What works Against Green Hair Algae?

RareEarthCorals · Dec 1, 2015

Well, it began three months ago and everything you've read and heard about green hair algae is true.

It is the nightmare of the reef aquarist. It seems to come when everything "seems" right with the tank. It was everywhere overnight and as tough as nails. I read everything I could put my eyes to. I ended up with Continuum Clean M. It is a bacteria alternative to attempt to find something that would breakdown the foothold the algae had. I tried using scissors and tweezers to pluck the hair and it wasn't working. So lets hope this stuff does its magic and breaks down the algae to make it manageable.

Two months now into dosing the product faithfully I started the process of pulling the algae by hand. It was coming off, but it was time consuming, so I used a new bottle brush with stiff bristles, and it started to come off in clumps. This stuff works pretty good and makes the process easier but its not perfect.

I will continue to dose as directed and hope within the next few attempts 90-95% will be eliminated. My first attempt I harvested about 60%. The remainder will be done by my clean up crew. It does work as long as you stay on top of dosing and have patience.

sureal00 · Dec 1, 2015

I put more turbo snails, 2 lettuce nudibranch and got myself an algae scrubber and I am GHA free.Phosphate RX is good at breaking that hold gha has on rocks etc.

Blue Lip · Dec 1, 2015

Have you tried using products that remove phosphates?

RareEarthCorals · Dec 1, 2015

I did look at Phos RX but wanted something that would breakdown as it killed. I was able to get my Phosphate below .03 using regular methods. I did increase my snail count, but the algae was at a point that was too long for them to eat it.

twilliard · Dec 1, 2015

Peroxide
Then find the source of your po4 levels

oldsaint · Dec 1, 2015

Are you sure it's a Derbesia sp. "hair algae" and not Bryopsis? From my experience, Bryopsis plumosa is the one that tends to do well in tanks with low nutrients.

Reefboy1 · Dec 1, 2015

If your looking to just get rid of the algae and not fix the reason you have it right now just buy a foxface/rabbit fish and it will eat anything algae.

ls2ttgto · Dec 1, 2015

There is no miracle cure for algae. Since your phos is in check keep it there. Cut your light schedule. Once your good on that end, the algae should't be so tough to pull out manually. Its a tedious process, but has worked for many people i suggest this to.

Find the root of the issue. Rocks leaching phos, over feeding, dosing. Something is causing the outbreak. Get to the source and save yourself the headache of a repeat outbreak.

Pfisherman · Dec 1, 2015

How old is this tank? Maybe your just going through some new tank syndrome. Let's get some details, as there is no one cure all for any type of nuisance algae.

I don't really care about nutrient levels when dealing with algae, as your reef will eventually adapt to survive so long as you are using all the right equipment. What are your tank sizes, sump, reactors, skimmer, lighting and every other piece of equipment you are running?

RareEarthCorals · Dec 1, 2015

100% on the Green Hair Algae.
I did find the source was mainly from the rocks. It was low enough to beat the tests but just high enough that it grew. I keep a log and never noticed anything out of whack, but I was using color testing. I am now using the hanna checker low phosphate to stay on top if it. I did stop broadcast feeding my corals and only feed my fish pellets, dropping what they will eat so no leftovers. My water is distilled and water changes are natural saltwater.

drstratton · Dec 1, 2015

Melev has a video on removing GHA and he uses Phos Rx, it weakens the algae and makes it easier for you to manually remove it, then he adds in the snails to finish the job!

RareEarthCorals · Dec 1, 2015

I can give you my numbers below. I just wanted to talk about my experience with Continuum Clean M.

I am open to other suggestions but believe at this point I have it under control just looking to get rid of it all.

My tank is 8 months old 29 Biocube, but totals 20 gallons by measure after all the sand, rocks, and such. Built in sump with 1 liter pond matrix. Also using polyfilter, phosguard, and Purigen.

Testing from Sunday

78.9deg
7.8 PH
0.02 Phosphate
0.00 Nitrates
440 calcium
1400 mag
9.0 hardness

Skimmer is fully functional and pulling good (a bit on the wet side) skim. Lighting is only 11 hours from ramp up to moonlights based on 10k for four full hours and 20k for another four. 3 hours total ramp time.

ls2ttgto · Dec 1, 2015

RareEarthCorals said:
I can give you my numbers below. I just wanted to talk about my experience with Continuum Clean M.

I am open to other suggestions but believe at this point I have it under control just looking to get rid of it all.

My tank is 8 months old 29 Biocube, but totals 20 gallons by measure after all the sand, rocks, and such. Built in sump with 1 liter pond matrix. Also using polyfilter, phosguard, and Purigen.

Testing from Sunday

78.9deg
7.8 PH
0.02 Phosphate
0.00 Nitrates
440 calcium
1400 mag
9.0 hardness

Skimmer is fully functional and pulling good (a bit on the wet side) skim. Lighting is only 11 hours from ramp up to moonlights based on 10k for four full hours and 20k for another four. 3 hours total ramp time.

Parameters look like they are in check. Keep Phos controlled and you should be alright. Manual removal of whatever you can get your hands on. Sailfin blenny would also be beneficial to chomp away at the leftovers from the outbreak.

Good Luck!

jsker · Dec 1, 2015

Here is my story, I put two pieces of dry rock in my tank in July. At that point the tank was six months old and the Rock was clean, permeters were calming down. Po4 was at about 0. Two weeks after adding the rock I was cycling again. In the last two months I have had hair algae all over the rock work, power heads, and heater.
I have cleaned and cleaned equipment, filters, power heads still hair algae was growing. Tooth brushed the rock and was changing to much water. Corals were browning really bad. So I started dosing no3 po4 x and nothing. Started run Rawa and the no3 po4 x and started seeing my po4 numbers drops and the tank looks much better then 3 weeks ago. Purchased a media reactor and installed it yesterday and running Rawa in the reactor and still dose the no3 po4 x. In the last week the hair algae is almost gone and my po4 is a .12 testing with Red Sea and I will test with Seifert test kit tomorrow.
My no3 are a tad on the high side but in line and my corals are coming to life. .4 Red Sea test.
Mg 1440
Ca 420
Po4 .12
Alk 10.2
No3 .4
Ph 8.2
Sal .25
Temp 79
All tests are with Red Sea
Hope this helps

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

RareEarthCorals said:
100% on the Green Hair Algae.
I did find the source was mainly from the rocks. It was low enough to beat the tests but just high enough that it grew. I keep a log and never noticed anything out of whack, but I was using color testing. I am now using the hanna checker low phosphate to stay on top if it. I did stop broadcast feeding my corals and only feed my fish pellets, dropping what they will eat so no leftovers. My water is distilled and water changes are natural saltwater.

Distilled or RODI ? think thats a problemb

jetmaker · Dec 2, 2015

Distilled will work fine that's not the problem. Sounds like they need cheato in a fuge.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

jetmaker said:
Distilled will work fine that's not the problem. Sounds like they need cheato in a fuge.

Agree on chato in the fuge. Highly disagree on the water.
Had a big problem recently. Ask a real expert to weigh in on the distilled water. RH Farley perhaps.

drstratton · Dec 2, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
Agree on chato in the fuge. Highly disagree on the water.
Had a big problem recently. Ask a real expert to weigh in on the distilled water. RH Farley perhaps.

@Randy Holmes-Farley