Green Hair

[::pete::]

Im starting to get green hair algae and was wondering if there is a miracle treatment? Algone ? I have crabs and an assortment of snails, what else might work? Water was tested yesterday and everything is perfect, but I need to get a phospate test kit and check it. Thanks as I dont want to take it back down again after just getting it set back up.

[JimD]

Green hair algae is normal in newly set up systems, there really is no "miracle" treatment. Even if you test for P04, itll most likely test zero as the algae is consuming it as soon as its available. My suggestion is to skim heavy, monitor nitrates, drip kalk to raise Ph/Kh and precipitate any P04 and ride it out by manually removing as much as possible.

[::pete::]

I tested the water prior to adding it and it was good. I do have a yellow tang in there, how about adding a couple nudibranch?

Manually remove? ... with like maybe a tooth brush?

[GaryP]

Do you have any cerith or nerite snails? IMO Astreas or turbos won't touch hair algae, but the nerite and cerith will work it over. Also, the Mexican dwarf hermits will do a good job on it. They'll leave the snails alone as long as there is plenty of algae to eat and don't get distracted by working on algae on the glass like snails do.

Gary

[JimD]

Josh, try field_gear@msn.com for RO/DI parts and info, Russ is the only person I deal with when it comes to H20 stuff, tell him I sent ya and youre a member of MAAST.... If ya want, I can email you a brief inventory page that I have saved. lemmee know.
I wouldnt use a tooth brush, just yank it out by hand and try to make sure none of it gets loose in the water, it WILL spread! Just be patient, itll go away on its own as long as your nutriant levels are in check.

[JimD]

Josh, email sent to the address in your profile, hope it helps.

Nope! "Mail delivery failure" Need yer address doood...

[::pete::]

Gary

I have the lil crabs and zebra crabs. My snails are nerite, nassarius and some strombus grazers. Im placing an order on Monday so I will just add a few more snails, Thanks all