Hair Algae!

[sergiotami]

I've got the stuff...I've done water changes, getting ready to change the carbon in my BRS dual reactor as well as re-charge my purigen....Any other reccomendations???

[BSJF]

Verify that your source water for water changes is not contributing to the problem. Measure the TDS before adding any salt to it. Should be 0 ppm. May be a few ppm more, but anything above 0 is contributing to the problem.

What are your nitrates at?

What is your light cycle? And, how long since you put in new bulbs?

What do you have for cleanup crew?

What size tank?

#/size of fishies?

[Europhyllia]

get a tang!

just kidding

algae happens

snails, hermits or urchins will help

as the tank matures there will be less algae :)

[ZeroHour]

Man the tang I got from Rob is eating algae like no other. I am battling a bit on on sandbed as well, just got a reactor and I will be changing bulbs tomorrow.

How long do yall wait between changing your halide bulbs? Im changing my 4 t5 bulbs at what is now about 5 months

[BSJF]

Tangs are great if the tank is big enough for them. Reefcleaners.org has a great special going on now for some snails/crabs (check their post for the info about the special). A few items on their site that deal with hair algae:

http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=60&category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=34

http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=52&category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=34

When I am dealing with a problem I throw some snails and crabs at it! Lots of them - I like to use 1 snail and 1 crab per gallon as a general rule. Pick the kinds that deal with the problem that you have along with some other diversity to keep other potential problems from becoming problems. Make sure they are reef safe though.

As for lights - I change them often. T5s I typically go 6-9 months. I watch the tank, if coral doesn't seem to be growing/thriving or if I start seeing signs of nuisance algae, it is time to change them.

[ShAgMaN]

Also, ensure it's not byopsis. Check out this link if you’re not sure or need more info on bryopsis:
http://www.suite101.com/content/bryopsis-a-common-pest-in-aquaria-a51078 (http://www.suite101.com/content/bryopsis-a-common-pest-in-aquaria-a51078)
If it's bropsis, you’re in for a serious battle. The only thing that's worked for my besides breaking the tank down and cleaning (starting over), is raising magnesium.
If it's not bropsis, your good. It will take some time but a cleanup crew and water changes will work. Also, answering the questions Loraine asked can help with identifying and eliminating the source.

[CoryDude]

[FONT=Tahoma]Also, ensure it's not byopsis.

That's what I was about to say. If it's really just hair algae, the above suggestions will work after some time. If it's not bryopsis, just pull as much of the stuff out when you do the water changes. You'll export more nutrients removing the algae than with just water changes alone.

If it is bryopsis, get ready for a battle. I did like shagman and tore my tank down, froze the rocks and started over.

[Bill S]

3rd on the Bryopsis. That's why my big tank is FW now.