ways to fight hair algae, (without removing and scrubbing rock)?

coryjac0b · 07/18/2007, 06:50 PM

i just want to know what else some people have done to fight hair algae besides removal of rock and scrubbing?

BLockamon · 07/18/2007, 07:44 PM

For me, iron-based phosphate media and lots of blue-leg hermits.

hogben · 07/18/2007, 08:07 PM

-reduce lighting temporarily
-reduce feeding
-add more macro algae to refugium
-bigger skimmer, or clean your skimmer, any mods to improve efficiency
-blow off rocks of any detritus daily, siphon any suspended detritus daily
-there might be other creatures to eat it but I haven't tried any
-change your bulbs
-change your rodi filters

basically remove its food source or add competition for its food source

areze · 07/18/2007, 08:44 PM

turbo snails are chomping down for me. that doesnt remove the phosphates from the system though, so maybe they keep up, but eventually I will need to remove the phosphates or Ill just get some other algea bloom that the turbos wont eat...

phosban reactor arrives tomorrow.

Mark426 · 07/18/2007, 08:49 PM

I had a major outbreak when my tank was going through its maturing stages. Got a Turbo Snail and he ate every single strand of it. Finally gave him back to the LFS so he wouldnt starve. Havent had any since. My blue legs couldnt make a dent in it.

Hogben is right....once you get rid of it (with a Turbo), its up to you to control the rest.

leeweber85 · 07/18/2007, 09:12 PM

When I had turbos, I never had a HA problem... now all my turbos are gone and I do.... I think they could very well be a big part in keeping it in check.

drummereef · 07/18/2007, 09:19 PM

Use RO/DI water with 0 TDS.
Limit excess nutrients from feeding etc...
Get nitrates and phosphates down to nil.
Run a quality GFO.
Run a quality skimmer.
Keep up on weekly water changes.

boosst · 07/18/2007, 10:09 PM

i dropped my lights down a few hours every day for about a week or so and it completely disappeared. i nave since gradually increased the lighting back to normal. oh, and i fed only once every other day during this time.

kff · 07/18/2007, 10:15 PM

My turbo doesn't touch HA. In fact, I wonder if it promotes HA by pooping everywhere

rkcca · 07/18/2007, 11:36 PM

Maintain low nutrients, lots of flow, turbo snails, lawn mower blenny. Skim wet, export, export, export.

Get some stomata (sp?) snails, usually hitch hikers. They breed like crazy and get the nooks and cranies.

iansfishy · 07/18/2007, 11:58 PM

cut down lights even if its just running actinics only ( on a new tank) phosphate reactor, get wet and pull it out, and a sea hare. i swear youll be bringing it back to the lfs in weeks. i wish i had pics to show the dent the sea hare made in the algea in only about a week and a half. if only he didnt crap so much. i also hate that ill have to take him back when the algeas gone, hes pretty cool and my kids favorite thing in the tank!! actually anyone know of what you could feed them besides algea so you can keep them around? i guess they are pretty clumsy though. not much good for a established reef!

Coffman34 · 07/19/2007, 03:34 AM

I said it once, I'll say it again, and probably again. I found out that squirting a little lemon juice on the hair algae and letting it sit for about 10 mins while in a seperate tank that has no flow whatsoever. I did that and after a week it hasn't come back. Although, I have reason to believe that my macro algae has now taken over what the hair was taking in. So GET A FUGE!

leeweber85 · 07/26/2007, 07:35 PM

I got a couple new turbos... It'll be interesting to see if they help out.

07/18/2007, 06:50 PM	#1
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 823	ways to fight hair algae, (without removing and scrubbing rock)? i just want to know what else some people have done to fight hair algae besides removal of rock and scrubbing?

07/18/2007, 08:44 PM	#4
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	turbo snails are chomping down for me. that doesnt remove the phosphates from the system though, so maybe they keep up, but eventually I will need to remove the phosphates or Ill just get some other algea bloom that the turbos wont eat... phosban reactor arrives tomorrow. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

07/18/2007, 09:12 PM	#6
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	When I had turbos, I never had a HA problem... now all my turbos are gone and I do.... I think they could very well be a big part in keeping it in check. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

07/18/2007, 09:19 PM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Use RO/DI water with 0 TDS. Limit excess nutrients from feeding etc... Get nitrates and phosphates down to nil. Run a quality GFO. Run a quality skimmer. Keep up on weekly water changes. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/18/2007, 10:09 PM	#8
boosst Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: texas Posts: 159	i dropped my lights down a few hours every day for about a week or so and it completely disappeared. i nave since gradually increased the lighting back to normal. oh, and i fed only once every other day during this time. __________________ 40 breeder, octopus xp 1000sss, mp10, 700gph overflow, ati sunpower, aquacontroller jr, jbj ATO, 15l sump

07/18/2007, 07:44 PM	#2
BLockamon Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,104	For me, iron-based phosphate media and lots of blue-leg hermits.

07/18/2007, 08:07 PM	#3
hogben Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 376	-reduce lighting temporarily -reduce feeding -add more macro algae to refugium -bigger skimmer, or clean your skimmer, any mods to improve efficiency -blow off rocks of any detritus daily, siphon any suspended detritus daily -there might be other creatures to eat it but I haven't tried any -change your bulbs -change your rodi filters basically remove its food source or add competition for its food source

07/18/2007, 08:49 PM	#5
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	I had a major outbreak when my tank was going through its maturing stages. Got a Turbo Snail and he ate every single strand of it. Finally gave him back to the LFS so he wouldnt starve. Havent had any since. My blue legs couldnt make a dent in it. Hogben is right....once you get rid of it (with a Turbo), its up to you to control the rest.

07/18/2007, 10:15 PM	#9
kff Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 57	My turbo doesn't touch HA. In fact, I wonder if it promotes HA by pooping everywhere

07/18/2007, 11:36 PM	#10
rkcca Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OC, So Cal Posts: 236	Maintain low nutrients, lots of flow, turbo snails, lawn mower blenny. Skim wet, export, export, export. Get some stomata (sp?) snails, usually hitch hikers. They breed like crazy and get the nooks and cranies.

07/18/2007, 11:58 PM	#11
iansfishy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 117	cut down lights even if its just running actinics only ( on a new tank) phosphate reactor, get wet and pull it out, and a sea hare. i swear youll be bringing it back to the lfs in weeks. i wish i had pics to show the dent the sea hare made in the algea in only about a week and a half. if only he didnt crap so much. i also hate that ill have to take him back when the algeas gone, hes pretty cool and my kids favorite thing in the tank!! actually anyone know of what you could feed them besides algea so you can keep them around? i guess they are pretty clumsy though. not much good for a established reef! __________________ It takes 42 muscles to frown.-- But only 18 to reach out and slap whoever it was that made you mad

07/19/2007, 03:34 AM	#12
Coffman34 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 222	I said it once, I'll say it again, and probably again. I found out that squirting a little lemon juice on the hair algae and letting it sit for about 10 mins while in a seperate tank that has no flow whatsoever. I did that and after a week it hasn't come back. Although, I have reason to believe that my macro algae has now taken over what the hair was taking in. So GET A FUGE!

07/26/2007, 07:35 PM	#13
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	I got a couple new turbos... It'll be interesting to see if they help out. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef