Taking tank apart because of hair algae....

[Henry]

Here is a link to a pic in my gallery of where my fuge is located in relation to the tank. The fuge is drill about 2-3" from the top on the back.

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set...php&page=3

[GaryP]

I'd like to add one thing. Hair algae is usually a symptom of other prroblems, especially excess nutrients, overfeeding, or in sufficient nutrient removal as was stated several times previously. I have had tremendous luck with the reef janitors from GARF. The recommend a much higher amount of loading than you have done. I think their recommendati0ons may be a little high for long term use, but from experience I can tell you that they will clean up a major outbreak in a very short period of time. GARF primarily recomends mexican dwarf hermits, cerith and nerites snails for hair algae control. Several companies are now selling similar cleanup crews similar to this. If nothing else, check out their website for some good info on hair algae control.

Gary

[GaryP]

Another note. Physically cleaning your tank is a good idea. If nothing else you are going to export a lot of nutrient. and start with a clean slate that is more manageable. Ultimately you need to get a handle on your phosphate problem. Remember that a test kit only measures inorganic phosphate. If you are getting a positive reading, then your organic phosphate is probably much higher. Hair algae utilizes both organic and inorganic phosphate for growth.

IMP photoperiod is not a means of controlling hair algae. I have tried this in the past. It may slow down growth, but not in an effective manner. The cause of hair algae is nutrients and lack of effective grazing, not light. Effective control of nutrient export and export should be the first priority. Import can be controlled through better control over feeding. Feeding less several times a day for example. Export can come from better skimming, adding a refugium, or the use of a phosphate filter. Grazing is pretty much self explanatory and I covered that in my last post.

As was stated earlier, I don't think your DSB has any negative impact on your hair algae problems. I know from experience that sometimes we just panic and start looking for any solution that might seem to help. My first tank was a hair algae and factory and I removed the substrate with no recognizable impact.

I hope this helps,
Gary