Beridding Hair Algae

[hamdogg08]

What will eat this type of hair algae? I have a molly in there that seems to like it, but if I wanted a tank fully of mollies, I wouldn't have spent so much money on a light and live rock. What type of snails, crabs, or anything else would be interested in helping me out.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Algae%20and%20Plt%20Pix/Green%20Algae/hair%20algae%20tank%20wwm.JPG
(I've got a 20H with an astrea snail, and blue leg hermit)

[oyam123]

OMG! RODI!

[Redwinger]

See response to your detritus post as it applies to this also.

[hypertech]

You're going to need more than one snail and one hermit. Nothing seems to like it once it reaches a certain length. Before I got the collonista invasion, ceriths and astrea worked well for me. I don't know how much the hermits helped, but I like them.

My emerald crab was a champ at hair algae.

My BC29 is probably similar to yours for CUC. Now that the pods and collonistas have taken hold, I am down to about 5-10 astrea, 5-10 cerith, 5-10 nassarius, 5 blue legs, 2 scarlet.

Less productive inverts are a pom pom crab and a peppermint shrimp. There may or may not be a pistol and another peppermint in there.

So, get a bigger clean up crew and make sure you have a good skimmer. That should do it.

[hypertech]

OMG! RODI!

If not using RODI, definitely start.

[kpete4]

I would try to clean the rocks off. I use a tooth brush everyonce in a while to rid the tank of hair algae, seems to work pretty well

[David Grigor]

That's pretty bad and should have let get to that point.

IMO:Pretty much have to start over. Take the rocks out, scrub them good.

Identify and resolve why your having nitrate/phosphate issues. Adding critters is not a solution only a bandaid.

If you were to try to solve without starting over, it would take months and months to see any progress.

[mattb]

Do you have a lot of corals in the tank? Could you have someone watch them? Do you have a skimmer on the tank?

[hamdogg08]

That's pretty bad and should have let get to that point.

IMO:Pretty much have to start over. Take the rocks out, scrub them good.

Identify and resolve why your having nitrate/phosphate issues. Adding critters is not a solution only a bandaid.

If you were to try to solve without starting over, it would take months and months to see any progress.

Oh, sorry the picture's not from my tank. I just wanted to show what kind of algae it was. I came to a crossroads this fall where I either bought a digital camera, or a QHI light, and went with the light instead. Now I'm reduced to googling things that are like mine.

I'd guess that I have about 1/4 of what is in that picture.

[hamdogg08]

Identify and resolve why your having nitrate/phosphate issues. Adding critters is not a solution only a bandaid.


I just got my water tested. My Nitrate reading is at zero. My phosphate however is sky high at .8+

Is there anything that metabolizes phosphates, or is that a water change only solution?

[hypertech]

when my tank was new I didn't understand why nitrates were always 0. I never did get a readable value till all the algae was gone. Chances are, that all the nitrates are being consumed and that's why you aren't reading any.

As far as I know, nuisance algae is really the only thing that metabolizes phosphates though I could be wrong. Water changes and media are the only ways to get it down.

Now, you need to figure out how they got that high. I'm guessing it either came in in your water or your food.

[mtfatwork]

probably both :)

[mattb]

P doesn't go away unless there is an means of export such as water changes, algae trimming etc. It is required by all organisms though... so if you have algae and it dies, it'll leach P back into the water... It's not like N which can become a gas, N2, and escape....

Do you have a good skimmer? Is your make up water phosphate free?

[wes]

purposeful macro algaes are a good way to export phosphate (PO4)

get some chaeto!

[mattb]

It only gets exported if you harvest the macro

[wes]

yeah, but also it's going into a much less invasive, ugly form. The bonus of harvesting less is that you have more growth to suck up more nasties. Just keep it from becoming a completely reef-covering afro (or keep it in the sump)

[hamdogg08]

I have a fair amount of coulerpa algae growing right now. As soon as I have the arrangement for my sump situated, I'm going to make it into a refugium, and grow the macro down there.

I am using distilled water from target right now for top off. The guy at harmar pet store said that there isn't any phosphate in the top off (i brought some in to get tested as well as my tank water).

I just started running my skimmer again today. After googeling "reducing phosphates" it mentioned a means of exporting it said to run a skimmer as well as export the macro algae. I shut off my skimmer originally because of micro bubbles.

After doing some research, a web page mentioned that coulerpa (sp?) is a good macro to use for phosphate reduction, so I'll be growing that in my sump/refugium. Before I can set up a 'fuge, I have to fix the micro bubble problem. My sump for the time being, is a ten gallon tank with no baffles or anything. Will the baffels be an effective way to fix the bubble problem? I have the skimmer running right now as a means of keeping better water quality, but I'd really like to get rid of those darn bubbles!


My display tank can be completely full of macro algae right now if need be. I'm waiting on putting corals into the tank until I have a handle on keeping quality water chemistry.
Thanks for the help!

[hamdogg08]

Now, you need to figure out how they got that high. I'm guessing it either came in in your water or your food.

How do I tell if it was my food?

[hamdogg08]

One more thing, after seeing Matt's reply, I checked out the media available. Has anyone used phos-ban or any similar meda? If so, is it any good?

[mtfatwork]

I think the rowaphos type media is supposed to be the best. Be very carefull with phosphate media in your system, as it can burn the corals.

[hypertech]

How do I tell if it was my food?

What do you feed? Flake is notorious for phosphates. Also, if you aren't rinsing the frozen, that could be contributing too.

[hamdogg08]

What us burning corals?

[hypertech]

More than you probably ever wanted to know about using GFO:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

Two part sells the stuff if you decide you want to try it.

[hamdogg08]

Thanks for the article.

Would activated carbon reduce the amounts of phosphate??

It seemed to hint at it in the end of the article.

[Turf]

While everyone else delves into the actual problem I wanted to suggest using a hose just slightly larger then an airline tube to do your water changes if your not. That way you can get in and pull the algae off while sucking it up.

[mattb]

What us burning corals?

Regarding GFO and burning, it's because P is required by all living things, however Rowa can strip the water so fast of PO4 that corals react negatively. I'd run your skimmer, get that refugium setup and have the light on 24/7 for the refugium....

You're using distilled? That may not be good either, a byproduct of distillation is often copper, which isn't good for your inverts.

[morty]

I don't know if GAC would adsorb phosphate -- in the past, low-quality GAC was actually known for leaching phosphate into the water. I've heard the ferric oxide products (Rowaphos, Phosban) are the best at removing phosphates, and to stay away from the aluminum oxide products (PhosGuard).