Sleeping Giant
Proud Canadian Reefer
most likely
What eats hair algae?
- Thread starter spamvicious
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addictswife
New Member
Tuxedo urchin knocked mineAt least I think it’s hair algae? I have Astrea snails and trochus snails but they don’t touch it. It’s on the main rock piece in my tank. I sometimes lift my strawberry conch up there to eat it but I’m not sure if he does actually eat it. It’s not fast growing but there are more patches of it. Looks brown in the tank but green under natural light. Growing like pieces of moss but also some wirey stalks.
out. I had it pretty bad.
GARRIGA
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Probably best to manually mow it down with a toothbrush then let CUC munch on it. Although I'm told sea hare will solve it until all gone then worry mounts as it might starve unless supplemented. Something I plan on trying as mowing more effort than I care to expand 
PotatoPig
Valuable Member
Just a general comment: The reason you’re getting so many different answers here is that “hair algae” isn’t a single species. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of species that fall under this category of similar looking algae.
If something eats “hair algae” in one tank it doesn’t mean it’ll eat it in another tank, because it could easily be a different algae that isn’t readily edible to the same creatures.
A lot of successful herbivore-based strategies for algae control include a diverse crew of multiple species of crabs, snails, etc.
The good news is these little critters add a bit of character and also bring in biomes of pods, bacteria, etc that are foundational to the reef ecosystem.
If something eats “hair algae” in one tank it doesn’t mean it’ll eat it in another tank, because it could easily be a different algae that isn’t readily edible to the same creatures.
A lot of successful herbivore-based strategies for algae control include a diverse crew of multiple species of crabs, snails, etc.
The good news is these little critters add a bit of character and also bring in biomes of pods, bacteria, etc that are foundational to the reef ecosystem.
Gumbies R Us
Certified Noob
Our urchin has made good work on ours!
One thing I have wondered is if it's possible to lower the alkalinity ie raise the acidity and if that would work. My son kept using reef roads that caused a huge invasion luckily I had no coral so just kept removing rock and scrubbing it took 6 months
The only thing I've found that eats it is fluconazole. Lol
It doesn't eat it but it'll get rid of it. Can dose way less than suggested on here. I had to use it a couple times. I mix it up, turn off pumps and directly dairy it onto problem spots. Let it sit an hour or so. Turn pumps back on. 10 to 14 days later repeat. I use about a third recommended dose. Works great.
Cons, may kill macro. If your using that for nutrient export you should save some else where to restock yourself.
It doesn't eat it but it'll get rid of it. Can dose way less than suggested on here. I had to use it a couple times. I mix it up, turn off pumps and directly dairy it onto problem spots. Let it sit an hour or so. Turn pumps back on. 10 to 14 days later repeat. I use about a third recommended dose. Works great.
Cons, may kill macro. If your using that for nutrient export you should save some else where to restock yourself.
AlexandraDreadlocksPanda
Active Member
Fluconazole is evil stuff, don’t use it!!!!
•Manual removal with toothbrush
•Tectus snails
•Mexican turbo’s
•Zebra Hermit (Calcinus Laevimanus)
•Sea Hare
Be prepared for nutrients to spike as you remove hair algae, it’ll be consuming a lot of Nitrate & Phosphates
•Manual removal with toothbrush
•Tectus snails
•Mexican turbo’s
•Zebra Hermit (Calcinus Laevimanus)
•Sea Hare
Be prepared for nutrients to spike as you remove hair algae, it’ll be consuming a lot of Nitrate & Phosphates
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
This!
I had debersia hair algae, and none of the snails, urchins, crabs, or even slugs touched them. I tried 3 slugs that all died within a week because the only algae I had was debersia.
At the end, zebrasoma tangs were the cure. That’s it. Thank goodness my tank was large enough to house one.
BubblesandSqueak
2500 Club Member
zebrasoma tanks for my 13.5 gal nano ? .
anthonymckay
Active Member
Sea hare, hermit crabs, trochus snails, astrea snails, urchins, tangs, fox face fish. Lots of stuff!
Last edited:
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
That’s the trade-off, isn’t it? You save a ton of money with your cute little nano tank, but I get to enjoy the one perk of my wallet-draining monster: a built-in debersia lawnmower in the form of a tang. Guess we both win in our own ways!zebrasoma tanks for my 13.5 gal nano ? .
What's evil about it?
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
It’s not evil. It eliminated my bryopsis and none of my tank inhabitants noticed.
OP
OP
spamvicious
Well-Known Member
I would love a proper tank but I live in a tiny house so no space!That’s the trade-off, isn’t it? You save a ton of money with your cute little nano tank, but I get to enjoy the one perk of my wallet-draining monster: a built-in debersia lawnmower in the form of a tang. Guess we both win in our own ways!
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
I was just being cheeky! Nothing wrong with nano tanks; I love them.
OP
OP
spamvicious
Well-Known Member
Nope sorry too late. You’re off the nice list now
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
lol
vetteguy53081
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This looks like turf algae versus hair algae and often you can press with your thumb and peel off otherwise try ninja star snails, and urchinsAt least I think it’s hair algae? I have Astrea snails and trochus snails but they don’t touch it. It’s on the main rock piece in my tank. I sometimes lift my strawberry conch up there to eat it but I’m not sure if he does actually eat it. It’s not fast growing but there are more patches of it. Looks brown in the tank but green under natural light. Growing like pieces of moss but also some wirey stalks.
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