Hair Algae

petzerman · 11/21/2008, 07:44 PM

Im starting to get a lot of hair algae growing on the bottom of my tank on the sand. can this lead to any problems? if so what can i do to get rid of it?

returnofsid · 11/21/2008, 08:17 PM

Figure out what's causing it and eliminate that. There's many things that can lead to algae problems, but most come from overfeeding or lack of tank maintenance. Algae becomes a problem when there's an over abundance of nutrients in the water or live rock.

We need a lot more information about your tank to help you out.

Are you using RO/DI water?
What salt mix do you use?
What size tank?
How much live rock?
What fish do you have and how many of each?
Describe your tank maintenance schedule?
Skimmer?
Amount of flow and how is flow created?
What do you test for?
Give test results for:
pH
Ammonia
Nitrates
Phosphates
Sg
Calcium
Alkalinity
Magnesium

Once we have more information, we may be able to help you.

wab · 11/21/2008, 08:27 PM

HELLO< since its a new tank thats just one of the cycles. When my hair algae started i bought mexican turbo snails and inside of a week it was under control. Check out the web sights that sell clean up crews because they have alot of details on the things us new guy are going to run into. GOOD luck

petzerman · 11/21/2008, 08:38 PM

i have a 30 gallon tank, i just buy saltwater from the fish store about 20 lbs of live rock, 2 clown fish 3 damsels, i do water changes once every week, flow is created by a current thingy that sucks up water and pushes it out with air bubbles,

as for tests go i have these test stripes that where you dip and look at the results. the levels for PH, Nitrates, and alakaline are all good.

i just started my tank a couple months ago. I asked a fish store what could get rid of it they said getting a lawnmower blenny would do it. will it?

Elan L. · 11/21/2008, 08:44 PM

I would get about 40 hermits. This morning i had hair algae, and when i got home their was none. A Lawnmoxer blenny would do good.

woogy · 11/21/2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wab
HELLO< since its a new tank thats just one of the cycles. When my hair algae started i bought mexican turbo snails and inside of a week it was under control. Check out the web sights that sell clean up crews because they have alot of details on the things us new guy are going to run into. GOOD luck

No it's not part of the cycle. Check for phosphates which may be feeding it. Hermits will help but they only cover up the problem. Use some GFO in a reactor will help, less feeding or use some cheato in a sump or in a hang on the back fuge.

crvz · 11/22/2008, 10:07 AM

The algae by itself doesnt cause problems, but if will fight for space with corals and does indicate excess nutrients in the water (which can be bad news for more demanding corals). I'd find out what's fueling the algae and eliminate it, as throwing snails and fish at it may only add more bioload and fuel to the issue.

mpty · 11/22/2008, 10:29 AM

i dunno. i tried the lawnmower blenny and i've had 2 that done nuthin. im not the only one either - seems like hit and miss with them. personally i think snails are the way to go. crabs will eat anythin, includin corals. but they kinda need more stable params than crabs do i think....

xoxompty

11/21/2008, 07:44 PM	#1
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	Hair Algae Im starting to get a lot of hair algae growing on the bottom of my tank on the sand. can this lead to any problems? if so what can i do to get rid of it?

11/21/2008, 08:27 PM	#3
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	HELLO< since its a new tank thats just one of the cycles. When my hair algae started i bought mexican turbo snails and inside of a week it was under control. Check out the web sights that sell clean up crews because they have alot of details on the things us new guy are going to run into. GOOD luck __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy

11/21/2008, 08:44 PM	#5
Elan L. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: miami beach Posts: 3,216	I would get about 40 hermits. This morning i had hair algae, and when i got home their was none. A Lawnmoxer blenny would do good. __________________ ♀ ⊗ ┏ ┓ ♒♒♒♒♒ Current Tank Info: 75g sps dominated reef some lps. 24x18x12 frag tank plumbed into 29g sump w/ Octopus Xtreme 160

11/22/2008, 10:07 AM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	The algae by itself doesnt cause problems, but if will fight for space with corals and does indicate excess nutrients in the water (which can be bad news for more demanding corals). I'd find out what's fueling the algae and eliminate it, as throwing snails and fish at it may only add more bioload and fuel to the issue. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

11/22/2008, 10:29 AM	#8
mpty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 154	i dunno. i tried the lawnmower blenny and i've had 2 that done nuthin. im not the only one either - seems like hit and miss with them. personally i think snails are the way to go. crabs will eat anythin, includin corals. but they kinda need more stable params than crabs do i think.... xoxompty __________________ "Nuthin turns me on like a reefgeek boy rambling coral gear specks under an actinic blue light. Seriously. What else could a gal ask for?" Current Tank Info: Glass 65G, PC Lunar Aqualight, CL SuperSkimmer 65, Eheim Cannister, 80lbs live rock, 2" sand, 10G Fuge - 4" sand/mangrove/cheato, shrooms, duster, buttons, occelaris, japonicus tang, chromis, shrimp, bubble, open brain, leathers, frogspawn.

11/21/2008, 08:17 PM	#2
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Figure out what's causing it and eliminate that. There's many things that can lead to algae problems, but most come from overfeeding or lack of tank maintenance. Algae becomes a problem when there's an over abundance of nutrients in the water or live rock. We need a lot more information about your tank to help you out. Are you using RO/DI water? What salt mix do you use? What size tank? How much live rock? What fish do you have and how many of each? Describe your tank maintenance schedule? Skimmer? Amount of flow and how is flow created? What do you test for? Give test results for: pH Ammonia Nitrates Phosphates Sg Calcium Alkalinity Magnesium Once we have more information, we may be able to help you.

11/21/2008, 08:38 PM	#4
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	i have a 30 gallon tank, i just buy saltwater from the fish store about 20 lbs of live rock, 2 clown fish 3 damsels, i do water changes once every week, flow is created by a current thingy that sucks up water and pushes it out with air bubbles, as for tests go i have these test stripes that where you dip and look at the results. the levels for PH, Nitrates, and alakaline are all good. i just started my tank a couple months ago. I asked a fish store what could get rid of it they said getting a lawnmower blenny would do it. will it?