Green hair algae

[kiwis]

I've got an outbreak of green hair algae, I've read this can be caused by high nitrate levels which I've test for and do have.

I've done a 10L water change followed by another 20L water change 2 days later. 120L system.

How can I remove this? I think I solved the cause of the nitrate levels but will the algae just die as they reduce or can I or do I need to do something else?

 

[ShaunRobinson]

I've got an outbreak of green hair algae, I've read this can be caused by high nitrate levels which I've test for and do have.

I've done a 10L water change followed by another 20L water change 2 days later. 120L system.

How can I remove this? I think I solved the cause of the nitrate levels but will the algae just die as they reduce or can I or do I need to do something else?

What are your tank parameters in particular nitrates and phosphates? How do you get your water?

 

[kiwis]

What are your tank parameters in particular nitrates and phosphates? How do you get your water?

My question is how to remove it.... if lowing the nitrate and phosphate is the best way I'll continue.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

Just trying to help mate but I’m afraid I’m unable to do so without proper information. I can’t tell you the best way to remove it until you know why you have it. That is guessable by knowing as much about your setup as possible. Since you’re unwilling to give more information I can’t help you so I’ll end with this.

Green hair algae grows because you water isn’t great, it feeds off nitrates and phosphates, unfortunately you will likely do a test (or not) and your phosphates will read zero. This is not the case, if you have algae you have phosphates. Phosphates can be brought into your tank for a variety of reasons, most likely with rocks or the water you are putting in. You need to do some reading up and decide why you have the algae in the first place in order to properly eradicate it.

Good luck.

Shaun.

 

[kiwis]

Just trying to help mate but I’m afraid I’m unable to do so without proper information. I can’t tell you the best way to remove it until you know why you have it. That is guessable by knowing as much about your setup as possible. Since you’re unwilling to give more information I can’t help you so I’ll end with this.

Green hair algae grows because you water isn’t great, it feeds off nitrates and phosphates, unfortunately you will likely do a test (or not) and your phosphates will read zero. This is not the case, if you have algae you have phosphates. Phosphates can be brought into your tank for a variety of reasons, most likely with rocks or the water you are putting in. You need to do some reading up and decide why you have the algae in the first place in order to properly eradicate it.

Good luck.

Shaun.

Cool, so as in the OP I have high nitrates which I'm lowering through water changes and I believe I know how they got so high .

You're looking at the cause which I believe I've identified and removed. It's now just how to get it out of the tank, will lights out on top of a few more water changes help until nitrate is back down for example?

 

[ShaunRobinson]

How do you know you have identified the cause?

You seem to be burying your head in the sand here despite sound advice so I’m bowing out of this one.

Good luck I’m sure it will work out one way or the other.

Shaun.

 

[RJinPV]

I have been battling high nitrates and GHA too. I am curious, what do you think caused the high nitrates and how are you getting it down?

As far as control goes, I have tried lights out for days, I physically remove it, I tried every clean up crew member in the book, emerald crabs sea hares, tangs, all sorts of snails and hermit crabs, lawn mower blend, etc. The only thing that gets rid of it is good water conditions, which is where Shaun was coming from...

 

[kiwis]

How do you know you have identified the cause?

You seem to be burying your head in the sand here despite sound advice so I’m bowing out of this one.

Good luck I’m sure it will work out one way or the other.

Shaun.

For others who have this issue in the future, don't stress about all the different tank parameters, if you have high nitrates find the cause of these, fix that, then lower the nitrate and it should die away as it's feeding of those nitrates. I fixed my issue, did a 50% water change and another 50% a week later as suggested on a facebook group and it's 95% back to normal within a couple of weeks.