peonleon2
Active member
im having a big issue with hair algae. what can i do to fix it? its overtaking my tank. i have snails but they cant keep up. any suggestions?
hair algae
- Thread starter peonleon2
- Start date
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Krish
RF STAFF
Yeah...Give us a bit of info on your tank like equipment, water parameters, age etc so we can know which direction to point you in. Algae grows where there is excess nutrients in the tank so once you find the source and address it, then problem solved. 
peonleon2
Active member
its a 100 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump with live rock in both. there 4 fish in the tank. flame angel, clown, goby and a powder tang. the tanks been running for 6 months now and just started to have the problem recently. there is also a protein skimmer. last week i changed probally around 20 gallons. not sure what else to say.
twilliard
What next?
You would be amazed at what little it takes to support the growth of algae.
IMO
If you like to feed your tank then a lot more (volume) WC and a much better skimmer.
IMO
If you like to feed your tank then a lot more (volume) WC and a much better skimmer.
peonleon2
Active member
my skimmer is working fine and is taking alot of crap from the water, but what else can i do? i will do a larger water change this week when i get time to do so
twilliard
What next?
OK
The equipment
Your skimmer. What is it?
Your water changes
How much and how often?
Also what do you feed?
A person must understand how algae grows, what it feeds on, and at what its weakness is. Remember- when you feed your fish you feed the algae.
The equipment
Your skimmer. What is it?
Your water changes
How much and how often?
Also what do you feed?
A person must understand how algae grows, what it feeds on, and at what its weakness is. Remember- when you feed your fish you feed the algae.
peonleon2
Active member
its a red sea?? i think with a more powerfull pump than it came with a 900pgh i think.
i feed it green flake food. i just recently started putting in fish in the tank so i havent really been doing too much water changes untill recently. so that might be my problem.
i feed it green flake food. i just recently started putting in fish in the tank so i havent really been doing too much water changes untill recently. so that might be my problem.
twilliard
What next?
Yes yes...
Flake food and limited water changes may(or will) give you problems eventually.
Flake food is loaded in PO4 which in turn is fertilizer for your algae.
As an example- I have a 110G tank, feed 4Ml of Rods Food, Formula1 flake every other day, I run a Bubble Master 200 skimmer and change 40G a week of water just to hold back my algae.
Hang in there, learn all you can about algae, and you will win.
Flake food and limited water changes may(or will) give you problems eventually.
Flake food is loaded in PO4 which in turn is fertilizer for your algae.
As an example- I have a 110G tank, feed 4Ml of Rods Food, Formula1 flake every other day, I run a Bubble Master 200 skimmer and change 40G a week of water just to hold back my algae.
Hang in there, learn all you can about algae, and you will win.
DonW
R.I.P.
Feed smaller amounts more often. This keeps bacteria in balance and the fish actually digest the food instead of wasting it.
Don
Don
peonleon2
Active member
will a uv steralizer help at all?
DonW
R.I.P.
Not really but a better skimmer will do wonders as does water changes. When you have a marginal skimmer, you need to step up the maintenance.
Also what lighting are you running?
Don
peonleon2
Active member
right now i have 2 175watt MH i turned the 3rd one off to try to see if that would help
Krish
RF STAFF
Also, are you using ro/di water? If not, I'd test whatever you are using for makeup water as a lot of tap water contains all the excess nutrients that algae uses to grow...
