Algae ID and help

[MaxPado]

Hello everyone,

I'm sure this question gets asked almost every single day on here but I just have not found a post that really answers .y question directly. First off, I am not 100% sure what type of algae this is. At first I thought it was GHA but now I'm not sure. Next after finding out what it is, how do I get rid of it? I would really not want to blow my tank apart in the process but if I have to then I have to.

Thanks for the help guys,
Max

 

[T-J]

Green hair algae. Looks like a brand new tank. How old is it? Parameters? Any livestock?
If no livestock, the easiest thing to do would be kill the lights, wrap the tank in paper and black it out.

 

[MaxPado]

Green hair algae. Looks like a brand new tank. How old is it? Parameters? Any livestock?
If no livestock, the easiest thing to do would be kill the lights, wrap the tank in paper and black it out.

The tank was set up in November. The parameters are all with in a normal range but I actually dont currently have a way of measuring phosphate so idk how that is. All the livestock I have in there is a royal gramma, bangii, watchman gobie, sand sifting star, and about 6 hermits

 

[OwduaNM]

Nitrates can even read 0 while having algae because the algae consumes it as it grows.
You will want to track your nutrient levels (nitrates and phosphates) consistently while you address it.
Some clean up crew will eat it, but I’ve seen the recommendation to use a siphon during a water change to pluck as much off as you can also.

 

[reefing.on.reefer]

I’ve been having lots of issues with hair algae. All my parameters are in check and still. It grew. i bought a small yellow tang about 5 days ago.
I'm about 75% clear of the hair algae.
My only concern is what will the tang do once he runs out of the algae.

 

[andrewey]

I would suggest listening to @OwduaNM's advice. Manual removal should be your first stop, both as an effective method and to physically remove the nitrate/phosphate that would enter the water column if you let all that hair algae die off (or if it were consumed by critters). Check out BRS for their guide on dealing with hair algae.

 

[MaxPado]

I would suggest listening to @OwduaNM's advice. Manual removal should be your first stop, both as an effective method and to physically remove the nitrate/phosphate that would enter the water column if you let all that hair algae die off (or if it were consumed by critters). Check out BRS for their guide on dealing with hair algae.

I have tried to manually remove it with the siphon but I can never remove enough before I run out of space in my 5 gal bucket. Plus it always comes back with vengeance after a week or so. Any suggestions on how to get more off before I'm filled up?

 

[OwduaNM]

I have tried to manually remove it with the siphon but I can never remove enough before I run out of space in my 5 gal bucket. Plus it always comes back with vengeance after a week or so. Any suggestions on how to get more off before I'm filled up?

There is not really a quick way to do this. Just keep it up over time and try to control the nutrients going in. Reduce hours of lighting. It will take time to get it back under control but that’s ok. Keep it up. Patience and persistence is a big part of this hobby. As BRS says, consider it part of the journey!

 

[T-J]

I have tried to manually remove it with the siphon but I can never remove enough before I run out of space in my 5 gal bucket. Plus it always comes back with vengeance after a week or so. Any suggestions on how to get more off before I'm filled up?

Use a smaller hose. I cover this in my Water Change episode, if you're interested in watching:

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Another thing I did was manually remove it and then use a small mesh net. Basically replicate what all of the filter feeders in the ocean do and run the fine mesh net in a circular or figure 8 pattern. This way you arent removing all of the water and are getting every bit of the algae out.

 

[MaxPado]

Thank you for the help guys! Much appreciated!