Help!! Hair algae out of control!

[GaryP]

IMO the control of an algae problem has to start with water chemistry. Herbivores are important but you have to have a whole lot to do any good. Chances are the blenny will only eat it at about the same rate that it grows. Grazing actually encourages growth of most plants.

[bakerk]

Lawnmower Blennies are super cute- unfortunately they seem to prefer to eat the algae you have to buy in dried sheets rather than anything that grows...
Last year when I had a horrendous algae disaster I got a book by Julian Sprung on algae so this year when hair algae started creeping up on me I was prepared... ;)
The book suggests:
maintain alkalinity above 8dKH, use phosphate export via protein skinning, algae filters or phosphate absorbing media. Herbivores. Remove by hand.
So I cleaned the skimmer(pump/air valve) and replaced my actinic bulb (didn't know how bad it was until I put in the new one! :roll ).
Most importantly though I checked my alkalinity and it was way low. :( So now it's back to kalkwasser...
The thing about alkalinity is this: corraline algae is going to love it. The hair algae is going to starve off because higher alkalinity levels cause phorphates to precipitate rather than stay available as nutrient source in the water.
I also got Turbo snails and at least they give it a try but I wouldn't depend on herbivores for complete algae control. Good Luck .