Hair Algae in Zoas

mrbacony · Nov 1, 2020

So I bought a frag a couple of months ago from my LFS. It had a tiny bit of GHA but I did not pay a lot of attention to it. Big mistake. It has now enveloped the frag and the zoa. It is the only place in the tank with GHA. I have tried picking it off with tweezers and my fingers. I have used a straight razor to get cut it off the rock and frag but to no avail. The zoa has already started to encrust on the rock and frag so pulling it out to clean is not an option. Any solutions other than a treatment like Vibrant? I hate to nuke it for that one location, but for the life of me, I cannot get rid of it and it is getting to be a larger problem. Thanks.

Ludders · Nov 1, 2020

you might need to reefflux it

Swooshjvm · Nov 1, 2020

Could do a revive dip or peroxide either should kill the algae

nano_ryan · Nov 1, 2020

What size of tank do you have? Any tangs? I have some gha in my tank as well. My yellow tang will eat any algae that begins to grow. If you’re tank is large enough, get a yellow tang.

mrbacony · Nov 1, 2020

nano_ryan said:
What size of tank do you have? Any tangs? I have some gha in my tank as well. My yellow tang will eat any algae that begins to grow. If you’re tank is large enough, get a yellow tang.

Wish I could get a tang. I only have a 32 gallon

mrbacony · Nov 1, 2020

I was hoping to not have to take the frag off the rock to dip it since it has started to encrust on the rock.

I will look into the Reef Flux

nano_ryan · Nov 1, 2020

Hair algae will grow back quickly if removed. Algae survives off of nutrients right? Pulling these nutrients out of the water will stop any gha or any other algae from continuous growth inside of your aquarium. Water changes will help, but a constant removal of nutrients is required for effective results. High Phosphates are #1 when it comes to algae. A GFO(Granular Ferric Oxide) reactor will pull Phosphates. 10-20% water changes weekly will remove nitrates. Protien skimmers will help remove excess nutrients from the water, but not all. Algae scrubbers, Bio pellet reactors, and Nitrate reactors are effective options.

Ludders · Nov 2, 2020

camper66 said:
I was hoping to not have to take the frag off the rock to dip it since it has started to encrust on the rock.

I will look into the Reef Flux

I'm guessing it's bryopsis since it was introduced from a frag and stubborn, hence the reefflux comment.
Try and get a positive id and check out this thread on the use of fluconazole.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bryopsis-cure-my-battle-with-bryopsis-using-fluconazole.285096/