Green Hair Algae

[Jrswish]

My tanks about 6 months old, but I'm getting a little GhA algae in the filter part of my 20g nuvo, and some in the display. My nitrates are 8-10PPM and phopshate hovers around .05-.10 so nothing crazy.

Alk 8.3-8.5
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 430-450
Magnesium 1300

Just don't get it really

 

[unclejed]

My tanks about 6 months old, but I'm getting a little GhA algae in the filter part of my 20g nuvo, and some in the display. My nitrates are 8-10PPM and phopshate hovers around .05-.10 so nothing crazy.

Alk 8.3-8.5
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 430-450
Magnesium 1300

Just don't get it really

Were you inquiring about something?

 

[Jrswish]

Yeah trying to figure out what can be causing it

 

[unclejed]

Yeah trying to figure out what can be causing it

Oh, ok, Green hair comes with the reef territory every now and then. A product called Algaefix may be the answer. Try for the reducing detritus by weekly 30-40% water changes. Try 3 weekly water changes in a row and see if that helps.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Dissolved organic's cause algae, not really nitrate or phosphate. A few tufts of algae here and there is fine and natural. If its just a little algae, then slightly increase the algae grazers, add a couple more turbo snails.

https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/21...hy-reef-tank-heres-a-new-method-to-manage-it/

 

[Dan_P]

My tanks about 6 months old, but I'm getting a little GhA algae in the filter part of my 20g nuvo, and some in the display. My nitrates are 8-10PPM and phopshate hovers around .05-.10 so nothing crazy.

Alk 8.3-8.5
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 430-450
Magnesium 1300

Just don't get it really

Algae grows where there is light. Can you block the light from entering the filter?

 

[jabberwock]

Your tank is working. You are growing stuff. Just not the stuff you want. What kind of rock did you use?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Dissolved organic's cause algae, not really nitrate or phosphate. A few tufts of algae here and there is fine and natural. If its just a little algae, then slightly increase the algae grazers, add a couple more turbo snails.

https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/21...hy-reef-tank-heres-a-new-method-to-manage-it/

I cannot agree. There’s no evidence algae even use dissolved organics.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah trying to figure out what can be causing it

There’s a myth in the hobby that high P and N cause algae. You have plenty and more would not likely make it grow faster.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My tanks about 6 months old, but I'm getting a little GhA algae in the filter part of my 20g nuvo, and some in the display. My nitrates are 8-10PPM and phopshate hovers around .05-.10 so nothing crazy.

Alk 8.3-8.5
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 430-450
Magnesium 1300

Just don't get it really

Completely normal. Remove manually or add more cuc.

 

[Nerdist Aquarist]

If I could go back in time to give myself advice, urchins are my absolute #1 choice for algae control (other than tangs, but not in a 20 gallon). My Halloween urchin puts any crab or snail to shame! Second to urchins, I recommend trochus snails. They aren't clumsily falling upside-down like astrea snails, and given the right conditions they will reproduce.

You're always going to grow algae, it's just a matter of controlling it. Natural consumers of algae is the way to way in my opinion.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

Dissolved organic's cause algae, not really nitrate or phosphate. A few tufts of algae here and there is fine and natural. If its just a little algae, then slightly increase the algae grazers, add a couple more turbo snails.

https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/21...hy-reef-tank-heres-a-new-method-to-manage-it/

This is a great article. I suspected as much and was glad to read a solid paper with references and data.

 

[unclejed]

If I could go back in time to give myself advice, urchins are my absolute #1 choice for algae control (other than tangs, but not in a 20 gallon). My Halloween urchin puts any crab or snail to shame! Second to urchins, I recommend trochus snails. They aren't clumsily falling upside-down like astrea snails, and given the right conditions they will reproduce.

You're always going to grow algae, it's just a matter of controlling it. Natural consumers of algae is the way to way in my opinion.

Thinking about Urchins, just hoping the narrow lined puffer will leave them alone. I will try one and go from there.