Is this hair algea?

[Fishcrisp]

My tank has been running for about 3 months, and this stuff is growing all over the rocks. I tried removing it, but it's really stuck to the rock and doesn't come off easily. Is this hair algae, or could it be something else? Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

[EnterName]

Your tank is going through the ugly phase. I see you have used quite a lot of dry rock which means it might take a while. Usually it starts with brown stains on the substrate (diatoms) and then continues with green hair algae which you are observing right now. Once the green hair algae dies down the tank is ready for the first robust corals (soft corals usually). If you already have corals (I think I see some in one photo) they might have a hard time ahead.

It's very common to have a tank look like that after 3 months when using lots of dry rock.

 

[Fishcrisp]

Your tank is going through the ugly phase. I see you have used quite a lot of dry rock which means it might take a while. Usually it starts with brown stains on the substrate (diatoms) and then continues with green hair algae which you are observing right now. Once the green hair algae dies down the tank is ready for the first robust corals (soft corals usually). If you already have corals (I think I see some in one photo) they might have a hard time ahead.

It's very common to have a tank look like that after 3 months when using lots of dry rock.

IS this hair algea then? Looks diffrent compare to other pictures.

 

[TeeJay87]

Looks like a green cotton candy algae. Never dealt with it but heard it’s nasty stuff. It’s definitely beatable though, you’ll just need to find the right information.

 

[EnterName]

IS this hair algea then? Looks diffrent compare to other pictures.

Green hair algae is a term that the community uses for a variety of green filamentous algae. Basically, if it looks like filaments, and is green (or mostly green), it's green hair algae. I don't think there is a "rule" that says what kind of green hair algae has to establish during the ugly phase. I wouldn't worry too much about it for now to be honest.

 

[Fishcrisp]

Looks like a green cotton candy algae. Never dealt with it but heard it’s nasty stuff. It’s definitely beatable though, you’ll just need to find the right information.

Thx i'll look into it.

 

[Fishcrisp]

Green hair algae is a term that the community uses for a variety of green filamentous algae. Basically, if it looks like filaments, and is green (or mostly green), it's green hair algae. I don't think there is a "rule" that says what kind of green hair algae has to establish during the ugly phase. I wouldn't worry too much about it for now to be honest.

Oh okay, I tried to remove it but it's stuck in the rock.

 

[EnterName]

Green hair algae is a term that the community uses for a variety of green filamentous algae. Basically, if it looks like filaments, and is green (or mostly green), it's green hair algae. I don't think there is a "rule" that says what kind of green hair algae has to establish during the ugly phase. I wouldn't worry too much about it for now to be honest.

Oh okay, I tried to remove it but it's stuck in the rock.

You don't really have to intervene during the ugly phase. I don't know if manual removal will speed up the process or not, but if you feel like it you can use a toothbrush to get it off the rocks and then catch what you can in a fishing net or siphon it out. I would just run the water through some filter floss so you don't have to prepare so much new water.

My current system was started using dry rock and sand. The hair algae phase took quite long but I didn't remove it manually. It just bleaches and vanishes on it's own or if you have herbivores that eat it, it won't grow back after a few months.