hair algae

[valasaraptor]

does anything eat hair algae? i have a very bad out break,i was considering a lettuce nudi but read up on them and i gess they dont do well in smaller aquariums,possible a sea hair? but are there any smaller species that are for smaller tanks

 

[Melosu58]

Getting livestock to take care of algea is a bandaid solution. Check out this checklist and find out what`s fueling it.

FantasyReef Databases-Viewing item "10 Step Plan for Nuisance Algae Control"

 

[Smitty]

Pull it out manually, and start doing several water changes to start. Then you can get yourself a few turbo snails.

 

[yote]

+1 Mike and Smitty.

 

[Hiker4twenty]

If all else fails then you can try a sea hare which will definitely eat the HA. But you definitely have to find out what causing the outburst and stop fueling it.

 

[andysgirl8800]

Most critters won't eat the HA because it is too long in your tank. You'll have to pull as much by hand, suck out with a siphon, brush off with a toothbrush, THEN you may have a chance that a critter can help keep it under control, but critters won't "get rid" of the algae all together, You have to find the cause and treat it directly. Otherwise, you're only treating the symptoms.

 

[PRC]

Start using a DIY algae scrubber....I think I post this once a week and nobody uses them (if you have a sump, it costs less than $20 to make including the lights). It will get rid of your algae once and for all.

 

[Piratefish]

+1 big time!!! Mine is working great!!

 

[andysgirl8800]

PRC- I am also using one and it has eliminated all my nuisance algae completely.

 

[valasaraptor]

prc im goin with your idea,isnt there a thread on this site?

 

[Dana42078]

Lawnmower blenny?

 

[valasaraptor]

no im overstocked a lil bit,soon as my 30 is i am

 

[Piratefish]

Check out Algae Scrubbers • Index page

 

[twps]

I picked up a Mexican turbo snail to solve my problem. He is a lawnmower. I highly recommend these guys. My other black turbo's don't touch the long stuff, but the Mexican does.

I learned the hardway how quickly this stuff spreads. I places a small piece of LR with some Xenia on it and some hair algae. The hair algae took over the LR killing all but two small stocks of Xenia, and now it's popping up everywhere! But the Mexican turbo has it under control.

 

[PRC]

prc im goin with your idea,isnt there a thread on this site?

Yes there is and it's a long one..

https://www.livingreefs.com/mega-powerful-nitrate-and-phosphate-remover-diy-t16734.html

 

[VAreef]

I know this is an old thread but a foxface will destroy hair algae. I had hair algae and introduced a foxface and in 1 day every bit of hair algae from the DT was completely gone. I actually started pulling some out of the sump and adding it to the DT to feed him. Sadly I killed him by not having a fish guard in my overflow. Hair algae still hasn't come back in the DT though.

 

[Piratefish]

That may be true, but the algae is just a symptom of the real problem. The Scrubber solves the problem

 

[VAreef]

The scrubber is a good thing yeah. It doesn't solve the problem though. The scrubber just moves the algae to the scrubber moving the symptom. The problem is excessive nitrates, phosphates, or light. A scrubber or sump with cheato both allow you to grow algae in one place vice another.

 

[Piratefish]

Sorry I was hasty with my reply. Correct it moves it out of the DT

 

[valasaraptor]

i started making my scrubber today,i used what i had hand so it was at no cost,I'll get pics when its running