i have whats beginning to be a problem with hair algae, the LFS recomends to run lights 4-6 hours a day ONLY, using some phosphate magnet stuff... and to clean the rock as much as possible, i have some mushrooms and button poylps, is this short of a light period gonna hurt anything?
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- Thread starter shr00m
- Start date
You could actually leave the light off all day and it still won't go away. You're best bet is to first pinpoint the source, e.g. mixing/top-off water, high-nutrients, low-current, etc. and fix it. Also, if your bulbs are old, change 'em. Since it sounds like it hasn't overrun your tank, invest in some Mexican Turbos to take care of every little scrap that you might miss rubbing off.
phosphate magnet is a band-aid. your problem will recur if you don't locate the source. what's your water deal? is it RO/DI? do you do it yourself or buy it from a store? when was the last time you changed your RO unit's filter? also, have you tested the levels in your tank? maybe it's time for a water change.
Shortening photoperiod can help, but it's ultimately more about nutrient control than anything else. However, a ZERO phosphorous reading must be ensured here, as well as making sure the source water has zero nitrate readings, too.
(You wouldn't believe how many municipalities have water that tests out with nitrate as high as 40ppm!)
(You wouldn't believe how many municipalities have water that tests out with nitrate as high as 40ppm!)
I tried everything and only recently solved my hair algae problems. I got 2 lettuce nudibranches for my 55gal and they have done a great job of removing it. My theory is that I have created a nutrient rich environment for algae to grow, thats because I have a culerpa refugium as my main filtration method. to remove nutrients would be counter-productive. To remove light would also be bad for the rest of my reef. I chose a natural way and it has worked great, I only wish I had done it 9 months ago.
Hair algae is a natural part of a new tank. Hair algae in a not-so-new tank, now...
In a new tank, you get a diatom bloom. You're using your magnet twice a day. At some point, the diatoms stop blooming because they've consumed the nutrients that we can test for
and the nutrients we can't test for. Then, the hair algae begin to also bloom. Again, at some point, they stop. You can pull or scrub the hair out, or let your critters eat it. Your tank ecology becomes favorable for something else...
(Had hair, no more...
)
4-6 hrs of lights won't hurt. I'd say do the 4-6 hrs for about 1 week, then, slowly increase back to your normal period. Also, be sure to have critters which eat hair (e.g. hermits & the like). But accept the hair as part of a new tank. Now, if your tank stays hairy for more than a month or so, then, you can begin thinking about why your ecological progression hasn't moved beyond hair...
(Boy, I wish a 10-12 hr photoperiod would put hair on my head 8) )
In a new tank, you get a diatom bloom. You're using your magnet twice a day. At some point, the diatoms stop blooming because they've consumed the nutrients that we can test for
and the nutrients we can't test for. Then, the hair algae begin to also bloom. Again, at some point, they stop. You can pull or scrub the hair out, or let your critters eat it. Your tank ecology becomes favorable for something else...
(Had hair, no more...
)4-6 hrs of lights won't hurt. I'd say do the 4-6 hrs for about 1 week, then, slowly increase back to your normal period. Also, be sure to have critters which eat hair (e.g. hermits & the like). But accept the hair as part of a new tank. Now, if your tank stays hairy for more than a month or so, then, you can begin thinking about why your ecological progression hasn't moved beyond hair...
(Boy, I wish a 10-12 hr photoperiod would put hair on my head 8) )
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