Hair Algae out of control
- Thread starter escarber
- Start date
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Swordfish215
Community Member
Keep fighting it, and you'll eventually beat it...There is no silver bullet especially if its Bryopsis...Dose Kalk, use PO4 Remover, regular wc's with RO/DI Water, limit feeding/nutrients,replace old bulbs,keep CA levels High...we all go through it(most).....Good Luck.
Eric B
Well-Known Member
My friend's 300 gallon tank had it all over so took rocks out a few at a time and used hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and sprayed and let sit for 5 minutes or so and he scrubbed some and then dunked rock into a plastic tote with salt water. Then placed back in tank and within a week no more hair algae, but don't know if that is possible for you to do. I can tell you that softies and even some sps didn't like the peroxide as we tried to miss them as best as possible but nothing died except a few pods and bristle worms but the hair algae was gone slowly over the next few days. Tangs & foxface would not touch it before and then as soon as we put rocks back in tank they ate it like crazy! Hope you are able to get it under control.
Rikerbear
Valuable Member
I had great results recently with doseing H2O2 1ml per 10 gal water. Research this A LOT before you do it. I had a slight drop in PH on the third dose but buffered it back up and everything has been fine since.
All my HA just disappeared.......
All my HA just disappeared.......
There are some commercial dry foods also contain excess nutrients and other undesirable things like nitrates, phosphates etc so I strain/rinse my fresh/frozen foods before feeding my tank. You may want to consider feeding your fish less often. Also, changing your photo period, light bulbs, adding more flow, using RO/DI water. Adding a phosphate remover like TM Elimi-Phos and increasing flow in your tank may help too
Rikerbear
Valuable Member
Nothing else was effected....at least measurably so.
I used SeaChem PH buffer.....about half the dose called for. PH stayed just fine after that. It only took 4 days and all the HA was gone.
Seachem Laboratories Laboratories Reef Buffer
None of my corals or other inverts showed any signs of even noticing I did it.
Rikerbear
Valuable Member
I agree. I pretty much have stopped using prepared foods. I feed fresh (frozen) clam, shrimp, mussle. I do once a week spot feed some of the corals with Coral Smoothie, but very lightly
GratefulReef
Active Member
From experience I can tell you hair algae isnt easy to beat, but its not impossible. If youre not already using RODI make that switch, and keep up with WCs. I had a huge outbreak in my tank from using tap water for over a year and slight over feedings. I have since switched to RODI and each WC I designate a section of rock to get cleaned and I pluck as much of the algae as I can and I have already noticed the hair algae dieing off no longer looking bright green, but turning dark green/brown and noticeably better looking corals. I wouldnt suggest using any type of chemical additive to kill the algae, go the natural route its slow but less chance of crashing your system. Best of luck to you!
escarber
New Member
I have a cardinal, blenny, goby, mandarin, arrow crab, and 3 chromis. I took coral out and put them in my sons frog fish tank. The tank is 36 gallon. I am feeding pellets and doing less. My water changes are weekly now
escarber
New Member
I have a cardnial, arrow crab, albalone, 3 chromis, goby, blenny, and mandarin. I move coral to sons 20 frog fish tank. I feed pellets. Wasn't sure on feeding. I do daily but small amounts.
Most algae problems are caused by excess nutrients. Most of the time i find that people overfeed even when they think they don't. All the above posts have covered other reasons. I had it bad from using tap water and finally pulled my rock and took a brush and cleaned it off and ever since i use ro water only. I have also used a urchin and he also worked great. Some of people at my lfs have been using counchs with great success. After tank is cleaned they remove them.
