Hair Algae

[mwilk19]

I have a 120 gallon mixed reef. I have been using Aquaforest products since August. I use AF reef salt, Comp 1/2/3, and ABEV, Pro Bio S and NP pro. I am also running Zeo mix, carbon and Phosphate minus in a reactor. In August, I had an outbreak of ich and lost all of my fish except for 2. Since mid September the tank has been fallow and fish won't be reintroduced until December 2nd. No3 measures 0 ( Red Sea) and Po4 measures .02 (Hanna). Recently, I've had an outbreak of hair algae. I'm guessing that even though my nutrient levels are low, some of that is being taken up by the hair algae before it can be measured. I've stopped adding ABEV to try and get the hair algae under control.Any suggestions on what else I can do. It's mostly on my overflow but there are patches now showing up on the rock.

 

[Gary Wilkinson]

Turbo Snails, Sea Hare etc will help

I had a problem with GHA and drove the Po4 to 0 to starve it out, wont happen over night but works
I would also go half dose on the ABEV I find they are much stronger than competing products

 

[mwilk19]

Gary,
Thanks for the reply. Even though I was dosing ABEV at the recommended dose, it was probably too much for the number and size of the corals in my tank.

 

[teamlounge]

emerald crabs eat hair algea...try to get females if you have zoa's or softies in tank. emeralds can be opportunistic feeders. Also, you might think about increasing the flow in your tank. Hair algea thrives in low flow areas.

 

[mwilk19]

emerald crabs eat hair algea...try to get females if you have zoa's or softies in tank. emeralds can be opportunistic feeders. Also, you might think about increasing the flow in your tank. Hair algea thrives in low flow areas.

Thanks for the reply. I'm always messing with the flow. I have two WP-40's and a Gyre 150. I'm always afraid of damaging my LPS with too much flow.