Hair algea issue

[xorolambo]

Hi folks a less than year old reefer here, but not a new fish keeper as always kept tropical. I have a hair algae issue that I cannot solve? Wondered if some people could give me some advice.

I have been battling high phosphates and had hair algae grow. I think my phosphates came from me adding the liquid and brine/mysis in to my tank when I thawed out the shrimp for feeds. Nitrate constantly always 20- 25 or so. Phosphate now 0.03 after a dose of phosguard being changed every 3 days for 3 weeks. Nitrates a little lower but I am doing water changes every 3 days. My issue is how do I get rid of the hair algae. I have a pincushion urchin that I was told would eat it, it hasn’t really. Also I have a 2 hermits and a couple of snails. What can I get to eat the dam stuff. Is making what should be a nice looking tank look

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

hi, can we see a picture with the blue lights off and only the whites. I don't see the algae in this pic

 

[exnisstech]

Probably going to have to resort to manual removal.
Personally I wouldn't worry about N and P too much if it were me. I've only had gha problems in tanks with low levels. High levels have never caused algae problems in my tanks. Test results from my 330 last Sunday. The tank has run similar levels, sometimes higher since starting 3 years aga and has never had an algae problem.

 

[xorolambo]

hi, can we see a picture with the blue lights off and only the whites. I don't see the algae in this pic

That’s the worst rock. Other one for ref

 

[xorolambo]

Probably going to have to resort to manual removal.
Personally I wouldn't worry about N and P too much if it were me. I've only had gha problems in tanks with low levels. High levels have never caused algae problems in my tanks. Test results from my 330 last Sunday. The tank has run similar levels, sometimes higher since starting 3 years aga and has never had an algae problem.

Yeah I have started doing that. Wavemaker off and return pump and I do 10 mins at a time. You can see from the above image I just get regrowth .

 

[kevgib67]

The best Ang fastest consumer of gha is a seahare! My son’s 55g was infested with gha and in 10 days it was all gone. @kingranch2003 was experiencing the same issue and he got one and his tank is gha free. Welcome to R2R!

 

[exnisstech]

Yeah I have started doing that. Wavemaker off and return pump and I do 10 mins at a time. You can see from the above image I just get regrowth ..

i hate to say it but when I get this it's a long uphill battle. It looks like you may be able to pull some of the rock and scrub them then rinse in used tank water and return. You can also spray hydrogen peroxide on the algae trying to avoid coral and let it sit for a few minutes. Coral can be out of the water for a bit.
Was this a dry rock start up? All dry rock has resulted in gha battles for me and I no longer use only dry rock.

This was my reefer 170. I even did a Rip clean

Fun times

 

[ReeferDog]

I second @kevgib67's recommendation for a sea hare. Inexpensive and will knock it out in a few weeks at most. Be sure to find and re-home it to a tank with algae after he cleans yours or it'll starve.

 

[xorolambo]

I am liking the Seahare idea and then rehome it. A lfs near me sells stuff and lets you take it back for store credit. Thanks.

 

[kevgib67]

I am liking the Seahare idea and then rehome it. A lfs near me sells stuff and lets you take it back for store credit. Thanks.

We swap my son’s between our tanks but when both tanks are out or low on algae he supplements it with algae wafers and nori.

 

[Privateye]

Sea hares definitely work. If you want something that stays small though, money cowries have worked wonders for me. They're not the easiest to find, but they do a fantastic job with GHA. Arguably the best snails I've come across.

 

[mcarroll]

Hi folks a less than year old reefer here, but not a new fish keeper as always kept tropical. I have a hair algae issue that I cannot solve? Wondered if some people could give me some advice.

Before anything else, forget all of the conventional wisdom on algae control.

I have been battling high phosphates and had hair algae grow.

The battle is likely to make matters worse. Stop the battle.

My issue is how do I get rid of the hair algae.

First keep in mind that you are the #1 member of the cleanup crew.

Use Marc's method of shutting down the pumps andplucking it out little by little:


Work in small areas about 2"x2" so you can focus in and be sure that area is really truly clean. Then move to the next area. Try to hit the tank every day – algae never sleeps.

Also, your cleanup crew helpers seems weak or maybe non-existent. Snails work 24/7 for you, but they are tiny so make sure you have plenty so they can actually cover the tank more than once a day.

I have a pincushion urchin that I was told would eat it, it hasn’t really.

Patience, he's practically alone!

Also I have a 2 hermits and a couple of snails.

If I asked you to keep a whole mall clean by itself, trash would accumulate just like algae is in your tank.

This two hermits are scavengers thatn *may* eat algae.

Your throwaway "couple of snails" comment tells me that you are underestimating your main workers.....reminds me of every boss I ever had. ;)

A tank under heavy algae infestation might need as many as 2 turbo snails PER GALLON.

You aren't gonna need that many, but that gives you an idea how understaffed you are. (VERY!!)

I would add at least a few tubos, but up to half a dozen would be OK if that's all you add. Astrea, trochus, maragitas are great edium-sized compliments to the Turbos. Ceriths are tiny, but also make a good compliment to the larger snails.

What can I get to eat the dam stuff. Is making what should be a nice looking tank look

Nothing we keep in our tanks will eat mature stands of algae....it becomes unpallatable. Now it's your job.

(In the wild there are all sorts of large herbivores and partial herbivores that might take care of it. You're the standin for them.)


Holler back with any questions! :)