hair algae bumming me out

Dapple · Jun 13, 2012

Any success stories woyld be greatly appreciated. Tank has been running for 6 months now. Water change 20 g every 2 weeks. I started it up with rodi and LR from LFS. I use 3 koralia pumps 550,750,&1050. Phosphate doesn't exist due to refugium. I've tried lights out but it just keeps coming back. I'm thinking of purchase another 1050 pump. Oh duh, tank is a 75 g w/ 30 g sump. I've wanted to start all over here recently and Sun bake the rocks. Skimmer is a MRC 150 so its over skimmed.

It's much worse now. I have a bristletooth Tomini tang and a rabbitfish , dozens of snails and hermits.

Giancarlo · Jun 13, 2012

I'd keep up the water changes, would probably push them to 15 or 20 gal each week, and implement a phosban absorber as well. You said there are no phosphates due to refugium, but the hair algae has to be utilizing something. You can easily find fair priced reactors even brand new. Give it time and relax, patience is key at this point.

63vette427 · Jun 13, 2012

I know when i first started up my tank i had hair algae. I used NP Bio pellets for about 6 months with water changes and it got rid of it. I did end up with cyano bacteria after using it for a while so i stopped using that after about 6 months as well. I can say now i don't have either. I can honestly say that i have never increased or decreased my water changes during this period. I'm not the most patient person so needed to do something. This hobby is all about patience so who knows...LOL

RDHDDRAGON · Jun 13, 2012

I know this sounds horribly tedious, but.... The way we finally got ours to start decreasing is by manually pulling it out and trimming it. I would turn on the radio and stand there for hours lol. Got some of those 6" long tweezers and pulled as much out as i could. After that took some small scissors and trimmed the rest as short as i could. I found that my tangs and lawnmower blenny refused to eat it if it was long. After i trimmed it they started munching on it more. I still have it after 8 months but it is steadily decreasing. Takes forever to get rid of.

You also said you started with RODI, do you us RODI for your water changes as well?

And +1 what Giancarlo said.. Your phosphates will test zero because the hair algae is actually using it up.

spscrazy · Jun 13, 2012

I had alot of hair algae on the side of my tank last year I actually liked the way it looked cause it was super green & flowed with the powerheads but of course it had to go anyway I got some snails hermits etc to help while I got nitrates phos down I also got a false lemonpeel angel to my surprise it went to town & eliminated it in 2 days & I have not had any since then

kcarberry · Jun 13, 2012

Test the water that you are putting in your tank before you add it. If your water is high in phosphates then that will just be feeding your algae. I'm currently having this problem and had my non-salted water checked, it was way high in phosphates. If that's your case you can get filter material that neutralizes phos, id advise putting that in to help take out any excess phos you might have or dosing your water with a phos remover before adding it to your tank.

cdness · Jun 13, 2012

OK, let's start simple...

LFS RODI water you do not control the quality of the filters and the storage container. Get yourself an RODI unit so you can control it yourself. I know for under $130 you can get a refurb unit from Spectrapure and you'd be in control of your water. Also their MaxCap and SilicaBuster DIs can help remove the phosphates from the water so it is extremely clean.

You are only into the hobby for 6 months. You have a lot of livestock in the tank for being 6 months in. Your bacteria cycle needs to build slowly as you add stuff to the tank, especially stuff that adds to the nutrients that algae like to feed on. The bristletooth should assist in eating the algae though. Just have patience and let things run their course. If you have them, pick off algae with long tweezers and toss it out. This way it will keep it trimmed down to a level the turbos and hermits can eat it as well. They don't seem to like it when it gets too long.

FYI when I started out I had lots of algae, lots more than you have now. It was inside every nook and cranny. I solve the issue by picking out what I could, brushing it off the rocks with an old toothbrush, water changes, and patience. It will go away, just give it time.

Adrand · Jul 13, 2012

Get your hands on a sea hare. It has completely eradicated my hair algae problem. Eats it no matter the length. Granted that simply masks the issue so it is still important to track down the root of your problem (switched to rodi water in my case) but it definitely made my tank more enjoyable to look at quickly. Good luck.

NanoNathan · Jul 13, 2012

Gfo reactor fixed all my gha even if test say 0 you probably have po4 the gha eats It up before the test can read it , 2little fishes reactor from foster Smith cost me less 50 bucks with gfo

Sent from my tank using tapatalk

Chameleon · Jul 13, 2012

cdness said:
OK, let's start simple...

LFS RODI water you do not control the quality of the filters and the storage container. Get yourself an RODI unit so you can control it yourself. I know for under $130 you can get a refurb unit from Spectrapure and you'd be in control of your water. Also their MaxCap and SilicaBuster DIs can help remove the phosphates from the water so it is extremely clean.

You are only into the hobby for 6 months. You have a lot of livestock in the tank for being 6 months in. Your bacteria cycle needs to build slowly as you add stuff to the tank, especially stuff that adds to the nutrients that algae like to feed on. The bristletooth should assist in eating the algae though. Just have patience and let things run their course. If you have them, pick off algae with long tweezers and toss it out. This way it will keep it trimmed down to a level the turbos and hermits can eat it as well. They don't seem to like it when it gets too long.

FYI when I started out I had lots of algae, lots more than you have now. It was inside every nook and cranny. I solve the issue by picking out what I could, brushing it off the rocks with an old toothbrush, water changes, and patience. It will go away, just give it time.

Yep definitely could be coming from LFS water. Get a RODI and you'll thank yourself later. HA need phosphates to grow so you know they are there. If you are intent on using the same wateryu could always try an algae turf scrubber in which case the algae will hopefully out compete the HA for nutrients causing it to stop growing. Once you take care of the phosphate issue GFO help maintain levels. I wouldn't use GFO if you have high phos already as you will be spending a ton on GFO andmay have to replace every couple days or so.

mallorieGgator · Jul 13, 2012

I would pick it out, use your own RO/DI water, and do 12-15% WC's weekly. I also use a biopellet reactor and after aabout 5 mos of having it it's finally really kicked in.

kmaintl · Aug 1, 2012

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/re...ne-experice-algaefix-marine-ridding-hair.html

try this!

tangs are awsome · Aug 3, 2012

Big tips for Great results. Stop touching the hair algae every time you touch it you are spreading the seeds. Run blue and white light together always. You need a clean up crew some leaf slugs and red urchints. Pluss I have just read about hydrogen poroxide. I have read 1 ml per 10 gallons per day for five days. I have the same problem with a 100 gallon tank 30 gallon refuge and a 150 skimmer so lets work this out together I will start dosing tomorrow for five days and see what happens. Keep me posted if you find any good soultions as well. OH and another thing stop feeding your tank all together no more food for a month at least then go to once a week if you are using FSW.( Like from the ocean) I have stopped feeding and the algae has not spread but it still is not gone and I have been fighting it for two months straight.

Jgomez324 · Aug 3, 2012

Someone might of said this already But I got a Sea Hair and he destroyed all the algae in a week I had to give him away because he was hungry and there wasn't anything left. Lol good luck

Jgomez324 · Aug 3, 2012

Just a fun fact my LFS always claimed there RODI water TDS was at 0 so one day I had them fill my buckets and pulled out a TDS pen Meter and it read at 4. He looked at me and said so you don't want it and I just smiled and pour out the water. Best investment I made was a small 50 gpd RODI.

3Twinklets · Aug 3, 2012

+2 On testing the RODI water from your LFS. A RODI filter of your own is a great investment. The Sea Hare would be great as long as you drip acclimate slowly and by all means watch that he does not get into the plumbing or pumps, plus I just think they are cute. Also a Ruby emerald crab would be great. You may also try a tang but that would be my last choice because it may or may not eat the algae

Dapple · Aug 4, 2012

I use a 5 stage BRS filter . TDS meter is at 1 now. I've siphon the crap out the HA. I'm at week 3 on my new reactors, phosban units. 1 on carbon other BRS GFO. Whenever I pull it out it just comes back. Keep me informed on the hydrogen peroxide .