need some help, hair algae??

afish70 · 02/18/2008, 10:30 AM

i have this "stuff" in my sandbed that is red and kinda looks like long hair. i believe it is algae. i was wondering if anyone has pics so i can verify it is the same "stuff" that i have. plus, how do i get rid of it? it's not on my rock but in my sand and makes my tank look like garbage. plus i keep having a algae like growth on my glass. i am still new at this but i want to get this right. it is in a 20g tank (24x12x16). i was thinking of removing all rock and crittters and placing them in a 5 gallon bucket then using a net to remove the stuff. i wanted to get dome Nassarius snails (spelling??) but can't seem to make it to Reef Depot, i also want to get like 10 more pounds of rock there too. anyways, can someone post some pics or links for me to look at ? i will try to put up some pics 2nite as well.

i have an AquaC Remora skimmer, about 20 lbs of live rock. i feed 1 or 2 times a day (usually 1 time). water change usually once a week, i missed it this weekend due to family stuff. Nitrates & Nitrites are both 0. by SG was at 1.028 last weekend, did not check this weekend, will be checking tonight. i forget my other tests right now. i will test tonight and report on here. i am experimenting today with only running my moonlights for the day to see what id anything that does. i only have a cleaner shrimp, a peppermint shrimp, a Clown, a Green clown goby, 3 BIG turbo's and 3 margarita's.

Aquarist007 · 02/18/2008, 10:36 AM

you probably have a high level of phosphates which fuel the algae and possible red cyano on the bottom of the tank

How long has your tank been cycling--it could be related to the curing of your live rock.

Aquarist007 · 02/18/2008, 10:40 AM

getting rid of algae is by reducing the import of phosphates:

use only r/o or r/o/di water

feed less at one time and rinse off all frozen food with ro water

make sure you have at least 20-40 times tank turn over in gph

make sure you have between 5-10 times turn over in the sump or it makes the output of your skimmer

once a week take a turkey baster and lightly baste rock and substrate--get the organics and phosphates up into the water column where they will be filtered off

after you have the importing in check you may want to consider running phosban in a phosban reactor
and or
adding a refugium with chaeto macro

Moosetache · 02/18/2008, 12:03 PM

Well, I do am having a hair algae problem.....it is literally 3-4" long at this point. However, not growing in any new areas. I guess I am going to have to get something to remove whatever phosphates are in the water, can anyone give me a suggestion on what product I should look for? thanks

tankman10000 · 02/18/2008, 12:09 PM

mexican turbo snails work pretty good

BigScott · 02/18/2008, 12:13 PM

as for the red cynao you can buff it out..witch i did then i added more flow to the problem ereas..

afish70 · 02/18/2008, 12:39 PM

my turbo snails will not run around in the sand that much. they stay to the rock and sometimes on the glass. they are some really big boys. what should i use to get it out of my sand??

02/18/2008, 10:30 AM	#1
afish70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 688	need some help, hair algae?? i have this "stuff" in my sandbed that is red and kinda looks like long hair. i believe it is algae. i was wondering if anyone has pics so i can verify it is the same "stuff" that i have. plus, how do i get rid of it? it's not on my rock but in my sand and makes my tank look like garbage. plus i keep having a algae like growth on my glass. i am still new at this but i want to get this right. it is in a 20g tank (24x12x16). i was thinking of removing all rock and crittters and placing them in a 5 gallon bucket then using a net to remove the stuff. i wanted to get dome Nassarius snails (spelling??) but can't seem to make it to Reef Depot, i also want to get like 10 more pounds of rock there too. anyways, can someone post some pics or links for me to look at ? i will try to put up some pics 2nite as well. i have an AquaC Remora skimmer, about 20 lbs of live rock. i feed 1 or 2 times a day (usually 1 time). water change usually once a week, i missed it this weekend due to family stuff. Nitrates & Nitrites are both 0. by SG was at 1.028 last weekend, did not check this weekend, will be checking tonight. i forget my other tests right now. i will test tonight and report on here. i am experimenting today with only running my moonlights for the day to see what id anything that does. i only have a cleaner shrimp, a peppermint shrimp, a Clown, a Green clown goby, 3 BIG turbo's and 3 margarita's.

02/18/2008, 10:36 AM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	you probably have a high level of phosphates which fuel the algae and possible red cyano on the bottom of the tank How long has your tank been cycling--it could be related to the curing of your live rock. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/18/2008, 10:40 AM	#3
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	getting rid of algae is by reducing the import of phosphates: use only r/o or r/o/di water feed less at one time and rinse off all frozen food with ro water make sure you have at least 20-40 times tank turn over in gph make sure you have between 5-10 times turn over in the sump or it makes the output of your skimmer once a week take a turkey baster and lightly baste rock and substrate--get the organics and phosphates up into the water column where they will be filtered off after you have the importing in check you may want to consider running phosban in a phosban reactor and or adding a refugium with chaeto macro __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/18/2008, 12:13 PM	#6
BigScott Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: norman , okla Posts: 2,267	as for the red cynao you can buff it out..witch i did then i added more flow to the problem ereas.. __________________ Big ScoTT just stoppin in to say hello.. Current Tank Info: one 40 breeder,40 long sump..t5 lights an a 50 gallon in the works..if i ever get a truck to move it..

02/18/2008, 12:03 PM	#4
Moosetache Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 552	Well, I do am having a hair algae problem.....it is literally 3-4" long at this point. However, not growing in any new areas. I guess I am going to have to get something to remove whatever phosphates are in the water, can anyone give me a suggestion on what product I should look for? thanks

02/18/2008, 12:09 PM	#5
tankman10000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: lyles,tn Posts: 50	mexican turbo snails work pretty good

02/18/2008, 12:39 PM	#7
afish70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 688	my turbo snails will not run around in the sand that much. they stay to the rock and sometimes on the glass. they are some really big boys. what should i use to get it out of my sand??