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02/24/2007, 09:09 AM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 203
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bad stuff - algae?
i was told that this was good macro algae. I have been more recently told that it's bad hair algae. is it?
aside from pulling off the tufts, what can be done to get rid of it?  
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02/24/2007, 09:16 AM
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#2 |
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Moved On
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NW Iowa
Posts: 8,669
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looks like hair alage to me also. you need to find the source of what is feeding it. high nitrates and phosphates will make it grow. get rid of those 2 things and your hair alage will die
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02/24/2007, 09:29 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 203
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new tank, old rock. I have a great skimmer running. should i get a phosphate sponge as well?
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02/24/2007, 09:32 AM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: *801*
Posts: 412
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If possible, test for phosphates and nitrates before adding a sponge. I'm battling some hair algae right now and my phosphates and nitrates are at 0.
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60 Gallon Cube |
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02/24/2007, 07:47 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 247
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Are there two different types: One the low, hair like and one longer, striungy and more "clumpy"? I have both. I just bought a dozen Mexican Turbos. They are going through the low stuff like crazy. I have seen one eat the other but in general they seem to prefer the short stuff.
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02/24/2007, 09:35 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 203
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how about margaritas and a kole tang?
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02/24/2007, 10:50 PM
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#7 |
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Reef Monkey
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Rockledge, Fl
Posts: 5,759
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turbo snails are great algae eaters. My blue and red leg hermits eat it as well, but it doesn't seem to be their favorite food. Margarita snails are cold water snails, and really shouldn't be kept in a reef aquarium. Tangs work great, but make sure your tank is big enough to support them. I can't remember what the recommended size tank for a kole tang is, but I'm guessing between 75-100g.
Getting something to battle your phosphates is a good idea. Prevention is the first measure. Minimize your feeding, avoid flake foods, and rinse your frozen foods before feeding. Refugiums with macroalgaes are great, and I've heard really good things about chemical phosphate removers. If you head over to the chemistry forum, Randy can probably tell you what to look for in a phosphate sponge. Anyway, I'm no algae expert, but what you've got definitely isn't something you want in the main tank. About the only algae that's universally considered good are your encrusting coraline algaes, and although they do come in green, they're never hairy.
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All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count? |
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