Scrubbing hair algae of LR

[Hiker4twenty]

When I set up my new tank I would like to get rid of the hair algae on my existing LR. I was thinking about putting each rock in a bucket of used tank water and scrubbing with a bristle brush(not wire) and then maybe a quick fresh water rinse. Will this work or will it cause more harm than good?

 

[andysgirl8800]

I would not rince in fresh, but clean (not used) saltwater. Use a baster to blast in the nooks and crannies.

 

[VAreef]

It really wouldn't matter what kind of salt water you used to clean it. You can also do a fresh water rinse if you really want to. Personally just pull off what you can and kill the rest by limiting it's nitrate food source and light. I set up my tank with rock from one that had hair algae on every rock and I mean alot. I put most of the rocks in the tank upside down to keep the algae from getting light. Then I started water changes. It has taken 2 months but very little hair algae remains. There is some on 2 coral rocks but thats it. The sump also has a bunch that grew in it and its disgusting but at least it's not in the DT.