If you had to choose between these hair algae crew...

[Beckmola24]

which one would you choose?

Sea Hare
Lettuce Nudibranch
Rainford Goby
Lawnmower Blenny

I don't really want to add too much to my bio load, but I do have the ability to remove a HUGE turbo snail in return for one of these critters. Turbos are really bad for the bio load IMO.

 

[Kensn]

No experience with a Sea Hare... Lettuce Nubi can get blown around pretty easy, and IMO doesn't do a good job of eating algae... Rainford can get spooked real easy by other fish, had to rescue mine twice from the sump after being chased into the overflow and taking the water slide down to the sump...I returned him to the LFS.... Lawnmower would depend on if he has the diet he needs..... there my 2 cents

 

[Krish]

No experience with any of them, but I have seen what a foxface can do as well as a Yellow tang...

 

[Scooterman]

I don't like adding just to help remove a problem, rather fix the problem in the first place, JMO.

 

[Beckmola24]

I've tried everything possible to fix the problem... I've tried water changes twice per week, scrubbing the rocks, replacing bulbs, reducing photoperiod, increasing flow, using phosguard, and feeding every other day... nothing seems to help me get rid of this hair algae. I don't know what else to do...

 

[Scooterman]

Becky how long has this been a problem? What are you testing your water with & what kits?
Not trying to be a pain here, these things takes time to run their course, it sounds like your doing the right things but that still won't make your tank problem free, how bad is it actually?

 

[Beckmola24]

well, i had gotten things under control, and then out of the blue I lost a huge turbo snail (most likely old age) I have had it since the beginning,,, It was big and caused a problem... I use Salifert test kits and everything is w/in range right now, but the algae took root.... I don't have a Phosphate kit though, so I don't know aobut that... The algae is loosly attached to the rockwork, so that is a plus. My last bout with hair algae was really deeply rooted in the rock... It is really bad this time though and I'm going to have to take all of the rock out and scrub it again it has been such a pain...

 

[Krish]

Hey Becky...You know what I did with my setup, so I wouldn't have to look at the nuicance algae as it grew during cycling? I made the conditions in my sump better for algae to grow there rather than in the tank. My sump had more watts per gal for a longer period of time with basically freshwater lights, and less flow and the algae went nuts in there, but hardly anything in the tank. What did try to grow in the tank, my yellow tang took care of. Every week, I had to vacuum out all of the algae that grew in my sump (which was rediculously alot and I have pictures of if you want to see) until eventually, it stopped really gowing anywhere all together. I get a little bit in the sump here and there now (that I just siphon off when I do my water change weekly) but hardly anything to talk about. Not sure if that can help you any, but just wanted to share my experience with you

 

[Beckmola24]

well this problem is on my 37g and I don't have a sump on that tank... I wish I did because I would use some chaeto in there or something like that... Thanks for the advice though... I need to get rid of this stuff...

 

[Krish]

well this problem is on my 37g and I don't have a sump on that tank... I wish I did because I would use some chaeto in there or something like that... Thanks for the advice though... I need to get rid of this stuff...

Ahh...Yeah, sumps are cool. They help out so much with things. Maybe you can just DIY something to hang on the back of your tank or get something like the CPR hang on fuge. It would help out a lot for sure if you had a macro in there to outcompete that hair algae...Best of luck to you Becky

 

[CarlaW]

Have you thought of a hang on refugium. I agree with Scooter, you need to get to the root of the problem.

 

[Beckmola24]

I agree too! I want to be done with this algae... Do y'all think a hob fuge will help??

 

[CarlaW]

It wouldn't be adding to your bioload.

 

[Scooterman]

Harvesting you crops will also eventually help like krish said. I don't have a quick cure, unfortunately these things have to run their course while you keep you prams up. You can find quicker results by various means but at what price will that be. I fined long term isn't the easiest way but you tend to get longer lasting results.

 

[Beckmola24]

Do you think maybe it's my flow?? I have a MaxiJet 900 in there, but maybe I need to add something more... Would a Seio 620 be too much for my seahorses if I point it correctly??

 

[btuck]

In my short experience with seahorses, I had a Mag 3 as my return and found that even with that small amount of flow (even after going up 4') was too much flow for my horses, I had to reduce the flow of the return by almost half. So I would think a Seio would be way too much flow.

I agree with the HOB fuge. They can work wonders, But if you want to add something I would suggest a lawnmower blenny. Be careful with it though as it may compete with your horses for food. If this happens I would remove it quickly as you don't want your horses to stress and stop eating. I have seen great success with sea hares, but make sure your water quatity stays quite clean as they don't seem to do well with diminished water quality. good luck in your ventures.

 

[Elmo18]

I would ask Nikki she would know.

j/k nikki....

Best,
Ilham

 

[Scooterman]

Yes Nikki had the same bout but your methods of harvesting it & wc's will help, they only slowdown is water flow, you would in this case need to blast the rocks more frequently until you get it under control, last time I was doing the rocks every day while using a sock filter in the sump to collect the junk, eventually I was able to spread out the blasting's, regardless you'll need to find a point that will keep your rocks clean.

 

[CarlaW]

Yes Nikki had the same bout but your methods of harvesting it & wc's will help, they only slowdown is water flow, you would in this case need to blast the rocks more frequently until you get it under control, last time I was doing the rocks every day while using a sock filter in the sump to collect the junk, eventually I was able to spread out the blasting's, regardless you'll need to find a point that will keep your rocks clean.

I kind of wonder what effect that would have on the seahorses, I wouldn't want to terrorize the little guys too much!!!!!

 

[Scooterman]

Well you can't blast them so you would have to be careful in that aspect.