HELP with red hair algae

98bishopmal · 03/05/2015, 08:03 AM

The red hair algae started on my sand bed, this i removed and now has spread to the live rocks the tank is about 4 months old and looks nasty now, any tips on how to remove this so it does not come back?

I have a RIO 180 with sump, filter sock and skimmer, lights are standard that came with the tank put have put in marine bulbs.

any help would be great

dkeller_nc · 03/05/2015, 08:12 AM

Red hair algae is somewhat unusual (the green kind isn't). Can you provide us with a picture?

Generally speaking, all tanks will go through one or more algae phases as they mature, but nutrient control tends to help prevent the algae outbreaks from taking over the tank. Nutrient control means careful stocking, effective skimming, use of Granular Ferric Oxide to control phosphates, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) to scavenge non-skimmable organics, and water changes.

Have you done any water testing for nitrates/phosphates, and if so, what are the values?

98bishopmal · 03/05/2015, 08:24 AM

This is what the tank looked like and now looks like

98bishopmal · 03/05/2015, 08:28 AM

from my readings nitrates is 0, I currently don't have a a phosphate kit

Sk8r · 03/05/2015, 10:44 AM

Looks like cyanobacteria---bacteria, not algae. It responds to light, since otherwise it eats carbon and water, two things we can't prevent it getting. If you have a fair skimmer, get it good order, and turn out your lights, putting the tank on room light only (draw the curtains in that room) for 3 days, then turn on the blues for 1 day; repeat this monthly until you're rid of it. It's common in new tanks.

98bishopmal · 03/05/2015, 01:11 PM

Thanks for your reply, here is some better pictures, please let me know what you think

Sk8r · 03/05/2015, 01:16 PM

Cyano.

dkeller_nc · 03/05/2015, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Cyano.

Yep, definitely.

98bishopmal · 03/05/2015, 02:50 PM

Thanks very much, I am now doing a blackout to kill it and will check levels after 3 days

julie180 · 03/05/2015, 06:44 PM

Better to siphon out as much as you can before doing lights out.

98bishopmal · 03/09/2015, 02:08 PM

Siphoned out, water change of 40% 3 days lights out and it's starting to come back with red spots on sand bed

any idea

03/05/2015, 08:03 AM	#1
98bishopmal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 11	HELP with red hair algae The red hair algae started on my sand bed, this i removed and now has spread to the live rocks the tank is about 4 months old and looks nasty now, any tips on how to remove this so it does not come back? I have a RIO 180 with sump, filter sock and skimmer, lights are standard that came with the tank put have put in marine bulbs. any help would be great

03/05/2015, 08:24 AM	#3
98bishopmal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 11	Photos This is what the tank looked like and now looks like

03/05/2015, 10:44 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Looks like cyanobacteria---bacteria, not algae. It responds to light, since otherwise it eats carbon and water, two things we can't prevent it getting. If you have a fair skimmer, get it good order, and turn out your lights, putting the tank on room light only (draw the curtains in that room) for 3 days, then turn on the blues for 1 day; repeat this monthly until you're rid of it. It's common in new tanks. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/05/2015, 01:16 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Cyano. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/05/2015, 08:12 AM	#2
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	*Red* hair algae is somewhat unusual (the green kind isn't). Can you provide us with a picture? Generally speaking, all tanks will go through one or more algae phases as they mature, but nutrient control tends to help prevent the algae outbreaks from taking over the tank. Nutrient control means careful stocking, effective skimming, use of Granular Ferric Oxide to control phosphates, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) to scavenge non-skimmable organics, and water changes. Have you done any water testing for nitrates/phosphates, and if so, what are the values?

03/05/2015, 08:28 AM	#4
98bishopmal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 11	from my readings nitrates is 0, I currently don't have a a phosphate kit

03/05/2015, 01:11 PM	#6
98bishopmal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 11	Thanks for your reply, here is some better pictures, please let me know what you think

03/05/2015, 02:50 PM	#9
98bishopmal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 11	Thanks very much, I am now doing a blackout to kill it and will check levels after 3 days

03/05/2015, 06:44 PM	#10
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Better to siphon out as much as you can before doing lights out.

03/09/2015, 02:08 PM	#11
98bishopmal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 11	Siphoned out, water change of 40% 3 days lights out and it's starting to come back with red spots on sand bed any idea