Hair algae out of controll

[Darth-Tater]

I have a small 20 gal tank in my science classroom. It has been up for about 6 weeks. I have nothing in it yet. Waiting for school money :lol I have a beautiful crop of hair algae growing all over the live rock. I mean it looks like a field. Can I take the rock out and scrub the begebbers out of it? Or, am I doomed to an aquarium full of hair algae. Does anything kill this stuff?

Thanks

DT

[pilot_bell777]

Nothing in it?? What is the algae eating?

[CD]

Couple of turbo snails should clean it right up...are the water params OK to add life yet?

W.

[::pete::]

Couple of turbo snails should clean it right up...are the water params OK to add life yet?

W.

If it is hair algae ;)

[JimD]

Nothing in it?? What is the algae eating?

Most likely die-off from any live rock. Are we using RO/DI?

[pilot_bell777]

Guess that didn't come out right....I was joking around as usual! LOL

Ment that to sound like he was feeding an empty tank! LOL Sorry

[::pete::]

Ment that to sound like he was feeding an empty tank!


:lol :lol :lol ;)

[JimD]

Actually, it was a good question...

[Darth-Tater]

water param's are good. Nothing in the tank so no I am not feeding the tank. :lol Just waiting for the time and money to stock it. I will go by Wolf Reef tonight or tomorrow and pick up a couple of Turbos. This stuff is long. I will take a picture tomorrow and send it.


DT

[Richard]

If it is just hair algae (not something more evil like bryopsis) then you could try some marine SAT.

http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=10105

[Darth-Tater]

Ok does anyone sell SAT? or do I need to order it on line?


David

[Richard]

Ummm...I think I know of a shop that sells it. ;)

[::pete::]

David
Can you take a picture ... ?

[::pete::]

http://www.com.univ-mrs.fr/IRD/atollpol/ecorecat/images/bryopsis.jpg

[alton]

The indirect lighting from the classroom fixtures plus sunlight from windows could be creating it. I had to disconnect 2 lights in my office and change the lamps out to new to stop the problems I was having. Take RO water put it in a bucket and put it in the sun and it will grow algae. Add creatures to the tank that eat it to control it, good luck

[brewercm]

2 or 3 Mexican turbos will mow right through whatever is on the rocks, they won't touch any on the sand though.

[Darth-Tater]

Here is a picture. I hope

[pilot_bell777]

I personally would go with a couple snails or something of sorts before I put chemicals in there. Just my philosophy........

[Thunderkat]

Ok, so what is evil about Bryopsis? I have some of it growing in my tank and have been trying to get it to grow more, I think it is a nice looking algae.

[thedude]

Thunderkat, you are trying to open Pandora's box and once you get the lid off, it will never close again. Bryopsis trully is algae, created by the devil to combat reefers.

Not only is the algae itself an ingenious design (the palm frond like branches sift a much greater surface area of water) but it can make itself a base in the live rock. So now, if you have pristine water conditions, there is still a good chance it has what it needs to survive for months. Bottom line is, it won't go away, it just gets worse and worse choking out your corals. Many reefers have broken their tanks down, or simply given up because of it.

Oh and did I mention that only very specific animals actually eat the stuff and do a good job? One tiny spec can start a colony wherever it lands (including a sandbed) and it contains a toxin that makes it taste wretched to algae grazers.

I battled the crap for weeks and ended up ripping my sandbed out and using a skimmer rated for 125 gallons on a 30 gallon tank.

[Richard]

Darth, that is just plain old hair algae. Pretty easy to get rid of. Just get clean up critters AND get your phoshates down and it will go away.

[Darth-Tater]

Ok, I guess I am stupid but how do I get my phosphates down? :huh Also what kind of cleanup? Turbos, hermits ? :unsure

Thanks
DT

[thedude]

Not a fan of crabs myself as they are all opportunistic feeders. I personally would get a good mix of Turbo and Astrea snails for the larger stuff then cerith snails to clean up the larger one's mess.

Check www.melevsreef.com for ides on how to lower phosphate. He's been battling it in the log section for months.

[GaryP]

The indirect lighting from the classroom fixtures plus sunlight from windows could be creating it. I had to disconnect 2 lights in my office and change the lamps out to new to stop the problems I was having. Take RO water put it in a bucket and put it in the sun and it will grow algae. Add creatures to the tank that eat it to control it, good luck

Light does not cause algae problems, nutrients do. The usual suspect is phosphates. Phosphate test kits are not a good indicator. Most test kits do not test for all phosphates, just one of the two forms it exists in in our water. The best test for phosphates is fuzzy green stuff growing in the tank.

The problem I have with turbo snails is they prefer to graze on the algae on smooth services such as the glass. Personally, I prefer micro blue leg hermits for chowing down on hair algae.

[elm0]

I too am having a huge problem with hair algea in my 46g...i've tried massive amounts of charcoal for filtering...i havent fed the tank anything at all in about 2 months, i got a lawnmower blenny because i was told that he would tear through the stuff in no time, but he hasnt touched it, I have a large cleaning crew on order from reeftopia...hope that helps, I also added four lettuce nudibranch to my order, they claim that they too will eat through the hair algea........i hope so....any opinions?

[truck0000]

Same problem with my Lawnmower Blenny. All he eats is Formula 1. Let me know how the lettce nudi"s do, I plan on getting 4 my self.

[hobogato]

had a problem in this in my 60 gallon reef, before switching to the 125. it was mainly phospates (used to use treated tap water). once i put in the RO filter, phosphates must have decreased, because no more hair algae and none in the 125 now. you can use phospate sponge to lower them now, but they will just creep back up on you if you don't fix the original problem. I was also feeding too much.

[GaryP]

I was also feeding too much.

Food is about 1% Phosphates. The key IMO is not how much you feed, but how often you feed. Feeding small amounts several times a day is better than an all you can eat buffet once a day. Its better for your fish too. The food just goes right through their digestive tract with little nutrition being removed. Not feeding your tank is not the answer. Starving your fish that are used to eating almost constantly in the wild is not a solution for a lack of filtration.

[elm0]

My blennie is my only fish at this time, and i have not fed him since i put him, nearly 2 months ago...he appears to be healthy, not sure what he's eating, maybe he is eating a bit of the algea from time to time, i'm really hoping the new clean up crew additions make a big difference