Hair algae issue

SaltAddict89 · Feb 2, 2015

I cant figure this out.
Phosphates are at 0 and every other tanp parameter are exactly where the s hh ould be but i have this god awful view in my tank.

captc07 · Feb 2, 2015

Phosphates are probably at 0 because the HA is using them up.

SaltAddict89 · Feb 2, 2015

So how do i destry HA and fix

captc07 · Feb 2, 2015

Take a look on the other site in the old CTARS forum. There is a thread "ready to quit" that has some good ideas.

ctopal · Feb 2, 2015

I was having a hair algae issue and hit it with a bunch of things - not sure what in particular worked but here is what I did.

- Beefed up my clean up crew - they need be replenished from time to time
- Made an algae turf scrubber, this keeps the algae out of the display but gives it an outlet
- Run phosguard
- Water changes and manual removal

Also, how is your water source? Are you using RODI, if so, how is the TDS and do the filters need changing?

Good luck!

Bryan47 · Feb 2, 2015

I went and bought some metal brushes at harbor freight (also available at Amazon) and scrubbed a lot of mine off! Worked well! Also added a lawnmower Benny and a tang!

Reefing Madness · Feb 2, 2015

Sea Hare
Turbo Snails

betelgeuse · Feb 3, 2015

Reefing Madness said:
Sea Hare
Turbo Snails

+1 on additional cleanup crew

Blitzie · Feb 3, 2015

Is it isolated to just that rock or is it everywhere

SaltAddict89 · Feb 3, 2015

Most of it is on that rock and a little bit on the one next to it and then on one at the other end of the tank

Blitzie · Feb 3, 2015

That rock is leeching phosphates on its own then.
It may be easiest just to pull that rock out and replace it

Or pull it out of tank and take a toothbrush and scrub it clean.
Then put it in a bucket of RODI and let it soak (no light)
Replace the water every few days and then put it back in tank after a couple of weeks. (you might get a foul odor at first)

I soaked all the rock for my 150 in 55 gallon drums and followed this procedure for a month when i was planning my tank and never had a hair algae problem.
I also just used tap water from a hose until the last two changes.

Mike in CT · Feb 4, 2015

If its just one rock mainly, look up using hydrogen peroxide on just that rock. I am going through same thing you are... Can take a while to turn things around. Try to remove as much HA manually as possible, use some kind of phosphate remover (GFO etc..) reduce input if possible (excess food), possibly consider carbon dosing so the good bacteria out competes the HA for phosphates..add macro algae to use up phosphates in the tank.
Search R2R... Some really good threads and links dealing with this.