green hair algae

[megabyte]

I started getting some hairy green algae growin in my reef tank. Never had this problem before. What can I do to get rid of it besides buying some emerald crabs. I was told to spike the ph a little then bring it back down to normal. Any suggestions?

 

[bosco0633]

In my opinion, a good clean up crew. Turbo snails, blue hermit crabs. Check your water levels, and if your lights are old, think about replacing them.
Last but not least check what the phosphate level is on you fish food. I was having a problem like that until I went to low phosphate fish food.

 

[tracklighter]

Check your phosphates and nitrates. How old is the tank? What water are you using to change and topoff? I never heard about the ph spike before. What is the theory behind this? I had some hair algae about 6 weeks after my tank was started. Now after adding my cleanup crew and making sure the phosphates were 0 and nitrates were low, there is no hair algae. This is a pic when my tank was about 6 weeks old:

 

[tracklighter]

This is a pic now:

 

[megabyte]

Thank you for the responses....I read about the PH spike in a popular aqaurium book, I forget the authors name, he is well known though.
I had my water checked at the lfs and it is perfect except that my CA is a little low.
I changed my VHO's 3 months ago. I havent changed my hallide or actinic. Would that make a difference?
I use ro water to top off.

 

[nerdy]

I agree with bosco, lights are usually the main cause of green hair algae. If they are older the spectrum you want has faded out.
Turbo snails and a bunch of blue hermits will clean it up in no time!!