First Sign of Hair Algae

[90galguy]

OK..............I might be overreacting or maybe not. My system is just over 3 months young and I have my first signs of a little bit of hair algae. I only see about 3 or 4 strands of long ones but it looks like more is around. I'm still a newbie so I was wondering what my step should be.

All numbers are good and just finished a 20% WC this past Sunday.

I'd like to combat this with some livestock if possible. I have 10 snails and about a dozen blue legs. How about a Porcelain Crab? I had two Emeralds, but one died and the other is somewhere within the rock I suppose.

Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[mrflameangel]

What kind of water are you using?

 

[90galguy]

RO/DI only. TDS is 0.

 

[mrflameangel]

Have you checked ur Phosphate level? But I wonder if this maybe "new tank syndrome "? I went through this same thing after a couple of months of my tank cycling.

 

[dakota9]

I'd go chemical before it got out of control.

I used AlgaeFix and it really helped! I would suggest you only try dosing two, possibly 3 times at the most though.... I dosed for a month and a half, and while nothing died, I had some softies that turned noticeably more brown.....

Just AN opinion..... Maybe not THE answer....

 

[90galguy]

I'm running GFO and had Jenn test my Phosphates near the end of January and it was .2

MrFlameangel;736066 wrote: Have you checked ur Phosphate level?

 

[cbj25]

if you have any tangs you could not feed for a day or so and they might take care of it

 

[90galguy]

cbj25;736081 wrote: if you have any tangs you could not feed for a day or so and they might take care of it

No tangs yet. I have very few fish with the system being new. How about a few additions to the CUC? Anything in paricular?

 

[rtirado]

I am also having little pop-ups of HA in my 10 gal tank, been running for just about as long as the OP. Needless to say I'm following along.

 

[cbj25]

maybe a lawnmower blenny if that would fit your current and future stock list, some mexican turbos could do it but are known to knock over coral, and you could step up your hermits and astrea, i try to keep about 1 per gallon of each

 

[90galguy]

bpatterson617;736091 wrote: I have been doing a ton of reading on this lately as I am currently fighting red slime and green hair algae and it looks like there are a number of critters that MIGHT eat hair algae but not really any that are a definite.

The ones that COULD eat hair algae include lawnmower blennies (or just blennies in general), turbo snails, emerald crabs, blue legged hermits, tangs.....trying to think of some others....

Sorry, I know this may not have been a particularly helpful answer, but I will be tagging along in case anyone has some better options.

It may also be worth reading up on peroxide dosing/spot treatments, from what I understand it can be extremely effective against algaes of all kinds but particularly hair algae.

Good luck!

Brandon

Edit: cbj25 beat me to it! lol darn my long posts!

I'm not having a major issue as of yet. It might even be that "new tank syndrome", I'm just being proactive and try to stay ahead of it. I might step up the CUC and add a couple crabs. I know Emeralds are supposed to eat it, how about Porcelains?

 

[toeside]

I had this problem too with my 10g. I tried everything everyone suggested. What ended up working for me was Vitamin C dosing. At the time, I was actually trying to get my zoanthids healthy, but the treatment obliterated the significant GHA growth I had at the time.

Here is one of my earlier posts on the topic:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showpost.php?p=485463&postcount=14">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showpost.php?p=485463&postcount=14</a>

Note that VC dosing will wipe out any Xenia (and possibly Kenya Tree) you have. It seems to help other corals.

For red slime, you need to really make sure your pH stays up. Go with a big water change and keep your alk in the higher end of the range, like 8 - 12 dkh.

rtirado - With that 10g, you need to very vigilant about vacuuming the sand bed... but when you do it, stir up just a little as possible.

 

[redstang]

My tank is at the 8 month point and I started getting some HA about a month ago. I'd already cut back feedings to every other day. Next up is to cut back the photo period. I also am bumping up the CUC. Just replaced my chemi-pure elite in the back of my BC29 today. My phosphates are effectively 0 on the sachem test kit. Nitrates are always at 10 or less. I need a better alk kit as the IO one I have is freaking impossible to discern.

I started doing some peroxide dips this week. Ricordia's, blasto's, and zoa/paly's have all done fine. So did a kenya tree for that matter. I was kind of hoping it would die. Acan's did fine too though I didn't submerse them but just poured peroxide over the rock they are on. Hopefully I'll see some results this week.

Keep meaning to start vodka dosing but keep forgetting to stop by a package store. Apparently, wally whorl, public, kroger, and sam's don't carry it. Or I'm blind. Quite possible.

 

[micha118833]

What are your Nitrate and Phosphate Levels? These are the two main things it feeds on. Also, how old are your lights? Old lights burn out of spectrum. Just a couple thoughts

 

[holley123]

I had a terrible HA problem in my old 10 gal it got to the point where I had to nuke all my rock and pressure washing it. I do not suggest this I just did it because it got so bad I couldent find my fish in my tank

 

[90galguy]

micha118833;736192 wrote: What are your Nitrate and Phosphate Levels? These are the two main things it feeds on. Also, how old are your lights? Old lights burn out of spectrum. Just a couple thoughts

Phosphates are .2 and Nitrates are almost undetectable. Lights are new with the system and only 3 months old.

 

[grouper therapy]

I got a sea hare you can use for a few days. Don't sweat it. I will bring him over Thursday New tank is all

 

[90galguy]

grouper therapy;736198 wrote: I got a sea hare you can use for a few days. Don't sweat it. I will bring him over Thursday New tank is all

Have you ever heard of going to several different doctors until one tells you what you want to hear?????? Well, I'll go with Grouper Therapy! It's NEW TANK!!!! LOL.

 

[ralph atl]

change your gfo more often and think about setting up a nitrate removal plan like vodka, & the like....

 

[dine]

RedStang;736188 wrote: My tank is at the 8 month point and I started getting some HA about a month ago. I'd already cut back feedings to every other day. Next up is to cut back the photo period. I also am bumping up the CUC. Just replaced my chemi-pure elite in the back of my BC29 today. My phosphates are effectively 0 on the sachem test kit. Nitrates are always at 10 or less. I need a better alk kit as the IO one I have is freaking impossible to discern.

I started doing some peroxide dips this week. Ricordia's, blasto's, and zoa/paly's have all done fine. So did a kenya tree for that matter. I was kind of hoping it would die. Acan's did fine too though I didn't submerse them but just poured peroxide over the rock they are on. Hopefully I'll see some results this week.

Keep meaning to start vodka dosing but keep forgetting to stop by a package store. Apparently, wally whorl, public, kroger, and sam's don't carry it. Or I'm blind. Quite possible.

only package stores can sell hard liquor


to the op, tangs have worked well for me in the past