Realistic expectations concerning hair algae?

[obct537]

So, I've been slowly fighting off hair algae in my tank, and it occurred to me that, I don't really know what I should be expecting long-term.

By scrubbing the rocks, and shutting off the lights for a few days, I've been able to get things back to a mostly-pristine state, but I can already see a small amount of new algae growth. I'd love to some day reach a point where it's essentially "gone", but is that realistic?

Obviously I've seen plenty of pictures of tanks where the rocks/glass is spotless, but I guess I'm not sure if that's just what things look like on an ideal day, or is possible to have a tank that clean regularly? I've spent a fair bit of time and money trying to achieve that goal, and I'd just like to know if it's feasible (or, at least, feasible without bleaching my tank and starting over).

 

[G8trBait16]

It is feasible. I used H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide@ 1ml per 10g every 12 hours) for 14 days. Killed every single piece of hair algae. but at the same time you have to see what is making the GHA come back. Is it excess nutrients (phosphates or Nitrates). Maybe feeding fish or coral more than your nutrient export can keep up with, is it bad husbandry. There is so much to look out for and keep an eye on, so many test to do everyday. People ask me if it is a lot of work to keep a saltwater tank, I list the things and they are like WHOA that's why too much, but it has become habit for me, so it doesn't feel like a lot.

 

[obct537]

Maybe feeding fish or coral more than your nutrient export can keep up with, is it bad husbandry. Maybe feeding fish or coral more than your nutrient export can keep up with, is it bad husbandry.

Thanks for the input! Curious what you're referring to by "bad husbandry" in this context?

 

[Nano man]

Have any blennies?
Do you use gfo ?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

It absolutely is feasible. I took my nitrates down to zero for a considerable time and all of the hair algae disappeared.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

It is feasible. I used H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide@ 1ml per 10g every 12 hours) for 14 days. Killed every single piece of hair algae. but at the same time you have to see what is making the GHA come back. Is it excess nutrients (phosphates or Nitrates). Maybe feeding fish or coral more than your nutrient export can keep up with, is it bad husbandry. There is so much to look out for and keep an eye on, so many test to do everyday. People ask me if it is a lot of work to keep a saltwater tank, I list the things and they are like WHOA that's why too much, but it has become habit for me, so it doesn't feel like a lot.

It's not work if you love it! That's what people don't get :)

 

[obct537]

Have any blennies?
Do you use gfo ?

Haha yeah, I've got a lawnmower blennie. Not using GFO. I've basically never testing positive for phosphate, so it seems kinda unnecessary.

 

[obct537]

It absolutely is feasible. I took my nitrates down to zero for a considerable time and all of the hair algae disappeared.

Yeah that's kinda what confuses me. I've been at, or dang near at 0 for both nitrate and phosphate for months. I've read that it's possible for the algae to basically suck both out of the water faster than it's produced, so it's possible to have a false negative.....thoughts?

 

[G8trBait16]

Thanks for the input! Curious what you're referring to by "bad husbandry" in this context?

It could be lack of water changes, Not changing out filter socks (if you have them), not cleaning protein skimmer/pump (can cause it not to operate normally), not cleaning pumps inside display tank (IE like my MP40's). Changing out GFO when it is exhausted (usually every 3 to 4 weeks for me). I am just saying anything that can cause your nutrient export to not operate like it should. Not saying you do this, just trying to show the different things to look for.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Yeah that's kinda what confuses me. I've been at, or dang near at 0 for both nitrate and phosphate for months. I've read that it's possible for the algae to basically suck both out of the water faster than it's produced, so it's possible to have a false negative.....thoughts?

First of all, I'd try a different test or check my reagents. While my nitrates were undetectable, I always had a small amount of phosphate.

Secondly, yes, the algae can consume the nutrients fast enough to render them undetectable with testing.

Finally, you can set up areas in the sump or overflows that will preferentially grow the hair algae (like an algae turf scrubber). In this way, those locations out-compete the display tank for hair algae growth, leaving the display tank clean.

 

[G8trBait16]

Yeah that's kinda what confuses me. I've been at, or dang near at 0 for both nitrate and phosphate for months. I've read that it's possible for the algae to basically suck both out of the water faster than it's produced, so it's possible to have a false negative.....thoughts?

Yea that is what sticks, the hair algae uses the phosphates to grow, reason why it is showing a 0 reading.

 

[MaiReef]

Something needs to beat the hair algae to the nutrients. Manual removal and keeping the sand cleaner got rid of mine, but I see it from time to time in my refugium and remove it. It takes time and work to see results. Patience. It takes as much good husbandry to slowly and carefully to complete a task then to just make huge changes and measure parameters constantly. Every tank is different.

 

[mcarroll]

Thought I had a link for peroxide and green algae, but I'm not finding it in my links.....

In lieu of that check out:
Combined Exposure to Hydrogen Peroxide and LightSelective Effects on Cyanobacteria, Green Algae, and Diatoms
(That's the full PDF.)

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2007, 41 (1), pp 309–314
DOI: 10.1021/es060746i

Seems to focus on cyano, but I haven't finished reading it yet.

The title suggests they cover your algae too. :)

As a bonus for going on the tangent, I already likely figured out why my peroxide treatment for cyano didn't work.

Look how quick peroxide degrades in presence of algae in their tests!!! I would have had to dose a lot more than once a day. (Problem is then: How many times?)

Anyway, I hope that link helps with your case too!