Hair algae choking my acan lord

[Nht]

I have a acan lord that is at risk of hair algae taking over. I have tried picking some of the hair algae off with my fingers but some of it is growing on and inside of the skeleton of the colony and it is not allowing the tissue of the acan to extend.

How do I get rid of this before it becomes catastrophic? Its not a really bad problem now but this is by far my favorite acan and I want to take preventive measures before it becomes unresolvable. Thanks

 

[toddman74]

try do what I do:
1. get a fish breeder container (the kind that you hang inside the tank to separate the fishes).
2. get a mexican turbo snail larger size one.
3. take your acan colony and put it in the breeder container along with the turbo snail. Don't feed either for about 1 week and the algea will be diminished.

 

[3mm3]

Also a cowrie snail works wonders.

 

[organism]

I think cowries are known to eat corals... I'd go after the cause of the problem, possibly too long a photoperiod and/or high phosphates, otherwise the algae will just keep coming back. What kind of lights do you have, and how long are they on for? What kind of skimmer and how often are the water changes? How often are you feeding?
In the meantime, careful manual removal with a toothbrush might be the best way to go for now

 

[3mm3]

I think cowries are known to eat corals...

Thats true for some.....
Not for this type http://www.reefgarden.net/id63.html

A very reputable pet store here in Michigan directed me to these and they are unbelievable algae eaters. They are slow but thorough.

 

[Pufferpunk]

From those pics, it looks like I'm not the only one w/red turf algae.

 

[3mm3]

From those pics, it looks like I'm not the only one w/red turf algae.

Oh sorry thats not a link to my stuff, just found that link looking for a picture of the cowrie I have.

 

[follow3]

Thats true for some.....
Not for this type http://www.reefgarden.net/id63.html

A very reputable pet store here in Michigan directed me to these and they are unbelievable algae eaters. They are slow but thorough.

Where can I get some of those?
They are super cool!!!

Thanks,
Steve

 

[3mm3]

I got mine from Preuss Pets
They are in Lansing Michigan, thats the only place I have seen them.

 

[Stixbaraca]

"Many cowries are carnivores and should be avoided. They mainly feed on sponges and corals (especially the egg cowries). Exceptions are Cypraea annulus, gold ringed cowrie, and C. moneta, money cowrie, which are both herbivores. The tiger cowrie, C. tigris may also be herbivorous. "

 

[3mm3]

"Many cowries are carnivores and should be avoided. They mainly feed on sponges and corals (especially the egg cowries). Exceptions are Cypraea annulus, gold ringed cowrie, and C. moneta, money cowrie, which are both herbivores. The tiger cowrie, C. tigris may also be herbivorous. "

I have the gold ring cowrie

 

[Nht]

Thanks for the reply. I actually do have a large mexican turbo snail. Im going to try it. I know they eat film algae but I thought that they didnt touch hair algae. ANyone heard of sea hares being good for hair algae?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Seahares are excellent hair algae eaters but I've never been able to keep one alive past a few days.

 

[Stixbaraca]

just let me know when you guys find something that will eat cyano...instead of a siphon tube!!!!!