I have some brown hair algae

[Knight420]

I'm not sure exactly what it is but it's brown under the lights and covers the rock and decorations. I have 2 turbo snails that seem to eat it. I think my emerald crab and shrimp are eating it too.

I'm wondering if there anything else I can do to help control it? Without hurting my pom pom it dragons breath algae.

 

[fishski13]

It would be best to rip out as much as you can manually and check your nitrates and phosphates. It probably due to having nitrates and phosphates to high which is causing it to grow. I would start with manual removal and do a water change and see how it goes from there.

 

[Knight420]

It would be best to rip out as much as you can manually and check your nitrates and phosphates. It probably due to having nitrates and phosphates to high which is causing it to grow. I would start with manual removal and do a water change and see how it goes from there.

Could I use like a brush? It looked like it was coming off when I blasted it with water out of my spot feeder. I know the snails are eating it, as they leave a trail behind them of pure rock.

Maybe I should get some more snails and hermit crabs.

 

[fishski13]

Could I use like a brush? It looked like it was coming off when I blasted it with water out of my spot feeder. I know the snails are eating it, as they leave a trail behind them of pure rock.

Maybe I should get some more snails and hermit crabs.

Yeah you can get a brush but just have to make sure you get it out with a net or something so it doesnt get into your water column.

You can get snails and hermits but that wont be a 100% full proof way to get rid of it fully. Better to manually remove as much, do a water change depending on your nutrients and than add some more snails or crabs

 

[Knight420]

Yeah you can get a brush but just have to make sure you get it out with a net or something so it doesnt get into your water column.

You can get snails and hermits but that wont be a 100% full proof way to get rid of it fully. Better to manually remove as much, do a water change depending on your nutrients and than add some more snails or crabs

Can I starve it by adding more macroalgae? Is there a way to idk vacuum it off the rock?

 

[anthonygf]

Can I starve it by adding more macroalgae? Is there a way to idk vacuum it off the rock?

Yes you can suck out the algae with this, stainless steel straw and hose. Use a rubber band for a seal for the straw, you can mount a toothbrush to the straw but I haven't tried that. I just use my fingers and pull the algae off and let the straw suck it away. If you want to keep the water just run the end of hose into sock in sump. The sock will catch the algae, I do this on many pests. Works great and is easy, I find it a pleasure to do as part of my maintenance.

 

[Knight420]

Yes you can suck out the algae with this, stainless steel straw and hose. Use a rubber band for a seal for the straw, you can mount a toothbrush to the straw but I haven't tried that. I just use my fingers and pull the algae off and let the straw suck it away. If you want to keep the water just run the end of hose into sock in sump. The sock will catch the algae, I do this on many pests. Works great and is easy, I find it a pleasure to do as part of my maintenance.

How do you provide suction?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm not sure exactly what it is but it's brown under the lights and covers the rock and decorations. I have 2 turbo snails that seem to eat it. I think my emerald crab and shrimp are eating it too.

I'm wondering if there anything else I can do to help control it? Without hurting my pom pom it dragons breath algae.

To assure its algae, can you post a pic or two under white lighting ?

 

[Knight420]

I have an insert for my sump. By Fiji cube

 

[anthonygf]

How do you provide suction?

Haha. You suck on the end of hose, really. Once you get the suction started you place the hose in sock, you may need to get plastic clamps to hold the straw in the tank while working on the other end and then use one to secure the hose end in sump.

 

[Knight420]

To assure its algae, can you post a pic or two under white lighting ?

Oh it's algae lol it's even growing on the glass and the snails love it.

 

[Knight420]

Haha. You suck on the end of hose, really. Once you get the suction started you place the hose in sock, you may need to get plastic clamps to hold the straw in the tank while working on the other end and then use one to secure the hose end in sump.

I could do something like that now during the next water change. I have a 5g bucket I can put of the base and a long clear PVC pipe I can use. I could add a brush to the end. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Knight420]

Yes you can suck out the algae with this, stainless steel straw and hose. Use a rubber band for a seal for the straw, you can mount a toothbrush to the straw but I haven't tried that. I just use my fingers and pull the algae off and let the straw suck it away. If you want to keep the water just run the end of hose into sock in sump. The sock will catch the algae, I do this on many pests. Works great and is easy, I find it a pleasure to do as part of my maintenance.

One last question while I got you. What is safe to use to clean the outside of the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh it's algae lol it's even growing on the glass and the snails love it.

You said its brown- Can be Lyngbya. IF algae, reduce white light intensity or number of hours of white light and add snails such as Astrea-turbo-cerith-nerite and even a pencil urchin. also 8-10 carribean blue leg hermits.
Is tank at or near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from faucet ?
What is nitrate and Phosphate level?

 

[Knight420]

You said its brown- Can be Lyngbya. IF algae, reduce white light intensity or number of hours of white light and add snails such as Astrea-turbo-cerith-nerite and even a pencil urchin. also 8-10 carribean blue leg hermits.
Is tank at or near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from faucet ?
What is nitrate and Phosphate level?

Nitrate is about 15 not sure about phosphate. I have 2 turbo and 2 blue leg hermits. I can get a pencil urchin I have an emerald crab and banded shrimp. Rodi water, and yes but no light from the window.

 

[anthonygf]

One last question while I got you. What is safe to use to clean the outside of the tank?

I use RO/DI water only, especially for salt creep. I do not use any chemical cleaners. If you need to just add a drop of Dawn to a half or one gallon of water into a spray bottle.

 

[anthonygf]

Enjoy your reef! Even the maintenance, can be a hassle or a joy, it's up to you. I look at the maintenance part of reefing almost as enjoyable as just sitting there and looking at it.

 

[Knight420]

To assure its algae, can you post a pic or two under white lighting ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you
Pics a tad fuzzy but appears to be diatoms- - don’t believe dinoflagellates however if they become stringy do say something

 

[Knight420]

Thank you
Pics a tad fuzzy but appears to be diatoms- - don’t believe dinoflagellates however if they become stringy do say something

scratch that I think it is diatoms too, the snails I have love it