Question. I have an opportunity to pick up some live rock but has some hair algae. This will be for a NEW tank I'll start cycling later this week using Dr Tim's cycle. With high ammonia will it kill the slight algae or should I just pass all together? Never had hair algae in all my years so I just don't know
Hair Algae
- Thread starter tonyga
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How much does it have? If it's not much, it's easy to toothbrush off. You'd also want to be sure you could pull the rock out and scrub it again if you see it come back. Keep your lights off for a few weeks as your tank cycles and then begins to expand its microbiome, and you'll probably be good — again, as long as it's not much.
You also want to make 100% sure it's hair algae and not bryopsis. Bryopsis is awful to get rid of.
You also want to make 100% sure it's hair algae and not bryopsis. Bryopsis is awful to get rid of.
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That really depends on the source. Hair algae on the rock usually means the higher nutrient which likely will be in the live rock.
Starting the tank with live rock is recommended though. It will allow your tank to settle faster. I would scrub the rock really well before adding to the tank if you do.
About a 6months ago, I bought some live rocks with livestock from a reefer getting out of the hobby. I really regretted putting his live rocks in my tank. I never knew what he was using/feeding and it kinda throw my tank off for a while. Know the source and you can have better chance.
I have hair algae in my tank. But it’s not all over the tank. It’s isolated. If that is the case, it may be good. The older the live rock the better it is. If it’s not truly a live rock, it may cause issues. I think that’s what happen with me. His tank was pretty young.
Starting the tank with live rock is recommended though. It will allow your tank to settle faster. I would scrub the rock really well before adding to the tank if you do.
About a 6months ago, I bought some live rocks with livestock from a reefer getting out of the hobby. I really regretted putting his live rocks in my tank. I never knew what he was using/feeding and it kinda throw my tank off for a while. Know the source and you can have better chance.
I have hair algae in my tank. But it’s not all over the tank. It’s isolated. If that is the case, it may be good. The older the live rock the better it is. If it’s not truly a live rock, it may cause issues. I think that’s what happen with me. His tank was pretty young.
