Green Hair Algae

[Retro Reefer]

I only run my reds around 16% and whites around 19%.. I only have 4 working channels on my controller so reds are combined with another color, can’t rember ATM maybe UV? They are on channel #4 whites on #3 (red line) run my blues just about max.. never had a speck of hair algae in this tank, I have had a tiny amount of bubble algae pop up time to time but it doesn’t grow.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Didn’t see any mention of a clean up crew? Get yourself a work force to help you battle the algae.. 1 or 2 snails per gallon and lots of hermits (I like the blue legs).

I run my blues around 90% and like to keep my whites to a minimum, usually under 20% and just use greens to brighten things up, I have found this helps keep the unwanted algae at bay..

Until you get the GHA under control I would try cutting your current light cycle way back to compensate for your new brighter lights.. unwanted algae is one of the biggest frustrations in this hobby, good luck with your fight!

I do have cleanup crew.....lots of snails, maybe 7-10 hermits running around. I think I will get an emerald or 2. Have you ever heard of covering up the red LEDs with tape?

 

[MichaelClark55]

I only run my reds around 16% and whites around 19%.. I only have 4 working channels on my controller so reds are combined with another color, can’t rember ATM maybe UV? They are on channel #4 whites on #3 (red line) run my blues just about max.. never had a speck of hair algae in this tank, I have had a tiny amount of bubble algae pop up time to time but it doesn’t grow.

Maybe I will try bumping blues up to max. I have them at 75% whites are at min (around 15%) I dont have control over the reds although there are only 5 of them.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Emeralds are good they will go around all day and pull on the hair algae, not sure how much they actually eat but they do dislodge a lot which can then be trapped by your prefilter.. maybe try covering 2 or 3 of your reds with some tape, I think a little red is probably good for your tank and yeah no such thing as to much blue so crank them up.. to extend the life of my pucks I don’t run mine at 100% but I push them hard and I also have 2 mini blue LED supplement strips that I run.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Light is part of algae food chain. If your tank is at or near a window, this issue will never go away.
To help diminish overgrowth, add a few turbos and algae blenny OR a Sea Hare. Sea Hares are fantastic but will need a food source once algae is gone.3
If tank is at a window, you can try blackening the window light with black construction paper but ultimately is relocating it to a location where there is No direct or indirect window light

 

[MichaelClark55]

So I tested parameters today. Nitrates 0 / Phosphate 0 / Salinity 1.027 / Calc. 500 / Alk 9dkh Never been below 5 ppm nitrates before (red sea test) So I guess the algae is consuming all the nutrients in the water. So far corals all look good, opening up and good color.

4 doses now of vibrant so far, it does seem some of the algae has greyed some on the ends but the stuff in the back is still looking strong. For now I'm not going to panic since the Kohl Tang seems to be eating it.

I ordered some fluconazole but I'm still not sure if I'm going to use it. The guy at the LFS swears by said it was only thing that got rid of his.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Light is part of algae food chain. If your tank is at or near a window, this issue will never go away.
To help diminish overgrowth, add a few turbos and algae blenny OR a Sea Hare. Sea Hares are fantastic but will need a food source once algae is gone.3
If tank is at a window, you can try blackening the window light with black construction paper but ultimately is relocating it to a location where there is No direct or indirect window light

I have a 6' wide SGD that's about 10' away from the tank but it's not that bright. It open up to a 12' deep covered porch. So it gets light but nothing even remotely bright. I hope that's not the cause since I don't have option to move it anywhere.

I do have a lawn mower blenny (he is a pig) and am thinking of getting a sea hare or urchin soon.

 

[Ocean Lotion]

I tried all the options to get rid of gha. Fluconazole was the only thing to beat it. It is a great feeLing to watch it die off.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sea hare fantastic and when algae is gone, mine eats seaweed sheets

 

[MichaelClark55]

Sea hare fantastic and when algae is gone, mine eats seaweed sheets

Thanks def will look into getting one.

 

[MichaelClark55]

I tried all the options to get rid of gha. Fluconazole was the only thing to beat it. It is a great feeLing to watch it die off.

Thanks I have read alot of folks say the same thing. Out of the dozens of threads I have read 90% +
were successful.

 

[Amanda Bitner]

On a side note, the Yellow Eye Tang that has been on hold in QT got put in the display yesterday afternoon. I know 1 tang is not going to solve my problem but she started eating the algae as soon as she went in! Maybe she can at least slow it down enough until I can get control of it.

I had the same problem. All levels were perfect, we cut down the lights but nothing helped. I got a Scopas Tang and a Lawnmower Blenny. Within a week, it was all gone.