Hair algae

[muhast]

My dad is having big issues with hair algae. He gets all of his water from a LFS for water changes. So it isn't from tap water. I'm guessing his nitrates are too high.

He was recommended to get emerald crabs and a lawnmower blenny but they don't seem to be making any dent. Should he get Mexican Turbo Snails?



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[muhast]

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[fishlips]

If there is no coral in the tank.If it where me, I would pull rock out and cook. (Put in tub with power head and heater and skimmer,no light) until no nitrates or phosphates.

 

[axio]

I agree... might be better to just pull the rocks one by one and let it die off in a bucket. Or get new rock after finding out the issue(s).

I would check all the basics and start from there...

- Water change schedule? Is he gravel vacuuming?
- Have you tested the water? Can you give us some numbers on those parameters?
- What type of light is he using?
- Make sure he isn't running his lights too long.
- Feeding Habits?

Jakub

 

[muhast]

He has coral in the tank. You can see a small frag in the rock on the right and another on the rock on the left.

He has a great light that has a lot of settings (storm, cloud cover,etc)

He does weekly water change 10% and gets his water from the LFS.

As far as feeding, and parameters im not sure. I'll check next time I go to his house.

So you guys both say he should take the rock out(is that okay with coral?)



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[grouper therapy]

Sea hare would solve that . Then clean the water. I'd leave the rock in and not risk an ammonia spike.

 

[muhast]

grouper therapy;1060833 wrote: Sea hare would solve that . Then clean the water. I'd leave the rock in and not risk an ammonia spike.

I read Mexican Turbo Snails work well. Also saw people suggest larger water changes to get rid of the nitrates (although I'll have him test first before doing that of course)

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[sn4k33y3z]

grouper therapy;1060833 wrote: Sea hare would solve that . Then clean the water. I'd leave the rock in and not risk an ammonia spike.

++++++1 you can add a mexican turbo, BUT the sea hare is the way to go. I had to buy three of them until I got one that lived long enough to do the job. You will wake up the next day and see results! However, the water chemistry and lighting schedule is something else that needs to me looked at as well.

 

[muhast]

Is there a specific Seahare species I should have him look for?

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[grouper therapy]

Not sure of the species. The snails will eat the hair algae but as you might expect at a snails pace. The sea hare is much faster IME. While the sea hare does his job I would definitely up the water changes and perhaps run some gfo to remove phosphates. You can test for them now but it is useless really since the algae is consuming them and your reading will not reflect the actual amount. You can reduce your lighting to aid in the battle but after the algae is gone and parameters are in check you should be able to run yours lights as long as you want. Light doesn't cause algae it just aids in its growth once it appears.

 

[sn4k33y3z]

Great advice!

 

[grouper therapy]

Has he used any medications in the system? If so what kind?

 

[muhast]

grouper therapy;1060857 wrote: Has he used any medications in the system? If so what kind?

Algae fix marine

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[bkostuch]

Turbos and lawnmowers will work, the problem here is the length of the HA. I have been battling HA for a few weeks now and found out that even though I had turbos, emeralds, and a lawnmower they wouldn't touch the longer HA. I had to pull small rocks one by one and scrub them.

 

[ricky5415]

How is the water parameter? Did u test the nitrate + phosphate? Got to find the source of the nutrient. Even getting the water from the LFS, is it really good water? There is a lot of things here

 

[grouper therapy]

Ricky5415;1060968 wrote: How is the water parameter? Did u test the nitrate + phosphate? Got to find the source of the nutrient. Even getting the water from the LFS, is it really good water? There is a lot of things here

There is a good chance the test may not show either. The algae is probably consuming most of them . I think it is obvious that there is nitrate and phosphates. IMO test right now are a waste of time. Get rid of the "algae scrubber" then test.

 

[fishlips]

How big is the tank.With only 2 frags in the tank, And with that amount of liverock.If it were me ,I would figure out why the HA is there. (May have been high phosphates in liverock from the start.) I would pull liverock, and replace with cured rock.Place frags on new rock. If I not mistaken, Its a fairly new set up. I don't think that HA is going no where fast.And you save the old rock and cook and cure probably.

 

[fishlips]

After looking at pic, Is that a hang on back filter.

 

[axio]

Fishlips;1061012 wrote: After looking at pic, Is that a hang on back filter.

Looks like an Aquatop UV hang on the back. I also still agree. I would find cured ready to go rock and just replace it. Even with seahares that is going to be a very up hill battle.

Jakub

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

The seahare will work but the first key is to mechanically remove as much HA as possible. I had this problem once. Didn't remove a single rock but pulled as much out by hand as was possible then put the seahare in and within a week, it was all gone. This was in a 93 cube. After the HA is gone, you have do maintain the tank properly or it will return. Photo period could be to long or to intense. Overfeeding could be providing a food source. I would cut back on both and increase water changes to 20% per week. Once all HA is gone, remove the seahare and find it another home or it will die and create a whole different set of issues.