Hair Algae

[reefpeeper]

So i have had some hair algea growing on some frag plugs in my frag tank for awhile now. I have been removing it with some tweezers, but it keeps coming back. I also have bought some emerald crabs and a sea hare but they do not seem to have helped. Is there any other way i can get rid of this stuff. What are ur guys ideas for me to try?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Whats your water params?
Turbo Snails will mow it down also.

 

[reefwiser]

Best thing to do is get an algae scrubber on the tank. Fight algae with algae. [emoji3][emoji106] while you can remove it manually lowering the phosphate in the water column is need to stop it. An algae scrubber is a natural choice.

 

[Bugger]

Remove the frags and spray the algae not the corals down with 3% PEROXIDE

 

[sureal00]

Turbo snails are awesome put them close to the hair algae

 

[reefpeeper]

Thanks guys. Will get more snails. I test my water and phosphate is always close to zero if not zero

 

[Triggreef]

If your ordering more snails is also suggest more emeralds. People just don't buy enough of them to reap their rewards. If you get to 1 crab per every 4 or 5 gallons, you not have any more algae issues.

 

[ReeferBen]

I thought emeralds were crabs used to consume bubble algae. I personally don't use them. Best way to fight HA IME is W/C and GFO/GAC changed regularly.

 

[Triggreef]

meh, algae will grow despite nutrient levels if it is in the system. If you add emerald crabs to the ratio I stated, you won't have algae. They eat all types. Had I took before pics of my bryopsis I would post the after pics but I didn't think to take pics of bryopsis.

Controlling nutrients to control nuisance algae is old school. There are easier and better ways. Ask @brandon429 He will give you yet another better option if you don't like crabs.

 

[brandon429]

I have a heavy bias for one simple action: a before pic of some algae, a following date prediction that algae should be dead/bleached by, and a follow up pic that either confirms or denies it. then log in 60 page thread here or there. I spend borderline antisocial amounts of time repeating this loop



if you lift out the frags from the water, apply peroxide from a new not previously opened bottle using a dropper right on the algae where it anchors on the edges of the frag, leave it to wick among the strands for 2 mins, then simply set back in tank, take before after pics, the prediction is 36 hours to why didn't I do this much sooner

this isn't saying every scenario we dump mouthwash in the tank, its just saying 30 hours to yet another fine set of before and after pics. The main benefit is not having to alter tank params if they weren't out of line eventually. If they are out of line alter away.

using this specific method, zero peroxide contacts your coral for zero risk. If accidents occur, threads show that's fine too but using above=36 hours till algae doom fun prediction.


grow back prediction: not much if any, frag plus aren't very porous. If a full tank shot shows patches elsewhere, expect fragmentation re growth and let's zap those too. factor my biases into anything I type. I'm in it for after pics pretty much.

B