Green Hair Algae

[Brian Mountain]

Hey guys, I'm really struggling to get rid of some GHA. What is everyone's tips and tricks. THANKS!

 

[rpate2]

Not much info here sorry. Could be phosphates, lighting, husbandry, feeding or good old fashioned bad luck. There are many causes for GHA

 

[BlueDevil]

How bad is ? Pics might help. If it is just a couple of tufts here and there, here's what I would suggest:

First and foremost, make sure you have it identified correctly and that it is not bryopsis.

Firstly, check your NO3 and PO4 levels, and if they are way out of whack, find a possible source for the issue and eliminate it.

Removal:

• Turn off all flow, and pick off the tufts with your fingers daily. Over time you will probably win the battle. Make sure you try not to let any (as far as possible) of the GHA filaments float away as they will only take root elsewhere cause it to spread.
  
• If the tufts are localized, you can squirt a little hydrogen peroxide with a syringe directly onto the spot. Turn off all flow before application. The dosage would be 1ml per 10 gal using the 3% peroxide. Make sure it is 3% though and not the stronger stuff. If it kills it, the GHA will likely turn brown and should then be pulled out.
• Get some new CUC and place the snails directly on the hair algae that you want removed. This is hit or miss in my experience. I have placed snails directly on top of some patches only for them to wander off a few minutes later. Additionally, I had read that if the GHA is too long they might not as keen on eating it as opposed to shorter growth.

Here's a good article and video from Melev on GHA treatment.

http://melevsreef.com/node/700

 

[Joshua Hurst]

mine went away with time; I guess I was lucky. I found that turning the lights down, and some snails helped slow it down until it was finished running its course, but then again a read the green hair algae is a pain to get rid of. Best of luck!

 

[CastAway]

Do you run a refugium Brian?
Just curious.

 

[Mr.Rocc]

@Brian Mountain Fluconazole
Check this out https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bryopsis-cure-my-battle-with-bryopsis-using-fluconazole.285096/

 

[Joshua Hurst]

I just added some green hair algae to help the biodiversity in my new 12g tank

 

[BlueDevil]

I just added some green hair algae to help the biodiversity in my new 12g tank

Why stop there? Go ahead and add some bryopsis, bubble alge, strains of dinos, red bugs, and some xanthid crabs. That should give you an even better biodiversity. Go big or go home!

 

[Waters]

Vibrant

 

[Joshua Hurst]

Why stop there? Go ahead and add some bryopsis, bubble alge, strains of dinos, red bugs, and some xanthid crabs. That should give you an even better biodiversity. Go big or go home!

Honestly. I would add dinos, and bubble algae if I wanted to do the work to get rid of it adventually. These things aren't bad for your tank; their just a pain in the a** to get rid of, but I think it's good to have as much biodiversity in a tank as possible.
I also spit in my tank maybe once a month haha I believe the enzymes in our saliva is good for all life; prolly doesn't do anything though haha

 

[Joshua Hurst]

plus I've maintained a steady amount of green hair algae in my tank for near a year. There's tiny little spots of it, but it doesn't grow, and homes tons of tiny little creatures

 

[BlueDevil]

Honestly. I would add dinos, and bubble algae if I wanted to do the work to get rid of it adventually. These things aren't bad for your tank; their just a pain in the a** to get rid of, but I think it's good to have as much biodiversity in a tank as possible.
I also spit in my tank maybe once a month haha I believe the enzymes in our saliva is good for all life; prolly doesn't do anything though haha

 

[jmann124]

Honestly. I would add dinos, and bubble algae if I wanted to do the work to get rid of it adventually. These things aren't bad for your tank; their just a pain in the a** to get rid of, but I think it's good to have as much biodiversity in a tank as possible.
I also spit in my tank maybe once a month haha I believe the enzymes in our saliva is good for all life; prolly doesn't do anything though haha

 

[KJ]

I also spit in my tank maybe once a month haha I believe the enzymes in our saliva is good for all life; prolly doesn't do anything though haha

;Bookworm

 

[thunderdood]

In my experiences over multiple tanks, Scarlet Hermits work the best at keeping them off the rocks and sand for good. If on the glass, scraping it off or a Long Spine Urchin I think worked for me when I had a 120g years ago and could not reach much of the glass in the back.

 

[Mr.Rocc]

Turbos son!!!!!! They work wonders if you don't wanna use fluconazole

 

[Brian Mountain]

Thanks guys. I'll get some pics up later today. I will also add updated levels on everything. I've been picking, using Vibrant, frequent water changes, decreased lights, and run a refugium-although very young at this stage.

 

[seaplane]

Fluconazole knocked out every bit of algae, some GHA some not ID'd but probably Bryopsis, in 8 days. No harm to anything else in the tank.

 

[Brian Mountain]

Fluconazole knocked out every bit of algae, some GHA some not ID'd but probably Bryopsis, in 8 days. No harm to anything else in the tank.

Where did you get it from? Have to have a scrip?

 

[seaplane]

I got it from https://www.payless-petproducts.com/ , no script needed.