Originally Posted by JO118
I have a ten gallon and a 55 gallon. Both fairly young, cycled. MY only fish are clownfish in both tanks. They are both FO tanks, with bleanched coral. I have had hair-like algae growth growing at a steady rate, on the coral, dolomite, and now a ton on the sand in the small tank.
i took out all the coral and cleaned the substrates but it came back immedietly.
Where does this come from!!!!
How do i stop it!!!!
Ok, lets talk the basics. Hair algae, usually Bryopsis can over take a tank that is loaded with the correct combination of nutrients. Abundance of Light, poor circulation, nitrates, and phosphates. These things come in old tank water, tap water, dirty filters, fertilizers.....trace elements or vitamin suppliments (dosing with additives when not tested for) and excess food.
How does one go about getting rid of it? A major water change with RO/DI water is a must. Since your decorations are fake clean them very good once more. Increase your water circulation. And cut back on your lights. You may need to do this more than once.....the water changes.
It is not surprising that the little tank is loaded. Very little room for error, and high nutrient overload can happen faster than in a larger tank.
Use of a poly filter will help with phosphates and organics. Good luck. Water changes really are the number one key here. If using tap, test your water for nitrates, ammonia etc. you may be surprised. I sure was...my water is high in nitrates right out of the tap. If using RO/DI maybe it is time for the filters to be changed.
