Hair algae and unknown tenant

Sanya · Jan 18, 2018

Should i worry about this algae, I have few more spots like this, or live it alone? and what is that on the top of the picture. Thanks for any help.
The tank is about a year old, parameters r good.

Jeepguy242 · Jan 18, 2018

Green hair algae. It will become a nuisance if you don’t get it

Pinch it at the base and rip it out. You can do this while syphoning to get the spores out too

Usually a sign of high phosphates and nitrates

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 18, 2018

Looks like green hair algae , and a bit of cyano on top.

Toothbrush and turkey baster

HiddenUser · Jan 18, 2018

Looks like hair algae. If it appears to be fern like it might be Bryopsis.

As for the tenant I think that's a Limpet? My 90G had a ton of those that would come out at night. They never really hurt anything in my experience. I'm sure there are a variety of them though.

nautical_nathaniel · Jan 18, 2018

Manual removal works wonders on green hair algae. You can also try some specific snails and other critters if you have room for them. How large is your tank and what all do you have in it now?

Also, that snail is a stomatella snail, good clean up crew member

Sanya · Jan 18, 2018

Yes, I had some unstable water parameters before

, but I thought it wil disappear when I fix it, looks like I have some homework now. Thanks

ChukeeR said:
I think that's a Limpet? My 90G had a ton of those that would come out at night. They never really hurt anything in my experience. I'm sure there are a variety of them though.

I google it, mine looks different but prob same species, I have 3-4 of them in 100 g, they do really funny exhaust when it gets dusty in the water

Sanya · Jan 18, 2018

Yes, its stomatella
I have about 20 pirymid snails and 5-10 hermit crabs. Do you think its not enugh for 100 g?

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 18, 2018

Sanya said:
Yes, its stomatella
I have about 20 pirymid snails and 5-10 hermit crabs. Do you think its not enugh for 100 g?

I have about 40 red leg hermit crabs 4 conch snails 2 big blue leg hermits 20 or so cerith snails 2 emeralds 4 turbo snails and my scopas tang. The only algae that survives in my 180 is coralline. Just what works for me thought I’d let you know. The turbos demolish hair algae tho same with emeralds

Sanya · Jan 19, 2018

Rellikeno said:
I have about 40 red leg hermit crabs 4 conch snails 2 big blue leg hermits 20 or so cerith snails 2 emeralds 4 turbo snails and my scopas tang. The only algae that survives in my 180 is coralline. Just what works for me thought I’d let you know. The turbos demolish hair algae tho same with emeralds

looks like you have an army! Im going to buy reinforcements tomorrow

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 21, 2018

Sanya said:
looks like you have an army! Im going to buy reinforcements tomorrow

How did the reinforcements buying go?

Sanya · Jan 22, 2018

Rellikeno said:
How did the reinforcements buying go?

bought 3 conch snails, 10 turbo snails. Im worry about hermits, I heard that they can prey for snails, and dont know about cerith snails

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 22, 2018

Sanya said:
bought 3 conch snails, 10 turbo snails. Im worry about hermits, I heard that they can prey for snails, and dont know about cerith snails

I’ve never had a problem with my hermits or the cerith snails they just pick away all day at stuff you can’t even see. Never once have I seen them hurting any of my corals or zoas.

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 23, 2018

Rellikeno said:
I’ve never had a problem with my hermits or the cerith snails they just pick away all day at stuff you can’t even see. Never once have I seen them hurting any of my corals or zoas.

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 23, 2018

Any good news?

Sanya · Jan 23, 2018

Thank you that you remember about my problem

. So, I pinch a lot of algae out and put epoxy patty (at some hard reach areas) on top of algea . Could not find a turbo snail at my closer LFS, will go to check out another one this week. At this time trying figure out the cause of brown film on the sand (appear after noon). Iv been read a lot of threads about it and now Im thinking it from my Kent sea salt

still do research about it, is it your tank on avatar? how big is it?

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 24, 2018

Sanya said:
Thank you that you remember about my problem . So, I pinch a lot of algae out and put epoxy patty (at some hard reach areas) on top of algea . Could not find a turbo snail at my closer LFS, will go to check out another one this week. At this time trying figure out the cause of brown film on the sand (appear after noon). Iv been read a lot of threads about it and now Im thinking it from my Kent sea salt
still do research about it, is it your tank on avatar? how big is it?

No problem that’s what binds us all together.
Is it detritus?
Yes one of my tanks. 200 with 75 sump/refugium
We’re starting our 420gallon plywood build soon [emoji16]super excited

Sanya · Jan 24, 2018

200 g its super!!! mine is RS525, I realized that its too small for me when I filled it with water and did a rockscape ( may be I got too much rocks but I love all of them and could not throw out any of it, lol)
Its diatoms algae, I think because I dont use DI only RO water, I hope the Kent is not a cause, I have 2 more buckets

Can not make a decision between BLS and Spectra

RELLIK-REEF · Jan 25, 2018

Sanya said:
200 g its super!!! mine is RS525, I realized that its too small for me when I filled it with water and did a rockscape ( may be I got too much rocks but I love all of them and could not throw out any of it, lol)
Its diatoms algae, I think because I dont use DI only RO water, I hope the Kent is not a cause, I have 2 more buckets
Can not make a decision between BLS and Spectra

BLS and SPECTRA?
If I may ask why don’t you use DI water?
Your tank inhabitants will be healthier, happier and live longer without a threat of extra chemical problems.
As for salt I only use (tropic marine pro reef)
How often do you do water changes?
We love our reef setup the way it is but I want more[emoji16]
I’m telling you get turbos and hermits they do their jobs.

Sanya · Jan 25, 2018

I just 2 years in hobby and I been use a regular under sink water filter, TDS - 2-3, now I want to add DI because I start with acros

Im thinking also about TM salt, I use TM 3 part balling. Water changing - 1-2 times a month.
Do you like TM salt? What Alk does it have? What RODI r you use?

Jesterrace · Jan 25, 2018

Sanya said:
bought 3 conch snails, 10 turbo snails. Im worry about hermits, I heard that they can prey for snails, and dont know about cerith snails

Once in a great while they might, but usually they only really go after the snails that die. The small scarlet/red legged hermits are usually considered the best ones for sticking to the job at hand while leaving other things alone. As for the green hair algae, have you tried running GFO, or maybe running lights out for a couple of days?