I got hair algae, what can I use.

[ReefGuy1234]

I got hair algae and I have a few thing on hand I think I can use to get rid of it. First thing I could use is dino x. I also have chemi clean and hydrogen peroxide. Will any of those work? I think my tangs were keeping off until they died but how should I beat it and can I use those.

Ammonia and stuff like that I don't know which probably isn't a good thing but I'll test it in a minute

 

[fishski13]

Honestly I wouldnt use chemicals, when I had a hairline algae outbreak, I got a couple big mexican turbos and it was gone in two days.

 

[ReefGuy1234]

Honestly I wouldnt use chemicals, when I had a hairline algae outbreak, I got a couple big mexican turbos and it was gone in two days.

Ok thanks. I wanted to use live stock anyway but for now I cant put fish in because of ich.

 

[neonreef3d]

a good clean up crew will do the job, also try this stuff...

PNS ProBio™

By removing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, consuming organic waste products, providing a nutritious food source for filter-feeders and acting as a powerful probiotic, PNS ProBio™ is a highly beneficial addition to your aquarium's microbial community. This product is especially useful for feeding...

www.algaebarn.com

 

[New&no clue]

Do you have corals in the tank?

 

[Porpoise Hork]

If area can be exposed to air use peroxide and it will kill the hair algae in seconds. If it can't then bulldozer mexican turbos. You can also try Reef Flux (fluconazole - anti fungal med) as it can kill many types of hair but usually takes a couple of weeks to work. The pull/vac method also works when doing water changes.

 

[jcolliii]

Get the cause under control.

What are your nutrients like and how are you measuring? Test your nitrate and phosphate. How long has GHA been an issue? Do you have lots?

I'd suggest an urchin - specifically a tuxedo one. Ick won't bother them, and they are algae specialists and will definitely go after GHA. Still, getting parameters under control is a better long-term solution.

 

[nereefpat]

Dino X might work. The company claims that it is an algaecide. I don't know what's in it.

Chemiclean is an antibiotic used for cyanobacteria, so that won't help you.

Manual removal with hands/brush/siphon works. You just have to keep at it.

 

[Labridaedicted]

I absolutely would not use chemicals for hair algae. Ensure your cleanup crew is adequate and keep your nutrient levels low and it will go away. In most cases maintaining low phosphates is the fix for algaes.

 

[jcolliii]

...but also not TOO low. There is a sweet spot for nutrients. I aim for 10ppm NO3, an 0.1ppm PO4. Bottoming out either, IME, allows organisms better adapted to competing in such environments to predominate (like algaes, dinos, etc.).

 

[Wasabiroot]

A little bit of hair algae here and there is not much to be concerned about and will be taken care of by any number of critters, from tuxedo urchins to turbo snails, astrea, and hermit crabs. Unless your nutrients are out of control and you are seeing more and more, your cleanup crew should take care of it.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Manual removal with hands/brush/siphon works. You just have to keep at it.

Nereefpat's approach is best. If it isn't possible or the algae is just getting out of hand, Reef Flux Rx works pretty well. Also consider a Tuxedo Urchin or two or maybe a Sea Hare if it's really bad. Both tend to eat the long hair algae most clean-up crew members won't touch. Read up on the Pros and Cons though. All include some risks.

 

[Tidal Gardens]

Chemicals are usually the last option if all else does not work. Manual removal, water changes, remove and RED lighting if using LEDs, LOTS of snails, and replace your algae-eating fish. This will almost 100% of the time work. It just takes time, but dealing with some hair algae isn't as bad as risking losing your tank to chemicals.

 

[dedragon]

just make sure to id the algae properly first, if it is bryopsis it is a different treatment

 

[rmorris_14]

Can you post some pictures?

 

[Dom]

Ugh... bottled solutions... it seems to be the go to choice for many reefers. As has already been mentioned, the best solution is to identify the cause and make the necessary changes.

Post some pictures along with your latest water test results. The answer to your problem lies in your water chemistry.

You may not be doing adequate water changes.

Your tank will never be algae free. Part of the solution is manual removal, which requires rolling up your sleeves and diving in! LOL

 

[PlumbTuckered]

Typical question by someone who wants a nice tank but doesn't want to put in the work.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Typical question by someone who wants a nice tank but doesn't want to put in the work.

...Or someone who just doesn't know the answer.

 

[mindme]

Vibrant works despite the mislabeling of it. But it appears you could probably use algaefix for cheaper since it may be the same thing.

That said, do you have a plan for the nutrients that are going to build up without the algae growing? I personally embrace the algae a good bit. It's actually a filter for your aquarium, it's just ugly. But you need to have something in place to take care of those nutrients if you are going to kill it, and if you had those things in place to start with, then you likely wouldn't have algae issues.

When I use chemicals to deal with algae it's because I want to accomplish 1 or 2 goals.

1. It's an algae I do not want to have, like bryopsis, bubble algae or what not. In those cases I'm just wanting a better algae, aka GHA.

2. It's growing in a place I don't want and/or is messing up coral and getting out of control. So I have a refugium on my 180g, but I'm getting lots of algae in my DT. So I might remove the macro algae in my fuge, kill the algae, and then put the macro back in to use up the nutrients and hopefully only algae will grow there in the future(working so far for the past 9 months).

On the other hand, I have no filters on my 29g anemone tank outside a HOB skimmer. GHA grows all over the tank and I would never kill it. It is my filter, and the algae doesn't bother my anemone or my xenias. Once every month or so, I'll do a clean up and remove a good bit of that algae by hand. That is my nutrient export method of that tank.

2 tanks, 2 different means of nutrient export.

So are you killing the algae as part of a plan, or just killing it because you want it gone?

 

[Subsea]

Plus 10 to what mindme said.

”Ammonia and stuff like that I don't know which probably isn't a good thing but I'll test it in a minute”

@ReefGuy1234
Start a tank thread with all relevant information about your system to help us to help you.

As a responsible reefkeeper, you should know what nutrients are in your system. Start there.