hair algae

[marinetankman]

hair algae loves my reef tank any recommendations on remedy ro water used no phosphates low nitrates 125 gallon tank live rock water running thru closed system lifegard canisters with chambers removed skimmer collecting well

 

[CarlaW]

First off, welcome to Reef Frontiers, glad to have you around. Can you let us know a little more about your system, as in fish, corals etc. The excess nutrients have to be coming from somewhere, likely feeding, but we would like to know a little more. HTH

 

[marinetankman]

nice to meet you i have 9 small fish like two nice ocellaris clowns,two maroon clowns had a nice blenny that disappered,with my cleaner shrimp,but thats another mystery one goby,one cardinal,damsel,branded coral shrimp,coral buety,two anemones,colony of yellow polps,alot of pumping xenias some clove/glove polp coral four snails left i feed my anemones shrimp once a week and give some to my fish which get fed once a day with dry marine pellets and add calcium once every 10days tank is been setup for about two years

 

[CarlaW]

Have you had the hair algae since the start? The deal with hair is you will probably show no phosphates, but that is because the hair is using them. Have you thought of some type of macro-algae to outcompete the hair? Do you have a sump where you could grow the macros so they don't take over your main display? Alot of people have a separate refugium where they grow macros. I have been thru this, as have alot of other people, so don't feel alone. Keep asking questions and we'll help out as much as is humanly possible.

 

[marinetankman]

the hair started after a year it must of been on some rock i guess i don,t have a sump but might get a refugium soon do i need a sump too hi willis

 

[CarlaW]

Mind you, this is just a personal opinion, but I would employ both of them. The more water you can have in your system, the more stable it has a chance of becoming. They do have hang on refugiums that are fairly cheap and they seem to do the job rather effectively, maybe you could check into one of those.

 

[Mauisreef]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers Marinetankman.
Yellow Tangs make short work of hair algae. Then you have their added waste though.
Like Charlie said I added a sump and a refugium to one of my tanks and walla! havent had a prob in months. Have to throw caluprea away by the handfulls now once a month or so. Thats a good thing.

Maui

 

[wrassehole]

IMO there is no better way to get rid of hair algae than a brush and a net. I dont think you can ever get rid of hair algae. itll always grow in a healthy tank. hell, you actually want some if you have tangs.

 

[Beckmola24]

I have hair algae too. I got a lettuce nudibranch and it helps a little. I think they're cool.

 

[CarlaW]

I tried the brush and net theory. I think the only way to do that is to take the rock out of the tank when you do a water change, and brush it in the changed out water, otherwise, all you are doing is spreading the algae out more in the tank. I never got rid of the hair until I got the macro to out compete it.

 

[TonyMc]

Also what type of lighting do you use? How old are you bulbs? How long is your photo period? Lighting will also play a big role in hair algae.

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!

Have you tested the tank water for phosphates? You can also check the phosphates coming from the rock or sand bed by taking the water sample from those areas. That will let you know where they are.

Turkey basting the rocks, algae, and freeing up the detritus will help some. The algae traps the detritus and uses it to fuel its growth.

 

[marinetankman]

algae

thanks for everybodies advice i will let you know the results after the sump/refugium set up wonder who ate my cleaner shrimp ? I don't truss that goby