Hair algae

[ibobvt]

Good morning all. My wife and I have had our 46 gallon bow reef tank up since August of last year, and so far so good. Fish and corals are doing great. We had some red slime algae, but treated it with Chemical-clean, and its totally gone now. The issue we are still having is some hair algae, it's not in mats, but in tufts growing in several places in the tank, kinda like moss balls. I vacuum some of it out during routine maintenance, but can never seem to gain on it. We have some turbo snails. Any recommendations.

 

[Budman's Corals]

Good morning all. My wife and I have had our 46 gallon bow reef tank up since August of last year, and so far so good. Fish and corals are doing great. We had some red slime algae, but treated it with Chemical-clean, and its totally gone now. The issue we are still having is some hair algae, it's not in mats, but in tufts growing in several places in the tank, kinda like moss balls. I vacuum some of it out during routine maintenance, but can never seem to gain on it. We have some turbo snails. Any recommendations.

Lawnmower Blenny maybe? less feeding,lower light exposure till gone..

good luck

 

[mike007]

Also you might try an urchin they like to eat algae. And i agree with budman less feeding lower nitrates and phos.

 

[dorky]

Yes I agree with them but be careful with which urchins. Some of them are reef safe and some are not. I can't think of any nano algae eating fish that is suitable for ur size tank.

 

[lofty78]

Yes I agree with them but be careful with which urchins. Some of them are reef safe and some are not. I can't think of any nano algae eating fish that is suitable for ur size tank.

Yeah, I was going to say my sailfin and kole tangs do a great job of keeping it in check, but 46 is too small. I actually like having some of this in my tank as it is a natural look, but unchecked it could get out of hand... Emerald crab may be an option, but they hand get a little handy with smaller fish when they get bigger.

 

[dorky]

Yeah, I was going to say my sailfin and kole tangs do a great job of keeping it in check, but 46 is too small. I actually like having some of this in my tank as it is a natural look, but unchecked it could get out of hand... Emerald crab may be an option, but they hand get a little handy with smaller fish when they get bigger.

Well I have a Red Sea sailfin in my 40g but don't judge me lol it smaller than 2in. I only have three fish so it fine. As for crabs be careful wat type of crab u put in ur tank. Emerald crab is good when they do their job lol

 

[Budman's Corals]

Well I have a Red Sea sailfin in my 40g but don't judge me lol it smaller than 2in. I only have three fish so it fine. As for crabs be careful wat type of crab u put in ur tank. Emerald crab is good when they do their job lol

I think emeralds are really just good for Bubble algae.they might pick on the hair but if the hairs to long they will leave it be...


WHAT!!!!!! u have a Sailfin in a 40

just kidding..when it gets bigger more reason to upgrade

 

[GratefulReef]

Are you using RODI water, what are you water params? Less feeding and less light can help too.

 

[dorky]

I think emeralds are really just good for Bubble algae.they might pick on the hair but if the hairs to long they will leave it be...

WHAT!!!!!! u have a Sailfin in a 40

just kidding..when it gets bigger more reason to upgrade

Hey hey now I said don't judge me lol yea I'm definitely will be upgrade in about a year or two so I can get more tang. I was lucky to have this type of Red Sea this small. All my lfs don't carry em so I was like umm screw it n get em while I can lol n sry for sidetracking ur thread. Just remember to get some turbo snail they eat it clean off the rock.

 

[fragmatic]

As you know there are lots of opinions. My take is I don't see any mention of a refugium. I run two and make it a point to run more intense lighting on them so they go absolutely algae nutz and consume most of the algae food. I had a serious problem until I started doing this aggressively. I still have to scrub the glass to keep it clear, but my LR is no longer plagued by algae.

.... now I've done it, ..... I'd better go bang my head on some wood after posting that.

 

[Budman's Corals]

As you know there are lots of opinions. My take is I don't see any mention of a refugium. I run two and make it a point to run more intense lighting on them so they go absolutely algae nutz and consume most of the algae food. I had a serious problem until I started doing this aggressively. I still have to scrub the glass to keep it clear, but my LR is no longer plagued by algae.

.... now I've done it, ..... I'd better go bang my head on some wood after posting that.

Does ibovt run a fuge?

 

[Budman's Corals]

Hey hey now I said don't judge me lol yea I'm definitely will be upgrade in about a year or two so I can get more tang. I was lucky to have this type of Red Sea this small. All my lfs don't carry em so I was like umm screw it n get em while I can lol n sry for sidetracking ur thread. Just remember to get some turbo snail they eat it clean off the rock.

Like the tang,,They are great algae eaters...

 

[Pappy]

Ok....tangs will not eat hair algae, nor blennies or emerald crabs. As suggested earlier def cut back on feeding. I had a hair algae issue and tried everything (all listed above)...the only thing that kept it in check was running gfo in a reactor and a seahare . Good luck

 

[Budman's Corals]

Ok....tangs will not eat hair algae, nor blennies or emerald crabs. As suggested earlier def cut back on feeding. I had a hair algae issue and tried everything (all listed above)...the only thing that kept it in check was running gfo in a reactor and a seahare . Good luck

Maybe your Tang/blenny don't, but ive seen mine pick at it quiet often..
read this and there's more info out there.

Lawnmower Blenny

Like i said if the hair algae is long then they might not eat it

I never let mine get outta hand.
+1 on gfo reactor

 

[ibobvt]

Yes I do use RO water, no refug yet. And I have a tuxedo urchin, but he doesn't keep up with it.

 

[lofty78]

so I can get more tang.

Isn't this what we are all after? :wink: