hair algae

[Markster]

I am getting some hair algae growth toward the top of the back glass and on some rocks that corals are attached to in the same area. This area is mainly lit by two 175W 10K MH bulbs. The other parts of the tank (middle to front) do not have this problem and mainly power compacts are over these areas.

I had bought a lawnmower blenny and he disappeare days later. Should I try another one or do crab?

[christerrell2k3]

have you tried snails?

[cailan]

yellow tang? my blue and yellow tang and the snails take care of most of my hair algae.

[alexwolf]

lettuce nudibranch

[MikeyBoy]

I had hair algea and two tangs ate all of it in two days.....they were hungry fellows.

[alexwolf]

Or, your bulb might be old. When the spectrum changes, it causes unwanted algae to grow.

[Markster]

I have a Yellow Tang and a Flame Angel and they do not even touch it. The bulbs are 10 months old. I do have astrea snails and they aren't making a dent.

[redxlch]

I have a Yellow Tang and a Flame Angel and they do not even touch it. The bulbs are 10 months old. I do have astrea snails and they aren't making a dent.

How many hours a day or you running your lights? Life of the bulbs is about 9 months running 8 hours a day.

[Brett Wilson]

Many 10K bulbs last longer than 9 months, it depends on the brand, style (DE vs SE), as well as ballast brand and type (magnetic vs electronic)...

It definately could be the culprit though, does the tank look more yellow than it used to?

Have you increased feeding or done anything to cause the tank to cycle?

[GaryP]

Most hair algae problems can be traced back to excess phosphate. While browsers like snails, crabs, tangs and nudibranchs will help clean up the problem, the cause of the problem is usually phosphates. Try running a phosphate absorber like Phosban. I've just started running a small amount on a constant basis as part of my weekly maintenance.

Gary

[clowntrigger]

I agree with the phosphate idea, are you using RO water? This makes a huge difference.

Another option is a good skimmer.

[Markster]

I run the metal halides 8 hours a day. Bulbs are Venture SE 10K. The ballast is electronic and is plugged into a digital timer. I have an RO/DI unit and top off/water change using that water only. I have a 30 gallon sump/refug and hand a Remora skimmer. I used to run phosguard all of the time and a few months stopped.

[GaryP]

Mark,

I would do the following 3 things:

1. Check your RO unit with a hardness meter to see if your unit is due for a membrance change.

2. Start using phosguard again.

3. Increase your clean up critters. I got a couple of lettuce nudibranchs recently and am very happy with what they have done so far. Since the growth is on your glass, snails would be good too.

Gary

[matt]

One thing, though, if phosguard is one of the aluminum based phosphate sponges, I wouldn't use it. Those are not considered safe for reef tanks. There's a product called rowaphos that has a good reputation; I used it for a while and I think it did some good. The skimmer will do surpisingly little to lower phosphate, as I believe the number one source for phosphate in reef tanks (other than a bad filter for make-up water) is usually fish pee. Supposedly, dripping KW into the input of a powerful skimmer is a very effective way of lowering phosphate; something about the calcium hydroxide in the presence of high turbulence and air/water surface (foam) that causes phosphate to precipitate.

[Markster]

Gary, where did you get the nudibranchs?

The RO/DI unit membranes were replaced six weeks ago. I put the phosguard in, no sponge, but little white beads in a bag.

Thanks all.

Markster

[GaryP]

Mark,

There was a recent online order for the lettuce nudis. However, Fin-Addict also got some in. They have a good price on them as well. I've noticed some pretty large swatchs of hair algae they have wiped out in the last week or so.

Gary