Hair algae/No phosphates
- Thread starter pstanley
- Start date
jedininja
Member
I had the same problem. One of the factors was the amount of light. I reduced the amount of time that my lights were on. This reduced the rate of growth of the hair algae. Then I pulled off what I could. I added a cleanup crew. This was perfect. Now hair algae still grows but the inverts eat it as fast as it grows. So its now a great food source for my inverts as well as my kole tang. I know this didnt totally answer your question of what causes it. My only guess on the cause is the hours of light. But I hope it helped in some way.
nosmada
Member
how long has your tank been set up ? i also had a problem with hair algae. as jedininja posted, i also cut down my lighting time. it took a couple weeks for it to finally subside but, that was the day i went and bought timers and set up a lighting cycle. the only problem i see with your setup is that you have your corals which need the light. i would check out what is recommended as a minimum lighting peroid for what you have and go with that for a bit. one last question, do you have your tank near a window? this could also cause a problem.
hth,
chris
hth,
chris
pstanley
Member
Thanks for the replies. To answer the questions...the tank has been set up for about 6 months (i think??). It is not by the window. I will try reducing the light time...right now it is probably on too long when I stop and think about it. It goes on about 6:30 and off around 8. Will the light reduction affect the macro algae? I do pull the hair algae off (about every other day) and also bought the Rainfords goby which feasts on it constantly but I already let it get out of hand.
nosmada
Member
6:30am to 8pm or 6:30pm to 8 pm ? if its am to pm i would start dropping that to about 10-11 hours, depending on the needs of your corals as i said. on thing i notices was you have a manderine. you should watch him carefully. they thrive on LR and pods. with a tank that is only 6 months or so i doubt you have enought there to support his diet.
hth,
chris
hth,
chris
q
Member
With macro algea and hair algea I would doubt that you would detect any phosphates too.
At the 6 month mark my tank started getting hair algea also. I reduced feeding then pulled out as much as I could by hand. (to keep it from realising phosphates when it dies) Have not seen any more since.
Just keep after it and play around with your feedings a bit and pull off as much as you can. As long as it deosn't prolifferate in the tank then it reallly is just part of the tank/keeper maturing.
Good luck
At the 6 month mark my tank started getting hair algea also. I reduced feeding then pulled out as much as I could by hand. (to keep it from realising phosphates when it dies) Have not seen any more since.
Just keep after it and play around with your feedings a bit and pull off as much as you can. As long as it deosn't prolifferate in the tank then it reallly is just part of the tank/keeper maturing.
Good luck
pstanley
Member
The lights are on from am to pm. I will try dropping it down to 11 hours and continue to pull the hair algae off. I was concerned about the pod population when I bought the manderin also. I actually bought it because of the pod population...I can look at any piece of rock and see TONS of pods running around. Fortunately he also eats brine 