Hair Algae - Big problem - attacking from multiple angles

[Ayrity]

I am battling it hard.

It got so bad after a period of overfeeding and neglect (my wife and I had a baby, and the in-laws fed the fish, and I didn't have time or energy to do water change for a bit). that I eventually do a whole rock removal and scrubbing with hydrogen peroxide. Then I re-scaped and was on top of water changes every 5 days for a month. Got new macro for the fuge, and got new lights (went from a black box to 2 hydra 26s) which I set to lower power to start. I picked out any new bits in the sand that showed up etc. I also started dosing nopox, just to help get everything in control, I have since weaned off the nopox as I would like to make sure the problem is corrected and not hidden behind a dosing of something.

Things are better now, but there are still some tufts that grow in random spots from time to time, usually from the back of rocks or under rock arches I cant get my aqua tongs to. I also had some predatory conchs that were hunting my snails to extinction fairly rapidly, so I moved them out, and got more new snails, and added an algae blenny. My nutrients are all good (under 5 Nitrates). And I don't think those are 'fake' numbers either because there really is very little GHA left, but it just seems to keep popping up in like whack-a-mole.

I was whacking that mole with a syringe of hydrogen peroxide when the flow was turned off, and it helps a bit to weaken it (I'm using 3% strength, it's all I could find), but man my corals hate it, so I felt bad doing that all the time.

I am starting a black out today, turned off the lights, covered the tank with a blanket, turn on the fuge grow light, and hopefully it will let the macro get a better foothold.

Anything else I should be doing?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

First of all, carbon dosing is not hiding a problem. It is actively transporting excessive nutrients out of a system before the nuisance algae can metabolize them. You're using bacteria to defeat nuisance algae....kind of cool, in my opinion.

How many corals do you have and what types? What kind of fish do you have? If the tank is a larger tank, a foxface would mow down that GHA in a hot minute.

 

[Ayrity]

Oh yes, I just meant I wanted to get to the source of high nutrients and make sure they still weren't in excess. I used the nopox to boost the bacteria to help me get a handle on things, but it isnt something I want to be adding all the time if I can help it.

The tank is a 65, with another 20 in the sump. Not really big enough for a fox face. Maybe I could get a small one and rehome him after a year or so?

 

[MangroveCorals]

A sea hare always does the trick for me. I go buy one for around 10$ and let it mow down the tank for a few days and then return it for half price store credit! Acclimate them well and they will take care of your algae.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Oh yes, I just meant I wanted to get to the source of high nutrients and make sure they still weren't in excess. I used the nopox to boost the bacteria to help me get a handle on things, but it isnt something I want to be adding all the time if I can help it.

The tank is a 65, with another 20 in the sump. Not really big enough for a fox face. Maybe I could get a small one and rehome him after a year or so?

If it were my tank, I'd just dose carbon (Nopox or vodka) on a regular basis. Ensure that trace elements, aminos, and carbohydrates are added and you'll have it under control in no time. I wouldn't try a foxface in that size tank.

 

[Aquaman102]

I've seen people use Fluconazole to get rid of GHA. Research that stuff.

 

[Ayrity]

I've seen people use Fluconazole to get rid of GHA. Research that stuff.

I'll look into it, thanks!

 

[Ayrity]

If it were my tank, I'd just dose carbon (Nopox or vodka) on a regular basis. Ensure that trace elements, aminos, and carbohydrates are added and you'll have it under control in no time. I wouldn't try a foxface in that size tank.

Seems like it wasn't ideal to dose that forever, from what I found elsewhere. Do you dose it in your tank? For how long? Any adverse effects?

 

[King Turkey]

I have one solution for you that would help. Dr Tim's waste away. It will get you back on your feet and then just manual removal with a tooth brush.

 

[SDK]

I have had success with a more targeted variation of the peroxide you were using.

Instead of using a syringe, use a toothbrush. Dunk the head into peroxide, then quickly get it into the DT and give the GHA a hard scrub at the base. The bristles are dense enough that plenty of peroxide will still be in the brush.

Bonus points if you can get your wife or someone to help you do it during a water change. I have her hold the hose near the tuft I am hitting.

Either way you can directly hit the GHA and have a lot less peroxide getting into your water column...

If you get some stronger peroxide you can vaporize GHA into green liquid in seconds with the toothbrush. I buy 34% at my local hydroponics store and cut it down to 8% for my Oxydator.

Edit to add... Strong peroxide is no joke to work with. You need serious lab protocols, safety goggles and gloves if you work with the higher concentrations...

 

[King Turkey]

I have had success with a more targeted variation of the peroxide you were using.

Instead of using a syringe, use a toothbrush. Dunk the head into peroxide, then quickly get it in and give the GHA a hard scrub at the base. The bristles are dense enough that plenty of peroxide will still be in the brush.

Bonus points if you can get your wife or someone to help you do it during a water change. I have her hold the hose near the tuft I am hitting.

Either way you can directly hit the GHA and have a lot less peroxide getting into your water column...

If you get some stronger peroxide you can vaporize GHA into green liquid in seconds with the toothbrush. I buy 34% at my local hydroponics store and cut it down to 8% for my Oxydator.

Edit to add... Strong peroxide is no joke to work with. You need serious lab protocols, safety goggles and gloves if you buy the higher concentrations to work with

but solving the issue would be the best first step? getting nitrate and phosphate down? otherwise its just gonna grow back real fast.

 

[Magellan]

Put a couple of tuxedo urchins in there!

 

[SDK]

but solving the issue would be the best first step? getting nitrate and phosphate down? otherwise its just gonna grow back real fast.

Manually getting rid of the algae while also solving the problem will keep you from getting nitrate and phosphate spikes caused by decomposing algae. They should both be happening at the same time in my experience.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Seems like it wasn't ideal to dose that forever, from what I found elsewhere. Do you dose it in your tank? For how long? Any adverse effects?

I don't know where you saw that. The only real side effect is that you can make your water too clean if you don't regularly test for nitrates and phosphates. I test for those and add amino acids and carbohydrates. SPS is growing like crazy and no hair algae.

 

[Ayrity]

Put a couple of tuxedo urchins in there!

I have one already

 

[Ayrity]

I don't know where you saw that. The only real side effect is that you can make your water too clean if you don't regularly test for nitrates and phosphates. I test for those and add amino acids and carbohydrates. SPS is growing like crazy and no hair algae.

Ah ok cool. Thanks!