Green Hair Algae - Good grazers?

[westwind77]

I have been having a green hair algae problem and I was wondering what snails, crabs, fish, do a good job controlling it?
I have 3 emerald crabs but they do not seem to be doing much.
All my tests come back excellent, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, etc. I am having a real issue trying to figure out why it is continuing to spread. I use a DI filter for my water, all tests with that are 0 as well.
I feed every other day, so I am watching the overfeeding issue as well.
The only thing I can think of is that the dying hair algae is feeding the existing hair algae. I just have a few fish and LR in the tank now, I wanted to get the algae issue under control before adding coral.
I am wondering if it is better just to suck it up, remove the LR, scrub it, and set it back up again. It took me so long to get the 'perfect' placements though.
If I go that route do I have to worry about any spikes? I figured it is already cured and if anything I am removing dead hair algae and not letting it decompose in the tank.
Recently upgraded lighting, (2x250 MH fixture), but only have then on for 4 hours a day right now, so not getting too much light.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[sickboy]

Hmm...seems like you are doing everything right....
Manuel removal is best b/c you are physically taking out the trates and phos in your water (my tests read zero as well, but it was b/c the algae was sucking it up).
What size of tank? Do you have a sump? Skimmer? Refugium?
Well, depending on the size a Tang would probably eat it. If you have a smaller tank, try a Rainfords Goby. These things are algae eating monsters. Unlike other herbivores I have seen, this fish will ONLY eat algae. When I feed the tank it doesn't even look at the food but starts eating GHA.
Also, i introduced some Macro Algae to my tank. I can't remember the name of it right now, but it looks cool and is much, much easier to control than hair algae.

 

[westwind77]

Yes, I was thinking that my results were good, but figuring the algae was feeding on all of it before it was 'testable'. It is a 110g, no skimmer, no sump, no fuge, yes I know I just made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I actually have had great luck with current and past tanks with none of that equipment, this is a newer tank, bought LR from someone local breaking down their tank, did not 'see' the algae before it was too late. I am thinking once I get all the old/dead off that things will stabalize like my other tanks. Might have to scrub and get a tang or goby for any residual algae.

 

[sickboy]

I took all of my rock out and scrubbed it, it didn't have an adverse effect.
I don't have a sump or fuge either, but I do have a skimmer. I would recommend one, but I'm sure you have been told that over and over, but you know, there is no reason people can't try out other ways of maintaining a tank

 

[jayking232003]

Well, its gonna keep growing till you get a filter and skimmer! its not gonna take itself out I could be wrong. and i really doubt you'll be able to get all of it! Do you have any current to your water or just sitting still?
So what do you do,, just put more live rock and live sand in the tank? I haven't seen a tank with nothing on it before

 

[sickboy]

Also, the Macro I introduced into my tank was Acanthophora specifera. It is growing like crazy and I think it choked out a lot of the GHA. Like I said, it looks kinda cool and is a lot easier to pull out.

 

[nycbob]

i'd recommend getting a skimmer too. a skimmer will help along with using ro water for water change. also, during ur water change, try pulling and scrubing as much hair algae as possible off the rocks. the turbo snails (Turbo fluctuosa) from mexico or the paciific will eat hair algae. when u get them, place the snails on the rocks with hair algae, and u will see the result in a few days.

 

[bizzmoneyb]

turbo snails do pretty good with algae, and ive heard mexican turbos do a really good job. also many tangs are algae eaters as well.

 

[scotikis]

I have three Mexican Turbo's and they're doing a fine job on the algae

 

[dabnub]

I heard sea hares are good at removing hair algae anyone ever had one my lfs only has large ones i dont know what i would do with it after algae is gone , its large and ugly

 

[westwind77]

Ok, I am going to bite the bullet and remove/scrub the LR this weekend. Will set up a couple large containers in the basement with heated saltwater to do the work in. For the person asking about the flow in the tank I have an Eheim Wet/Dry canister, a Lifegard Aquatics advanced filtration kit to handle mechanical filtration, and a Koralia 4, so total around 2400gph. That seems to work good for the 110g, with the 48" in length.
Now comes the fun part of trying to get all the critters out of the LR! I have 3 small sand sifters, which should not be a proplem, but I have to get the brittle star, banded coral shrimp, and pepermint shrimps to give up their home for a little bit. Does anyone have any good ideas how to do this?
I was thinking of gently moving the rock in the tank, slowly taking it out, hoping they would rather stay in the tank than go into the air, then taking them all out right before i put the LR back, that way I do not have to worry about hurting them when I re-install it all.
Any other suggestions?