Hair algae problem

[edc_aquarium]

My nano tank has a bad hair algae problem. In the refugium it's growing in the cheato and now the cheato isn't growing and hasn't been for over a month or two. What can i do?

 

[James M]

Manually remove and use gfo. Have you trimmed the cheato

 

[Rudyg308]

Try researching reef flux for hair algea control. I am thinking about buying it and giving it a go, Or also try vibrant liquid aquarium cleaner.

 

[edc_aquarium]

Manually remove and use gfo. Have you trimmed the cheato

Ive tried to remove at much as i can and when my cheato used to grow like weeds I trimmed but now its not growing

 

[Jeepguy242]

Try researching reef flux for hair algea control. I am thinking about buying it and giving it a go, Or also try vibrant liquid aquarium cleaner.

I used reef flux in my 125 with 40 gallon sump and kept my cheato in and it wiped out all the hair algae and my cheato was fine.

 

[Sneakimonky]

What kind of light do u use on the fuge?

 

[lapin]

There are some things you can try besides feeding less. We dont know your tanks numbers so we cant be sure what will be the best process for you to follow.
In a natural reef creatures keep the micro algaes in check. You can get some snails and pods to help mow it down. Dwarf cerths like you find in Fla should be able to help keep it off you chaeto. Other snails will help keep it off your rocks. Pin cushion urchins are really good at eating stuff but they will move your frags if not glued down. Some people have issues keeping them alive. You will need to also help them by manually removing it until it gets to a point where they will be doing all the work.
In freshwater planted tanks one helpful method is to have a no light period in the day. Can be an hour or 2. Hair has a hard time adapting to light changes unlike macro algaes (chaeto). This is not a total solution but will help in some cases.
Another option is to get a different macro algae. The reds are good and ones like tang heaven are food for fish.
As a last resort you can use chemicals and nitrate / phosphate reducers. They will also alter your tanks biology by removing other things that are good in your tank. A lot of people remove hair this way only to find they now have a cyano or some other issue.

 

[CC13]

My nano tank has a bad hair algae problem. In the refugium it's growing in the cheato and now the cheato isn't growing and hasn't been for over a month or two. What can i do?

Your tank is sort of like a story book that you begin to learn how to read by the look of how clear the water is, the health of your fish and corals, and any nuisance algae.

Don't go chasing numbers. You will drive yourself crazy. When I start to see some algae growth, or more than normal, I usually can attribute it to my RO/DI filters that need to be changed. Even if your TDS meter is reading 0 ppm, there are chloramines in your city water that can get through. IMO there is nothing more critical than having good RO/DI water. Usually with my size tank, my sediment and carbon filters last about 1 month, DI resin about 3-4 months, and the RO filters about a year. I would start with your RO/DI filters and a 30% water change.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...-chloramines-brstv-investigates.420964/page-3

 

[Jeepguy242]

What kind of light do u use on the fuge?

Kessil

 

[Sneakimonky]

Kessil

That won’t be the problem then.
Do you light the fuge 24:7?

Enough flow?

 

[Jeepguy242]

That won’t be the problem then.
Do you light the fuge 24:7?

Enough flow?

12 hours.

Flow is probably a bit weak but my hair algae is gone and my cheato grows like mad now after the reef flux

 

[Frances Hunter]

I’ve used Reef Flux with success also.

 

[smartwater101]

Ive tried to remove at much as i can and when my cheato used to grow like weeds I trimmed but now its not growing

You'll need to keep removing it. Think of it like a garden. You want specific plants (chaeto) to consume the nutrients. From time to time weeds (hair algae) will pop up. You don't want the weeds competing for nutrients so you must manually remove. Giving your favorite plant time to flourish and hog the nutrients.

Don't waist your time on phosphate removers until you've found a decent balance between lighting schedule and amount of food going into the tank. Continue removing weeds and only use the removers as a short-term fix.