Green forest

[M-Pod]

I have a lot of hair algae anyone have any suggestions how to comb it down...
I got two pincushion urchins but they don't seem to do too much


Also when I vacuum sand and tank I’ve got copapods (for my mandarin) how do I help not having them sucked out of tank...

 

[Euphyllia97]

I would scrape it of just before the waterchange and take it out like that. Is this a new tank? Otherwise it will probably stop coming back after you have passed the “uglies”.
If not get your nutrients down and maybe try to get a fish that is known to eat GHA. I think a blenny would be suitable. (Bristletooth tang if tank size allows)

 

[MERKEY]

Unfortunately nothing will eat it once it gets to this point. Manually removing it is your best bet.

Like @Euphyllia97 said If its a newer tank which it looks to be, perhaps removing and cleaning the rock would be your best bet as you are going through the ugly phase.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Good advice above. Manual removal in addition to appropriate livestock and balancing nutrients appropriately is the approach I would take.

BRS had some good luck pulling the rock and treating it with hydrogen peroxide.

Keep expectations realistic though, it'll take some time to beat back. It'll be worth it once it is done though.

 

[sde1500]

Tank looks newer, looking at your post history, you have a lot of fish and unsurprisingly for 8 fish in 30g, nitrate issues? Hard to see from that picture, but I think that looks like a dead urchin in the sand? Got to get nutrients under control, manual removal will help, but address the source of the issue or it will keep returning. Corals look pretty dead too, which if they are, I'd remove them as they'll serve only as spots to grow more algae. As for removal, pull the rocks and pour/dip them in hydrogen peroxide. Will do wonders for killing the algae. Then scrub hard with a toothbrush.

 

[Murica]

Ever consider a gha algae scrubber? Diy is way cheaper than the ones on the market

 

[M-Pod]

My nitrates are at zero, I am just worried about loosing some of the copapod population if they live in the algae...
is that a legitamet concern?
I’ve had the tank since January
And to sde1500 I only have 6 fish I donated to keep my nitrates down, and that “dead urchin” was an ornament bought that way, I have two pincushion urchins seem to doing fine.

 

[sde1500]

My nitrates are at zero, I am just worried about loosing some of the copapod population if they live in the algae...
is that a legitamet concern?

Not really no. They'll live just fine in the rock, you'll lose some killing off the algae, but a healthy tank is more important and the tank isn't that healthy right now with all that algae.

that “dead urchin” was an ornament bought that way, I have two pincushion urchins seem to doing fine.

That, and the dead corals will really just serve as spots for more algae to grow, I'd consider removing them.