Bad case of Hair Algae

[snugz fish]

Hey everybody. I'm new to the boards here so please forgive me if there are answers elsewhere and I haven't found them yet.
I have a 75 gal reef tank that has been up and running for almost a year and a half now. I have always had a small problem with nitrates being high and recently got them under control along with a bad slime algae problem. I also know that phosphates can be a cause so I bought a very good RO/DI unit online. I did a water change a week or so ago with the new water and suddenly I have a major issue with hair algae in my tank. It has caused some problems with my corals as it is starting to grow on the bubble coral's base. My tank is pretty well stocked to the limit with fish and snails tend to die rather quickly for some odd reason. Any advice would really be appreciated. Thanks all.
Wade:help:

 

[bot587]

Try a lawnmower blenny (they are reef safe and cut through hair algae!)

 

[liquidskys]

lawnmower blenny (AKA> Algea blenny)
or even a Bi-color blenny.. <---- not as dedicated to algea eating as the lawnmower version. but loook cooler and still do a amazing job..
Ive had my bi-color for a few weeks and he's pretty much got all my green hair algea gone!

 

[nm reef]

Sounds like you have a sweet system established. There are natural predators that can help but the best course of action is to control excess nutrients that the algaes require. If possible provide additional information on your system especially in regard to filtration/circulation/lighting...any additives. A good skimmer...keeping lighting updated and in spectrum...adaquate circulation...avoiding over feeding ... all can help control hair algaes. Maybe with additional info members here can help determine the source of your algaes and assist you in getting the situation under control.
...and before I forget...Welcome to the forums...always a pleasure to have another dedicated hobbyist join our ranks.

 

[snugz fish]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I do have a blenny of some sort in my tank, but I can't identify him nor does he stand still long enough to get a decent pic. If I can get one I will post it for all to see and help identify.
As for my tank info, it is a 75 gal with a sand base. Aproximately 25 lbs of live rock. I currently have an Emperor 400 and a SeaClone Skimmer running all the time. I have two MaxiJet 1200 powerheads running, they used to have a foam filter on them, but they kept clogging on me so I removed them. As for lights I have a custom built system with 4-65 watt 10K power compacts (on for 10 hours per day) and 2-65 watt power compact actinics (on for 12 hours per day).
I feed the fish usually two times daily with frozen and flake food. As for additives I use Kent Zoe, Calcium, Coral Accel, and Iron daily in the reccomended dosages. Weekly I add Kent Strontium & Molybdenum and Iodine. Every other day I add 2 tablespoons of DT's phytoplankton.
I know the tank is a little heavily stocked with fish and corals, but I plan on moving some of the fish to my larger tank as soon as they are large enough to hang in there with my "big boys." However, I do keep an eye on my levels and as I said, other than the nitrates being a little high, everything is in great shape. Especially now that I have started using the RO/DI to keep the phosphates at 0.
Thanks for all your help once again everyone. I really do appreciate it!
Wade

 

[ajwaters]

what worked for me was a poly filter and later i found out it was th RO water i was getting so went back to the old machine. haven't seen it since

 

[sawillia]

I too had a hair problem. I added 10 more Astrae snails (sp) and a LMB. They are doing a good job...
Fowever I have cylindrical filter on my overflow stack. I noticed it was excessibly clogged with Green algae, I remove it weekly and clean it with fresh water... then replace the cylinder.
Those three combined with RO water have pretty much cleared my tank...
I did doo one more. as I noticed the hair floating in the water cloumn I added a poly filter in my sump to pre filter the water prior to entering the sump. Clean those two filters regularly... :jumping:
You might want to look up issues with OLD Tank Disease... your DSB might be you nitrate factory. But, there is alot of back and forth about that. You'll have to read and make a judegement and do what's right for you and your tank... HTH...
This forum shed the light...