Bummed Out About Hair Algae

lazluvtoo · 06/12/2008, 05:05 PM

I am so bummed out at the moment.

I just returned from being away for three weeks from my beloved reef tank. My Mom was here taking care of it...but I left her with limited responsibility (cleaning the front glass and feeding).

The tank is covered in hair algae (mostly on the power heads and other equipment), and it looks very ugly.

My problem is that as soon as we got home, I came down with a bad virus and am unable to work on the tank.

The fish are all still swimming around, the corals seem OK....

I guess I just need some reassurance that I am not "losing" the tank as I lie here flat on my back.

Thanks...
Cindy

Dyraxe · 06/13/2008, 10:05 AM

Get a phosphate reactor going and find out why your tank has excess phosphates in it. maybe the tank got too much food while you were away?

snorvich · 06/13/2008, 11:07 AM

Actually phosphates = brown coral, nitrates = hair algae. Do you have a skimmer? Refugium?

Dyraxe · 06/13/2008, 11:57 AM

This was a nice read I think it may have been you Steve that linked it in another thread about Hair Algae? Anyhow its a great run down on things to fix or try. (edit) it was Brandon M who posted this link.

http://www.brettsreef.com/index.php/...rine-aquarium/

lazluvtoo · 06/13/2008, 01:34 PM

Thanks so much for the replies.

Yes, I do have a skimmer. I have a refugium but currently no macro algae in it (I filled it with chateo some months ago and it all disappeared!?). I only use water from my R/O unit for top off and changes. This water has tested zero for phos and nitrates.

Since last September, I have owned a denitrator unit and have been working with it to help lower my nitrates, which were originally very high (off the charts). Just before I left for my trip, they were down around 40.

I have had phosphate issues for years and have no idea why. People have mentioned it could be my crushed coral substrate. I have been removing some of it gradually....but short of totally taking down my tank and rebuilding it, I don't know what else to do.

I must admit I am frustrated at this point. I think I would like to decrease the amount of live rock I have in the tank (90 gl)...perhaps give the fish more swimming room and less rocks for the darn algae to attach to!

If it were not for this hair algae problem, it would not be as stressful leaving my tank for a while.

Loved the article, thank you!

Wish I could get rid of my phosphates and lower my nitrates!

LockeOak · 06/13/2008, 01:39 PM

I'm also battling a hair algae outbreak. A phosphate reactor would probably help you, especially since they're a cheap piece of equipment ($30 reactor, $10 powerhead, $20 in media).

FlyinggFish · 06/13/2008, 02:45 PM

Me too.

lazluvtoo · 06/13/2008, 06:10 PM

I didn't realize that phosphate reactors were so inexpensive. I'll look into one...anybody have any suggestions for a website that gives good deals on these?

E.J. Coral · 06/13/2008, 07:04 PM

The macro that dissapeared, came back as hair algae. What I would do is manually remove all of the HA, then start in with agressive macro growing. Remember to prune often for export.

Quote:

Originally posted by lazluvtoo
Thanks so much for the replies.

Yes, I do have a skimmer. I have a refugium but currently no macro algae in it (I filled it with chateo some months ago and it all disappeared!?). I only use water from my R/O unit for top off and changes. This water has tested zero for phos and nitrates.

Since last September, I have owned a denitrator unit and have been working with it to help lower my nitrates, which were originally very high (off the charts). Just before I left for my trip, they were down around 40.

I have had phosphate issues for years and have no idea why. People have mentioned it could be my crushed coral substrate. I have been removing some of it gradually....but short of totally taking down my tank and rebuilding it, I don't know what else to do.

I must admit I am frustrated at this point. I think I would like to decrease the amount of live rock I have in the tank (90 gl)...perhaps give the fish more swimming room and less rocks for the darn algae to attach to!

If it were not for this hair algae problem, it would not be as stressful leaving my tank for a while.

Loved the article, thank you!

Wish I could get rid of my phosphates and lower my nitrates!

lazluvtoo · 06/14/2008, 12:38 PM

In your opinion...best place to purchase macro algae and what types?

Best Phosphate reactor in low price range for a 90 gallon?

I did a water changed and cleaned up my tank yesterday...what a difference!

Considering, water parameters aren't bad:

Amonia (slight) 0.50

Nitrates 20-40 ppm

Nitrites 0

PH 8.2

jgrog76 · 06/14/2008, 02:24 PM

Just start pulling the hair algea out. It will slowly remove the nutrients from the tank, and after a few weeks or months it will dissapear. As others suggested grow some macro. I doubt it really matters what type as long as it is growing. The higher more complicated algea's (macro) are better at using lower levels of nutrients and will outcompete the hair algea in time. It is possible you could have ended up with rock that for some reason has a good amount of phosphate in, or you may be overfeeding your tank. Everything that goes into that tank will eventually turn into algea food/fertilizer. If you do not skim to prevent it from turning into algea food, then you need to grow enough macro and harvest it, keep your bioload way down, or have tons of coral growth to lock up those nutrients and keep them unavailable to the hair algea. If you have tangs to not feed the harvested algea to them. It will just reintroduce the nutrients back into the tank.

LockeOak · 06/14/2008, 04:22 PM

Phosphate reactors are pretty much all the same, the Two Little Fishies one is cheap and has worked very well for me. It holds more than enough media for a 90G, I have one for my 50G.

06/12/2008, 05:05 PM	#1
lazluvtoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 249	Bummed Out About Hair Algae I am so bummed out at the moment. I just returned from being away for three weeks from my beloved reef tank. My Mom was here taking care of it...but I left her with limited responsibility (cleaning the front glass and feeding). The tank is covered in hair algae (mostly on the power heads and other equipment), and it looks very ugly. My problem is that as soon as we got home, I came down with a bad virus and am unable to work on the tank. The fish are all still swimming around, the corals seem OK.... I guess I just need some reassurance that I am not "losing" the tank as I lie here flat on my back. Thanks... Cindy __________________ If my tank is beautiful...life is beautiful!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl reef containing mostly mushrooms & polyps, a bubble and a leather. Tangs, green reef cromis', and a maroon clown and his carpet anemone

06/13/2008, 11:07 AM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Actually phosphates = brown coral, nitrates = hair algae. Do you have a skimmer? Refugium? __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

06/13/2008, 11:57 AM	#4
Dyraxe Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,606	This was a nice read I think it may have been you Steve that linked it in another thread about Hair Algae? Anyhow its a great run down on things to fix or try. (edit) it was Brandon M who posted this link. http://www.brettsreef.com/index.php/...rine-aquarium/ Last edited by Dyraxe; 06/13/2008 at 12:22 PM.

06/13/2008, 01:34 PM	#5
lazluvtoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 249	Thanks so much for the replies. Yes, I do have a skimmer. I have a refugium but currently no macro algae in it (I filled it with chateo some months ago and it all disappeared!?). I only use water from my R/O unit for top off and changes. This water has tested zero for phos and nitrates. Since last September, I have owned a denitrator unit and have been working with it to help lower my nitrates, which were originally very high (off the charts). Just before I left for my trip, they were down around 40. I have had phosphate issues for years and have no idea why. People have mentioned it could be my crushed coral substrate. I have been removing some of it gradually....but short of totally taking down my tank and rebuilding it, I don't know what else to do. I must admit I am frustrated at this point. I think I would like to decrease the amount of live rock I have in the tank (90 gl)...perhaps give the fish more swimming room and less rocks for the darn algae to attach to! If it were not for this hair algae problem, it would not be as stressful leaving my tank for a while. Loved the article, thank you! Wish I could get rid of my phosphates and lower my nitrates! __________________ If my tank is beautiful...life is beautiful!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl reef containing mostly mushrooms & polyps, a bubble and a leather. Tangs, green reef cromis', and a maroon clown and his carpet anemone

06/13/2008, 02:45 PM	#7
FlyinggFish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,042	Me too. __________________ Most women buy clothes, I buy corals Current Tank Info: Biocube 29

06/13/2008, 10:05 AM	#2
Dyraxe Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,606	Get a phosphate reactor going and find out why your tank has excess phosphates in it. maybe the tank got too much food while you were away?

06/13/2008, 01:39 PM	#6
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	I'm also battling a hair algae outbreak. A phosphate reactor would probably help you, especially since they're a cheap piece of equipment ($30 reactor, $10 powerhead, $20 in media).

06/13/2008, 06:10 PM	#8
lazluvtoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 249	I didn't realize that phosphate reactors were so inexpensive. I'll look into one...anybody have any suggestions for a website that gives good deals on these? __________________ If my tank is beautiful...life is beautiful!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl reef containing mostly mushrooms & polyps, a bubble and a leather. Tangs, green reef cromis', and a maroon clown and his carpet anemone

06/14/2008, 12:38 PM	#10
lazluvtoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 249	In your opinion...best place to purchase macro algae and what types? Best Phosphate reactor in low price range for a 90 gallon? I did a water changed and cleaned up my tank yesterday...what a difference! Considering, water parameters aren't bad: Amonia (slight) 0.50 Nitrates 20-40 ppm Nitrites 0 PH 8.2 __________________ If my tank is beautiful...life is beautiful!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl reef containing mostly mushrooms & polyps, a bubble and a leather. Tangs, green reef cromis', and a maroon clown and his carpet anemone

06/14/2008, 02:24 PM	#11
jgrog76 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 430	Just start pulling the hair algea out. It will slowly remove the nutrients from the tank, and after a few weeks or months it will dissapear. As others suggested grow some macro. I doubt it really matters what type as long as it is growing. The higher more complicated algea's (macro) are better at using lower levels of nutrients and will outcompete the hair algea in time. It is possible you could have ended up with rock that for some reason has a good amount of phosphate in, or you may be overfeeding your tank. Everything that goes into that tank will eventually turn into algea food/fertilizer. If you do not skim to prevent it from turning into algea food, then you need to grow enough macro and harvest it, keep your bioload way down, or have tons of coral growth to lock up those nutrients and keep them unavailable to the hair algea. If you have tangs to not feed the harvested algea to them. It will just reintroduce the nutrients back into the tank.

06/14/2008, 04:22 PM	#12
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	Phosphate reactors are pretty much all the same, the Two Little Fishies one is cheap and has worked very well for me. It holds more than enough media for a 90G, I have one for my 50G.