I don't need a remote control, I rather watch my tank!" Current Tank Info: using Remora Pro HO skimmer ,maxi-jet 900 powerhead & 2-400 powerhead, 45 lbs tonga live rock and 40 lbs live sand

02/17/2007, 09:08 AM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	have you tried emerald crabs? And you need to tell us all your water parameters. If you say that you've tried snails and they're not living that means something is already wrong to begin with (which might be the cause of both snails dieing and the alga) So i wouldnt even try the emerald crabs untill you get your params under control, because cerith snails (and other snails) are very easy to keep imo....if they're dieing that fast, then no other inverts will do well most likely. I would suspect nitrates to be the cause. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/17/2007, 09:23 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	What you've got is phosphate buildup, and it won't show in a phosphate test, because it's not loose: it's in that algae. You need successive water changes, plus phosban, plus a really strong skimmer, to help out any critter that eats the stuff. If you're feeding flake or pellet, or using non ro/di water, that could be a source of phosphate. That should stop, and then you should go about removing the phosphate, and that will stop your algae. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/17/2007, 09:20 AM	#3
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I have not found Mollies to be of much use in battling hair algae. The only fish I've seen eat HA in my tank was a Lawnmower Blenny. After the HA was gone, he ate flakes, and once some HA came back, he would no longer eat it. I've resorted to scrubbing it off rocks with a wire brush, and in some cases, I've had to kill it with boiling hot water on affected parts of the LR, out of the tank, of course.

02/17/2007, 09:25 AM	#5
Psychographic Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 439	Get a Sea Hare, while the SH is doing it's job, start testing your water and FIND the problem as you need to fix the source of nutrients that are feeding the HA. I bet you have Phosphate in your tank a common food source for Algea, in which a Phosphate reactor will do wonders to slow down your HA growth.

02/17/2007, 09:26 AM	#6
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	IME, food that you dissolve in water like phyto or golden pearl pollutes water way more than fish food. And also, a fuge with chaeto works wonders and tackles the root problem, it sure beats mollies IMO. As for what eat hair algaes, I found the most reliable to be tangs and foxface, if your tank size allows.

02/17/2007, 10:09 AM	#7
Ephraim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Calgary Alberta Posts: 193	I've found that a lawnmower blenny works great. They also have great personality and make a great addition to the tank

02/17/2007, 10:11 AM	#8
sds Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Roswell NM Posts: 342	my red sea sailfin tang loves hair algae

02/17/2007, 04:30 PM	#9
chucksta1 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: mississauga ont. Posts: 490	I just got done putting in two Dalmation Mollies in my tank. Here's what I did. Put them in my plastic "New Fish" (dollarstore) plastic container, with custom drilled water diffusing system ( two 3/16 holes drilled in the sides). Dropped in an airstone and threw in a bit of tank water whenever I remembered it for a day and a half. When the SG was balanced in and out, I just slid "em into the tank....... It would seem, however, that the Mollies and the Yellow Tailed Damsels. will never be friends. The Mollie adjustment to salt was the easy part. Will the Damsels kill the Mollies? Don't know, too soon to tell (2 wks) I don't see them very often, but they're still there. They had to learn where to hide where they wouldn't get eaten. Unfortunately, that's not where the hair algae was. Point being, there's no compatibility list for Mollies, it can be done, but a Sea Hare is way funkier looking and is not as subject as much to predation.