Hair algae

mucky1957

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hi all,

I have a lot of hair algae in my softies tank. I've tried to brush it off the rocks but there is so much of it I am not winning the battle.
Is there anything I can put in the tank that would eat it...when I say there is a lot..there is a LOT.
CUC these days are so expensive ( isn't everything ) I don't want to waste my money.
Tried to take pics but they are not good....it is definately hair algae though.
Help please
 

Gumbies R Us

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Parameters of your tank?
 

Bruttall

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hi all,

I have a lot of hair algae in my softies tank. I've tried to brush it off the rocks but there is so much of it I am not winning the battle.
Is there anything I can put in the tank that would eat it...when I say there is a lot..there is a LOT.
CUC these days are so expensive ( isn't everything ) I don't want to waste my money.
Tried to take pics but they are not good....it is definately hair algae though.
Help please
How large is your tank?

Urchin is probably your best bet for a smaller tank, talk to your LFS people about them. If you are working with a larger tank, 125g or bigger then Surgeon Fish, TANGS!
 

higgy81200

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hi all,

I have a lot of hair algae in my softies tank. I've tried to brush it off the rocks but there is so much of it I am not winning the battle.
Is there anything I can put in the tank that would eat it...when I say there is a lot..there is a LOT.
CUC these days are so expensive ( isn't everything ) I don't want to waste my money.
Tried to take pics but they are not good....it is definately hair algae though.
Help please
A sea hare will demolish some hair algae
as well.
 
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mucky1957

mucky1957

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hi guys...appreciate all the replies..my tank...
240lt juwel with about 200lt of water. All softies. Tank is over 15 years old.
Im running an it580 evergrow light. The blues are pretty much maxed out but the whites go no higher than 20%. Whites are at 20% for about 6hr per day. Blues start at about 7am and the tank goes dark around 10pm
Cal is 430...mag is high ( around 1450 ) as I was told that a high mag 'might' kill it off..phos is around 0.1 - 0.25. I know this is high but it has always been high.
I run a jebao RW 8 power head which is more than enough for my 4' tank.

I am told that a couple of sea hares would do the trick..I have a couple on order to get tomorrow ( cost is £60 ) but I'm happy to cancel the order if you tell me it wont work.
 
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Kooma

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1.0 phos in the water with a hair algae outbreak is incredibly high. I bet the water if left dark would saturate much higher. I’d start GFO, get a pin cushion urchin and wait. Reduce feedings a bit too.
 
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mucky1957

mucky1957

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1.0 phos in the water with a hair algae outbreak is incredibly high. I bet the water if left dark would saturate much higher. I’d start GFO, get a pin cushion urchin and wait. Reduce feedings a bit too.
I feed very little only have 4 fish in the tank and they get a pinch of flakes daily.APOLOGIES..MY PHOS QUOTE IS TOTALLY WRONG...just done a test and using Salifert its between 0.1 and 0.25.....sorry guys
 
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