Im with Rob Reefkeeper, Im sick of the Hair Algae!

[Anonymous]

What could i get to eat up this autrocity? its a 20 gal tank so large fish are outta the question...Any ideas would be appreciated...Ive tried scrubbing the rock off but like previously stated its a short term (very short) solution...I use RO water...I recently started running carbon on top of skimming..I noticed a change in water (looks alot clearer)...NO IM NOT GONNA GET THE PLANT LIFE STARTED! THAT IS ALREADY A PROBLEM!

 

[sediener]

Have you tested your RO for PO4/NH3/NO3/NO2? You may need to add a DI to your RO. That seems to have helped my tank's problem.

- steve

 

[Anonymous]

I am beaslbob. I don't have this problem :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Tuxedo urchin eats HA and would go nice in a 20. Only problem I had with mine was he would pick up little frags and carry them around sometimes!

 

[Anonymous]

I am beaslbob. I don't have this problem :lol:

I am Righty. I don't have this problem.

I do almost nothing the way beaslbob does.

 

[Anonymous]

Mix up some thick kalk. Remove a rock, and try painting the effected area with the Kalk. Rinse in RO, put back in the tank, and see how that goes. Try it with one rock and only 'paint' the effected side.

Other than that, all my suggestions are in the Rob thread.

 

[Unarce]

Sorry to hear that, Nikon. I've never dealt with this algae problem personally, but it seems that the long-term solution is to cook the rock in a separate container for several weeks.

I got a piece of live rock full of HA from someone, and I'm experimenting with the cooking thing myself.

 

[Anonymous]

I didnt start battling this problem until the beginning of the year...I can try "painting" the rock like you suggested Righty

I am beaslbob. I don't have this problem

to you its not a problem cuz you like algae in your tank...Lets not go there...

 

[zonkers]

I've been fighting, & with some moderate success, slowly winning my war on nuisance algaes. The short version is Nutrient control. Test for Nitrates, Phosphates, & Silicates. In my cannister filter I run Boyd's Chemi-Pure to help remove Nitrates & Rowaphos to remove my phosphates (works like a champ, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!). I also keep some macro algae in my fuge to help take up just that much more nutrients from the water, but this does not get out of hand. I have yet to need to remove any yet. If anything, its not exactly 'blossoming' due to already low nutrient levels. Beware carbon in your filtration, my understanding is that although it can take up phosphate to a certain point, if left in too long, it can re-release what it has already taken up back into the water after it reaches its saturation point. Definitely try the other suggested methods here, & don't forget when doing water changes to siphon out as much of the existing algae as you can-- let it work toward its own demise

 

[fishfanatic2]

Sorry to hear that, Nikon. I've never dealt with this algae problem personally, but it seems that the long-term solution is to cook the rock in a separate container for several weeks.

I got a piece of live rock full of HA from someone, and I'm experimenting with the cooking thing myself.

I'm trying this now with two of my rocks, it takes a while. Make sure it gets absolutely NO light. I covered my container with an opaque black plastic garbage bag.

Oh, and word of caution. It smells REALLY bad.

 

[Anonymous]

It also appears to be useful to get the rock off the floor of the container it is being cooked in.

 

[Unarce]

I did notice the bad smell at first, but the carbon took care of that. Since this seems to be regular occurance now, I figure I should learn the cooking process, the next time I buy new LR.

 

[Ben1]

I also use GFO and like it.I use it in small amount changed ona regular basis.

Scrubbing the algae off the rock will help. Also making sure the CA/ALK MAG levels are all perfect will help. Coraline algea coated surfaces are less likely to be infested by HA. Also Byropsis can be a bit more difficult to eradicate the typical HA, it looks similar but more feathery.

I usually can find some hair in my overflows but rarely see it in the tank. Get your self way more cleaners then you think you need. I just added 100 ceriths and 50 astreas to my 40 breeder. The are doing very good at keeping it clean.

 

[mopecula]

Get you alk to 13 dkh and up your calcium to 500 plus mag to 1300 and you should see some of that hair go away. like it was said before get yourself a good phosphate remover and run some good carbon. limit your nutirients in the water by feeding less and checking your make up water for phos and silicates. also get more than you think you need of snails to help clean the tank and some tangs are good eaters of algae.
Mo

 

[Ben1]

Those levels seem a bit high to me at 450 PPM CA and 4.0 meg/l of alk you are at a great level. ABove that I would worry about impellers constantly jamming and calcium perticpating.

 

[mopecula]

Thats the idea it should help to kill the hair algae since they don't like levels that high. i keep my tank at 4-5 mg/l alk and cal at 500 and all the corals and inverts are ok but most of all i have no algae problems. although i must say that i also use r/o water and i run phospate remover once a week for every month. just something to try since he is having no luck it works for me thats all
Mo

 

[sediener]

Get your self way more cleaners then you think you need. I just added 100 ceriths and 50 astreas to my 40 breeder. The are doing very good at keeping it clean.

I decided to blitzkreig what is left of my hair algae in my 120 with an invertebrate army of 300 astreas and 150 micro hermits.... They should arrive tomorrow to start the assault.

- steve

 

[Anonymous]

Steve,

Sad part is those micro hermits will eat/kill the snails.
_________________
Chilean Forum

 

[Ben1]

That is why I dont buy hermits. Ceriths eat the astrae poop and detritus/algae. While the astreas will clean up the algae. IMO astreas out live turbos and since they can right them selves when they fall upside down they dont get stuck and die.

 

[sediener]

I've never seen a hermit eating a snail that wasn't already dead.

- steve