Hair Algae

[D.Barta]

does anyone know how to get rid of hair algae,it has taken over my tank?

[brewercm]

I've had great luck with Mexican turbos. Won't fix the cause but they will mow through anything on the rocks and glass. Make sure they don't try to sell you the cheesy astrea snails but the mexican turbos, I know they had them in the past at AW.

[GaryP]

Please see this thread D.Barta.

http://maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=5413

Ultimately, the solution is going to involve reducing phosphates and increased grazing by snails or other hair algae consumers such as tangs or hermits. Don't bother testing for phosphates. None of the available kits are really accurate. Just take the fact that you have a hair algae bloom as a sign that you do have high phosphates. As little as .03 ppm can cause a bloom. If you aren't using RO water, start. Tap water can contain enough phosphate to cause a bloom.

I guess the education committee needs to get busy and work on some tutorials for these commonly asked questions. It seems like as soon as we answer one new user someone else pops up with the same question.

Gary

[dan]

TANGS TANGS TANGS. gotta love em! i put tangs in from the begining and have never had a problem with hair. i have five in my tank. four yellows and one purple. turbos help too. i have 11 turbos

[dan]

having a large fuge helps. the bigger the better. wish i had a 200gal. fuge.

[brewercm]

Gary, that's a great idea. Have a FAQ area for things like this.

[GaryP]

Cliff,

I have suggested it to the education committee.

Gary

[dan]

I guess the education committee needs to get busy and work on some tutorials for these commonly asked questions. It seems like as soon as we answer one new user someone else pops up with the same question.

that would be great to have this topic at one of the mouthly meeting. this is one problem thatevery one has at one point or another.

[mharris7]

Here's a before and after shot of my tanks. I did upgrade tanks, but it's the same rock and live stock. Here's the tank at close to the height of the hair algae problem.

[mharris7]

here's the current tank:

[mharris7]

I like the idea of a FAQ as well. FWIW - I got rid of the sand bed, added about 30 snails (trochus, mexican turbos, and cerith), added rowaphos and carbon, and scrubbed my rocks with a toothbrush. I think the good ol' elbow grease and toothbrush were the most important part. ;)

[GaryP]

I'm not sure I agree with the idea of getting rid of the sand bed. I did that too once a while back before I knew any better. I know its awfully tempting to do when its covered in hair algae.

Cleaning will get some immediate relief but hair algae will return if the root cause is not addressed. That is usually high phosphates and a lack of clean up critters. Carbon will remove organic (meta) phosphates but IMO they will decay in the carbon and inorganic (ortho) phosphate will be released from the carbon unless it is changed every few days. That gets fairly expensive. Overall, I think your approach was very good mharris. You covered all the bases.

Gary

[mharris7]

thanks Gary - I run the carbon not so much for phosphate control but to control any chemical warfare between corals. I stuff my fluval with it and usually change it out once a month or so. Next time I'm thinking I might try a product they have at aquatek that contains an ion resin coated carbon.

I think the sand bed was driving part of the problem in my case. I was having a hard time supporting the fauna in it. I had several fish that pretty much decimated it (dottyback, wrasses, ect....). It just got to be a hassle. The hair algae's been gone for a month to month and a half now. I've noticed the remaining clumps here and there seem to be receding as well. I also used to have to wipe my glass down daily to get rid of the algae buildup. Now I go almost a week before I get a noticeable buildup....

[GaryP]

I still have to clean my glass daily. I consider it free food for my clams. I still have some hair algae in one of my tanks, but its isolated to the over flow. A good place for it. The grazers keep it under control every place else.

The carbon also has the advantage of keeping your total organic carbon under control. That's one of those nutrients no one really takes into consideration. As I think I mentioned in another thread, the only problem with running carbon 24/7 is that it takes out some of the good stuff (like vitamins) as well as the bad stuff like toxins. Its a two edged sword I guess.

Gary

[dan]

GOOD JOB! the tank looks good.