Hair Algae, a Symptom Rather Than the Problem?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OMG a couple of months ago I added a tiny sea hare about 3/4" long. I couldn't find it and figured it croaked. I found it and I know why I couldn't find it before. I thought it was a large rock. The thing is about 9" long and 6" wide. It looks like a Manatee.

It's the big blob in the center of the picture below that plastic float. That container is about 8" deep.

I guess he does eat this stuff.

A manatee sounds exactly like what I need! :)

 

[BeanAnimal]

I had a form of the stuff but it didn't mat, it was stiff and strong but not brittle. KInd of like wire and deeply rooted. It wasn't dense like what you have. It kept growing back so I took the rock out and soaked it in peroxide. That did the trick, but of course it was not an entire tank of rock.

I would hate to think that this is going to be as much work as ridding your system of that sponge was several years back.

 

[sixty_reefer]

That’s a pure fabricated projection. A deflection contrary to the searchable public record. You used nearly the same line on me two weeks ago in a different thread where you also attempted to deflect from getting caught in another drive-by troll. Smug deflection, never accountability.




As for “unsolicited,” your contribution to this public thread was to set bait, ignore the answer and post a mocking reply, which was also baiting further response. That’s the very definition of soliciting a response. You were playing to the room, and I’m part of the room.

This is what you do, thread after thread. deflect, reframe, ignore answers, bait and mock whoever responds, and keep doing it until people either exhaust and let your nonsense stand or staff has to step in and lock the thread.

Go ahead, keep being unaccountable for your words and deflecting, all over a pretextual troll aimed at EnterName. It’s Rev’s thread you’re doing it in this time. Or shall we go back to Randy’s thread where you smugly co-opted my apology to Randy as an apology to you instead of being accountable there too? Anywhere you’re engaged it’s the same deflective nonsense.

You’re the one dragging arguments from other threads into this discussion. Although somehow you’re still accusing me of derailing it, the irony is hard to miss.

 

[Paul B]

What about peroxide dip? That may do it.

Do you have 125 gallons of Hydrogen Peroxide?

A manatee sounds exactly like what I need! :)

I have a couple. They are fairly cheap but the plastic bags to ship them in cost a fortune.



Also, if you don't have any algae, they come with their own.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I can try to explain things to you, but I can't understand them for you.

Cheers mate…..one of my travel caffeine dispensers (hope it’s not so out of focus as to not be legible).

 

[EnterName]

Cheers mate…..one of my travel caffeine dispensers (hope it’s not so out of focus as to not be legible).

dang, I need that.

 

[BeanAnimal]

You’re the one dragging arguments from other threads into this discussion. Although somehow you’re still accusing me of derailing it, the irony is hard to miss.

Pointing out that what you’re doing here follows the same pattern as other threads isn’t dragging those threads in. It’s the record.

The derail was all yours: a pseudo-intellectual baited question to EnterName, then five credible citations ignored with “Sooo, no evidence for your claim. Got it.”.

When both of us pointed that out, you started your predictable cycle of snark and deflection. That’s where we are now: you forcing the entire forum to choose between putting up with your antics or holding you accountable and risking endless deflections until the thread is locked. It’s what the record shows you repeatedly do, and it’s already in motion here. You can’t project your behavior and lack of accountability onto me or anybody else.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Do you have 125 gallons of Hydrogen Peroxide?

It's cheap enough, let's try it!

Joking aside, it's worth trying on one of the rocks at least, isn't it?

Also, if you don't have any algae, they come with their own.

I've never seen one even though I spend a good bit of time in Florida for work and surfed there a lot over the years.

 

[Subsea]

A recent post by @Hans-Werner in Randy’s Tank and Learn thread inspired this thread.

Usually we see threads about how hair algae or cyano is killing coral but maybe they are a result of the coral already dying?

Could hair algae or cyano be showing up because something else in the tank is dying or breaking down, rather than being the cause of the problem in the first place?

Curious what others think and whether you’ve seen this happen in your own tanks.

In addressing the title of this thread, I can say that GHA is a REALITY that can be a Problem. I don’t think it’s a symptom any more than Cyanobacteria is a symptom. Both are normal in a healthy marine enviroment.

KNOW THIS: WILD REEFS WOULD BE ALGAE DOMINATED IF IT WERE NOT FOR HERBIVORES.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Pointing out that what you’re doing here follows the same pattern as other threads isn’t dragging those threads in. It’s the record.

The derail was all yours: a pseudo-intellectual baited question to EnterName, then five credible citations ignored with “Sooo, no evidence for your claim. Got it.”.

When both of us pointed that out, you started your predictable cycle of snark and deflection. That’s where we are now: you forcing the entire forum to choose between putting up with your antics or holding you accountable and risking endless deflections until the thread is locked. It’s what the record shows you repeatedly do, and it’s already in motion here. You can’t project your behavior and lack of accountability onto me or anybody else.

Bean, since you’re so concerned about unanswered questions, perhaps you can answer the original one I addressed to EnterName. Where’s the scientific evidence demonstrating that established periphyton prevents nuisance algae from colonising surfaces under reef aquarium conditions? And how exactly do you distinguish protective periphyton from undesirable periphyton, considering nuisance algae themselves can be part of that community?

 

[Paul B]

I took that picture of those manatees in Key Largo at my friends marina.



Here is another shot. They are very fat, constantly swim and eat nothing but seaweed. It just goes to show you that swimming everywhere and eating salad all day will not make you skinny.