hair algae?

jev99 · May 10, 2020

hi everyone,
just set up tank recently. still have a lot of diatoms, but these new zoa frags are making me nervous cause of all the hair algae on them. wondering what to do, if anything. maybe buy a blenny? clean manually? I have four snails. (zebra turbo, cerith, nassarrius and trochus. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

my tank:
32 gallon biocube
20 lbs live rock
carib sand
1.025
76°
ammonia .1 ppm
nitrite 70 ppb
nitrate 5 ppm
magnesium 1320 ppm
calcium 440 ppm
iron .002

Retro Reefer · May 10, 2020

Welcome to R2R! I typically Just clean the plugs with some hydrogen peroxide and a old toothbrush.

Retro Reefer · May 10, 2020

FWIW.. Your Ammonia and nitrite levels if correct could indicate your tank is not completely cycled

Josh_boss · May 10, 2020

Dip your algae plugs in H2o2, I generally dip everything prior to introducing it into my tank. Straight 3% hydrogen peroxide and like a 5-10min soak. But that algae is probably in your tank already so you will need a plan for when the outbreak happens, if it does.

jev99 · May 10, 2020

in

Retro Reefer said:
Welcome to R2R! I typically Just clean the plugs with some hydrogen peroxide and a old toothbrush.

thank you. will do. one more question..aren't the zoas too fragile to use a toothbrush? I thought that was just good for the stony corals..

JonoB · May 10, 2020

Peroxide works well, just don't leave it in too long.

What are your phosphate levels?

lapin · May 10, 2020

Howdy
You can use a q-tip to get closer than the tooth brush if you are worried

Retro Reefer · May 10, 2020

jev99 said:
in

thank you. will do. one more question..aren't the zoas too fragile to use a toothbrush? I thought that was just good for the stony corals..

Sorry I should have been more specific.. don't actually brush the zoa just the ceramic frag plug.

I usually take a small container and add maybe a 1/4 cup tank water and 1/4 cup peroxide. Put the zoas in and let them soak a minute or two then carefully brush algae off ceramic frag plug dipping brush in water/peroxide mixture as I proceed.. a quick rinse in tank water before returning them to your system is also a good idea.