Green Hair Outbreak

kevvypoop313

kevvypoop313

Member
What is going on in my tank? I have 125 gallon tank, 150 pounds of live rock, 80 lbs of live sand, and about 30 snails. Out of nowhere green algae and some brown is growing fast. What do i do? Tank is maybe 2 months old... fairly new cycled i think.
thank you
kevin
 
wingzfan

wingzfan

Member
My tank is now 8 months in...and i still have hair algae. I find that hermit crabs work really well and i just added a bunch so hopefully they will take care of it. You prolly know this but make sure you use RO/DI water.
 
buckeye88

buckeye88

Member
You might want to check your phosphate. If they're high you get that. Also, your tank is very new and that is common with new tanks. I had bad hair algea and I went out and bought a couple of emerald crabs and not only arethey really neat little animals but they eat that algea by the claw full. also tangs and especially lawnmower blennys (although they're ugly) eat lots of algea.
 
X

xrobbx03

Guest
Originally Posted by Buckeye88
You might want to check your phosphate. If they're high you get that. Also, your tank is very new and that is common with new tanks. I had bad hair algea and I went out and bought a couple of emerald crabs and not only arethey really neat little animals but they eat that algea by the claw full. also tangs and especially lawnmower blennys (although they're ugly) eat lots of algea.
I agree you probably have some phosphated in there. The best thing to do is pinpoint the problem and fix it. You can buy crabs and certain fish that will take care of hair algea but it is only a temp solution. Until you can find the root of the problem you will always have hair algea.
 
reefmate75

reefmate75

Member
ive tried to keep a patch of this hair algy i cant seem to keep it, i like the way it flows and moves like grass, my tangs shread it to pices when i get a hunk of ity from my friend, it dies and is eaten withen 3 days in my tank...good food for tangs BTW, wish i could keep a patch,
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
It is common to go through a period of this in new tanks. Just keep it under control. Pick it out if you need to. Are your water levels staying balanced out. It may still be to early to add the fish that help, but I would go with the crabs that are suggested. Emerals and more hermits. Mexican turbos mow through mine if it is kept in check. Maybe decrease light period and if it gets really bad turn you rocks with it upsidedown.
 
X

xrobbx03

Guest
if you want to pick up a crab for hair algea, go with a sally light foot.
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Originally Posted by mcbdz
It is common to go through a period of this in new tanks. Just keep it under control. Pick it out if you need to. Are your water levels staying balanced out. It may still be to early to add the fish that help, but I would go with the crabs that are suggested. Emerals and more hermits. Mexican turbos mow through mine if it is kept in check. Maybe decrease light period and if it gets really bad turn you rocks with it upsidedown.

This is what worked for me. I cut the photoperiod back significantly and made sure my clean-up crew was up to snuff. I have the turbo snails and astraea snails...after about a week or so the hair algae was gone and has not come back. It will go away, just takes a little time!
 
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