Hair algae...chem vs Natual.

[moe]

We have had our 37g reef tank for over a year now. After a few months hair algae had already made it's ugly face known and had worked it's way all over our rocks. Prior to that, my wife had introuduce other kind of algea's (the good one's) to help with the water filtration and nitrate consumption.

Well, needless to say the hair algae was slowly taking over the tank. At first I didn't think much of it but after a month had past, I notice the colorful reef tank had become over runned with the green hairy monster. It was algae heaven and they were all blossoming.

Long story short, the hair algae finally took over the tank, eventually killing some corals, and threating others. We had to take action.

My wife research and tried several methods. From scrubbing the tank and doing major water changes to treating the tank with algeafix for three week, nothing seemed to take care of our problem. At the end of it all we ended up with a suffocating tank and much disappointment. After these failed attempts to take care of the algea I became involved and began to push for a more stronger chem' treatment. However, a lady that works at Fintique recomended "Mexican Turbo Snails", hesitant to believe it would work since we had also tried the neon blue hermit crabs after reading that they are the best algea eaters. That failed as well. But what the heck, we had tried various options why not give this one a chance. All I can say is alleluyah! Within day's we saw progress and afer a few weeks the turbo snails had cleaned the tank from top to bottom. Being able to save our remaining corals and seeing the tank back to life has been great. After everything we tried it was the awesome turbo snail that did the job, so much so, I purchase more for my other 37g.

I am sold on the idea that the more natural, the better it is, and greater the result.

To the lady from Finique, muchos thanks for the Mexican Turbo reccomendation.

moe
"VINI, VIDI, VICI.

[gjuarez]

I am surprised that no one replied to your thread, no thread should ever go without a reply. That why we are here for.

I would have recommended the same thing, I love mexican turbo snails, they are my favorite reef janitors by far. The only thing with mine is that they are huge and they are bulldozers. The best natural way of getting rid of hair algae is with water quality, phosphates and nitrates have to be kept as close to undetectable as possible. Bulbs at times play a factor with algae. Bulbs tend to shift spectrums to the 6.5k - 5.5k as they age, meaning to the yellow and red spectrums. Algaes love those, so when water quality is excellent and you cant find an answer to the algae, it is possible that it might be time to change bulbs.

[eman91]

i would agree with gjuarez grab some turbos they tear through hair algea like there is no tomorrow.

[Kyle46N]

My mexicant turbos won't touch the hair algae in my tank. I guess it depends on what type of hair algae.

[JKLUSAF]

would getting a mexican turbo snail work with my tank? its going threw its first cycle(day12) and i have that brown hair alge all over. would it be to early?

Justin

[demodiki]

Yes.

[Kyle46N]

I'd hold off on the clean up crew. Most of that algae you have will starve itself out fairly soon. Just give it time.

[JKLUSAF]

10-4 just was wondering, i've moved some of my live rock around and still need to pick up another 20lbs

Justin

[dmweise]

I'd go with a lawnmower blenny. They eat their weight in hair algae at least daily and are very entertaining to watch feed. I have one myself and have never had an algae problem.

[moe]

Yes, it very true that the lawnmower blenny is entertaining to watch. We have one too. However I seen him eat brine shrimp and krill, never algae. The turbo did all the work in my reef tank. Thank gjuarez, and eman for the reply and advise. Kyle46n I guess give em some time, how long did u have them for?

[Kyle46N]

I have had one big one for about 5 months now. He keeps all the rocks clean except for the several rocks with hair algae. I have an interesting thing going on with my hair algae. It is growing pretty quickly on three different rocks and not anywhere else. But those rocks were made by me with white portland cement, sand, and water softener salt. There's gotta be something leaching out that the hair algae is consuming.

[jc]

My lawnmower blenny never touches my hair algae. In fact I think something is wrong with him. He looks skinny even though I've seen him pick on the algae sheets I put in the tank. I don't think he is going to make it. He doesn't swim around like he used to.

[gjuarez]

Rick (marlin) sold me some mexican turbo snails from the carribean, supposedly those are the ones that are more aggressive towards hair algae. Send him a message for more info on that

[gjuarez]

Oh by the way, I have a lawnmower blenny as well and he loves the algae, he wont take anything else i feed him. He is very shy though and mainly feeds when no one is around. Love the little guy.

[moe]

Big up to lounge lizard. The Carib turbo is the one I also have and they are so good they go for the algae the second they were let loose. Hey JC try some garlic and krill. let me know how it goes.

[Kyle46N]

Moe, any idea on where to get the carib turbo here in San Antonio? Do you have any pics of yours? So I could see the difference between the carib and the kind that I have. Thanks!

[mozartkt]

Hair algae is a pain; my lawnmower wouldn't touch it either. I'll have to check out the tubo's. I just do water changes. Good luck!

[gjuarez]

carib turbos are humongous. Check this pic of my nano, the bigger one is right in front.

http://www.maast.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=504

[BigKGlen]

Being in and out of the hospital so many times in the last year, my tank really started suffering. Hair Algae made it's apperance about 3 weeks ago. I bought a large Sea Hare, 6 Sallylightfoots and 10 Emerald Crabs. 95% of the HA is gone.

Natural always before considering chemical.

[gjuarez]

Sea hares are very good too, but its tough to keep one in a nano. Great choices there

[Kyle46N]

I thought those large mexican turbos are from the Sea of Cortez? In the Pacific. Type in Caribbean turbo's in a search engine and one of the names you get are chestnut turbos. Smaller than the mexican turbos.

[moe]

I had a couple of sea heres, it was good bate for my puffer. lol

[dmweise]

I'd go with smaller snails or a lawnmower blenny. My lawnmower takes care of the bulk of the algae and the snails get the scraps. It's a good tag team. The larger snails tend to be more trouble than they are worth. The larger they get the less they eat and they make lots of poop.

[moe]

I should have some pic's of my snails later on the day.

[JKLUSAF]

New-be question

would a lawnmower blenny my best alge eater with a 65gal tank; its only bin up and running for 15 days. 70lbs of live sand and 93lbs of hawaii and fuji live rock most were established well. i'll post some more pictures up soon

Justin

[brewercm]

New-be question

would a lawnmower blenny my best alge eater with a 65gal tank; its only bin up and running for 15 days. 70lbs of live sand and 93lbs of hawaii and fuji live rock most were established well. i'll post some more pictures up soon

Justin


If you get one you'll most likely need to supplement it's diet with algae sheets until your tank is more establised. Best really to just wait another month or so for that fish. Not to mention at 15 days you are probably just getting out of the cycle if not still in it.

[JKLUSAF]

If you get one you'll most likely need to supplement it's diet with algae sheets until your tank is more establised. Best really to just wait another month or so for that fish. Not to mention at 15 days you are probably just getting out of the cycle if not still in it.


thanks Cliff,

I've got some brown and green alge growing right now, some of the live rock has zoa's growing still, lets just say they haven't died yet. I'll give it a little longer

http://maast.org/forums/album.php?albumid=86
Justin

[mario]

is there any other blenny that would eat hair algy.

[Kristy]

A lot of the different blennys eat algae. We have a small tail spot blenny in out 20g that does. You could try a molly miller blenny, they look a lot like a smaller version of a lawnmower. I also like the look of the starry blennys, similar to lawnmower, but I have heard not as aggressive (of course we bought a lawnmower 1st (2 yrs ago) and he has a lot of personality.
-Mike (& Kristy)

[dmweise]

I do an algae suppliment for my angels, clowns, and lawnmower blenny. He does usually mess with it though. He's always busy eating film algae off the glass. He leaves little kiss marks on the glass. It's much cuter than the snail zig zags.

[moe]

Moe, any idea on where to get the carib turbo here in San Antonio? Do you have any pics of yours? So I could see the difference between the carib and the kind that I have. Thanks!

my pic won't load, they are a good size. many store carry the turbo snails, TT, AD, AA, B&B, even petco. I buy mine in Fintique, why? Because the price for one, they are very cheap compare to the other stores. And not to mention the size, my turbo are hugh. I wish i could post a pic so u may see them.

Give them a shot, they get there shipment on thursday, not much of a selection, but u'll get 25% off on that day of saltwater livestock.

Give me a shout when u hit fintique and let me know what u think.

moe

[Kyle46N]

It sounds like you are talking about the regular mexican turbos. I have seen those at all the places you mentioned above, and I have one. I looked at your pic on your album. I was hoping it was a different turbo then what I had. I must have a different kind of algae I guess.

[moe]

can u send a picture of the algae that you have?

[Gilbertg78228]

i have a couple of the Mexican Turbo's and they are great! they eat the hair algee like its going out of style. i find it allot better than the Chemical