Grass grass grass

[cyrus]

So my 240g is up and running and I am already running into walls I have previously managed to avoid. Minor aptasia that I don't yet consider a threat and the all mighty never in my tanks before hair algae! My back wall has a 2'x2' span that popped up almost overnight. Now while it looks pretty wafting in the gentle flow of the tank, it needs to GO! I know if I scrape it off it will come right back and it is also on the rocks. What eats it? Lawnmower Blennies? Sea Hares? I would like reccomendations on the best plan of attack.

[ErikH]

Best plan of attack is to eliminate your phosphate problem. Elevated phosphates, nitrates, TDS, and other excess nutrients are your best bets for control.

Do you know any of those?

Do you have a clean up crew?

Are you overfeeding?

How much flow do you have?

[cyrus]

I have a minimal clean up crew I plan to get 500 dwarf certh snails in addition to the hermits I have.

I'm not overfeeding because there isn't really anything in the tank at this point.

I have a 1300gph in the tank in addition to the returns.

TDS? I have no way to test phosphates at the moment what is a good way to keep them down?. Nitrates are looking good.

[cyrus]

I also believe there is some red slime mixed in with the hair algae, Should I use the red slime remover now before it becomes a problem?

[justahobby]

The red slime is probably feeding off the dying algae and will go away w/ your hair algae. Using "remover" has unseen consequences that you should read up on before using.

TDS: Total dissolved solids - for testing purity of your water source.

500 dwarf ceriths = 500 meals for your hermits.....fwiw.

[kkiel02]

With a 240 I would just pick out a tang you like and let him do work on the hair algae once the tank has cycled. All mine eat it like candy. Lawnmowers will also eat it along with sea hares. A couple other blennies wil also eat it like my flametail which eats everything(including lps). Foxfaces also etc. For red slime the only thing that I could get to eat that was a turbo snail(I believe it was a mexican turbo snail but am not sure). 2 out of 3 that I bought I saw eating the red slime.

I am currently growing hair algae in my overflows to feed my tangs and as it grows it helps to remove phospates. I have been feeding and harvesting hair algae like macro and been "experimenting" if it gives off the same results if not better with its quick growth rate.

I also am trying to become hermitless as they eat all my snails and mess with my anemones when feeding. I would only use the red slime remover as a last resort.

[cyrus]

TDS meters, yes I got all my water from my rodi system but it did not come with a tds built in like some units. It took a week to fill the tank lol. What is the best action to get the hair algae to "go away"?

[cyrus]

So my back wall flowing with hair isn't so much a bad thing? I have one tang it the tank and a freshwater puffer named Bob. I just caught the tang munching on the hair so I guess my worries are at ease. Are you sure they were the mexican turbos? The big ones?

[ismvel]

How old are your lights? I realized, my hair algae problem really surfaced when I used an older bulb (20K radium) because my tank looked better with that bulb than my current bulb (10K reeflux).

As well as needing my RODI filters replaced. I think it was a combination of the two.

I ended up taking out all of my rocks and scrubbing them individually. Pain in the ....... but there is a big difference between my small 60 gallon and your 240.

I have also heard that covering your tank and depriving it of any light for 3 days or so can help, but will upset your corals.

[hobogato]

also, this is likely a continuation of the natural cycle your tank will go thru during the first 6 months to a year of existence. keep up with your normal maintenance and keep a good clean up crew and it should go away on its own.