I lm taking care of a 40g breaded tank that has been neglected for quite a while. I’m trying to work on quelling the forest of green hair algae in the tank. I’ve shortened the photo period, added a new slimmer (eshopps psk 100), and have done multiple 5 gallon water changes, doing manual removal of the algae during the changes. Most recently I’ve added one of the BRS mini reactors to run gfo/carbon. What am I missing? The cleanup crew seems to be MIA except for a bunch of tiny (1-2mm) flat snails or limpets, some bristle worms, and a large brittle sea star. The bio load is only a (indestructible) clownfish and the above mentioned inverts at this point so I think feeding has been minimal. I’ve got test kits on the way but I’m guessing the phosphates are high (why I added the reactor). I’d be open to adding livestock that will help get rid of the algae that then can be maintained with other sources of algae. Thanks in advanced.
What else for hair algae?
- Thread starter DangNY
- Start date
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in the long run, nutrient control(export) and biological solutions are best. Turbo snails are known for chomping down algae. Reeflux will be a chemical, and last resort
Kjames
Active Member
I would try Vibrant. I used it last week after hearing BRS TV interview the guy who developed it. I was pretty skeptical, but I trust those guys to shoot straight and I like the idea of a biological solution.
Before using I removed as much algae by hand as possible, then dosed 9ml into my 90 total gallons of system water. I expected to see a slow and gradual decrease in algae. I saw just to opposite - a marked difference in 24 hours and and almost 100% destruction of all of the algae in my tank in the last few days. I've hesitated to post about it because I'm having a hard time believing it myself.
My tank is a RedSea 425XL, bare bottom and in it's first year. I'm sure a really established algae load would take longer to respond.
Some pics: The lighter colored stuff was all over the rocks and back wall. It went away within 48 hours. The tougher green algae on the power heads took a couple more days before that stuff turned gray and started sloughing off.
Here's some before:
And after:
Before using I removed as much algae by hand as possible, then dosed 9ml into my 90 total gallons of system water. I expected to see a slow and gradual decrease in algae. I saw just to opposite - a marked difference in 24 hours and and almost 100% destruction of all of the algae in my tank in the last few days. I've hesitated to post about it because I'm having a hard time believing it myself.
My tank is a RedSea 425XL, bare bottom and in it's first year. I'm sure a really established algae load would take longer to respond.
Some pics: The lighter colored stuff was all over the rocks and back wall. It went away within 48 hours. The tougher green algae on the power heads took a couple more days before that stuff turned gray and started sloughing off.
Here's some before:
And after:
