Hair Algae???????????????????????

djminus1

djminus1

Member
I just recently started getting a thick layer of red hair algae on my sand bed. Cleanup crew is apparently taking the month off. What can I buy/do to get this out of there and keep it out. I only have two fish right now so I could buy one that takes care of it. Here is the tank...
Tank:
90 FOWLR
70 lbs LR
100 lbs LS
Stock:
1 Yellow Tang
1 Perc Clown
20 Blue Legged Hermits
5 Large Scarlet Hermets
18 Turbo Snails
2 Horseshoe Crabs
10 Snails (Can't remember what they are called...they bury themselves and come out at feeding time)
1 Purple Lobster
Parameters:
Temp: 80
SG: 1.022
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: less than 10
PH: 8.0
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
i would have thought it was from high nitrates, but they seem in order, so i dont know the cause. i would aslo think the blue legs would eat it, and it not, the yellow tank. They have suppliments that will clear all that out if you want to. Or maybe you could get an angle of some sort, like a coral beuty if you want a small one, or if you want a large angel there are cirtainly tons of options. Lawnmower blennies are freakin awsome, but that is all they eat, so if this disapears, he would be in trouble. IHow long has the algae been there? Id wait a week or so and see if the yellow tang decides to do anythign about it.
 
djminus1

djminus1

Member
I am still having the problem. Water parameters are the same (nitrates are even a little lower). I tried vacuming it up but it was back within a couple of hours. My lfs told me to try maintaining a little bit higher PH (like 8.3) and to continuously suck it out of the tank. My crabs don't touch it. My tang doesn't touch it.
What do I do?
:needhelp:
 
ohiorn67

ohiorn67

Member
HI, it is not hair algae, it is red slime algae and you are describing EXACTLY what I have 2 small patches of. I hate it!! My parameters are also very fine like yours but my ph is 8.4 as of yesterday.....seems to me that the only thing you can do as I have learned is add more flow to the tank and decrease the lighting a bit and feedings. We have started turning our white lights off mid day for 3 hours and leave the actinics on during this...on the timer, it has not grown nor faded but it is not getting worse so hopefully...I also suck it out with a turkey baster and it is back in a couple hours. Such a pain! I added a powerhead also..hoping this helps it, it is cynobacteria.....that causes this kind of algae :eek:
 
fish_nooob

fish_nooob

Member
I had the same problem, my entire tank was disgusting, I almost tore it down. I actually had taken the live rock out, and gently washed it off in a low salinity solution. I also just switched from PC to T-5, 260 watts to 324 watts, and stopped feeding my tang algae whole algae sheets, cut em down to about an 1/8. my hermits were becoming dependent on the algae sheets, and getting lazy when it came to cleaning the tank. Since I cut back on the algae sheets, and also how much I feed the rest of my livestock, the problem hasnt returned. I dont know what I did right, or even if I did something right, but its been about 2 and 1/2 weeks now, and it hasnt returned. Its a battle to say the least, I fought with for close to 6 months. Good luck, I hope something I said will be of use.
 
djminus1

djminus1

Member
All good suggestions guys...thanks. Here is my attack plan...
* Raise PH from 8.0 to 8.3 using a PH buffer
* Keep sucking the stuff out with a turkey baster
* Re-align one of the three powerheads to move water over the area
* Keep the algae sheet feeding to a minimum (I dont feed it that much to begin with)
* Watch the rest of my feeding and reduce waste
* Maintain nitrates under 10
Anything else to add??? :notsure:
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
cyano is actually not an algae at all and why your animals wont eat it. it's one of the oldest lifeforms on earth. the organism actually is one of the earths major oxygen contributors. their is a great thread on how to rid your tank of it. i don't know where to find it but hopefully someone one here can link you to it. good luck
 
rstiles

rstiles

Member
what's your phosphate levels at ? if's it high it will help it to grow,I had/have the same problem I added chemi-clean
it really works but I got a little lazy and got it back,started the cycle over and so far no problem.
 
samuel_l

samuel_l

New Member
i had the same problem, then i used some chem clean, and no longer have the slime. you can get the powder at your local shop, it works. just follow the directions and make a significant water change
 
scubadoo

scubadoo

Active Member
Sometimes what is growing is consuming nutrients as they develop...which means tests appear okay but you really still have a nutrient problem somewhere.
 
djminus1

djminus1

Member
Ok...I think I am going to get some Chemi-Clean but I hate to use additives. I don't like putting stuff into my tanks. Is there any way to rid my tank or red slime without chemicals? If not, I will go the Chemi-Clean route.
 
samuel_l

samuel_l

New Member
i was really frustrated and had tried numerous things, chemy clean was the only thing that worked for me, i did it about 2 months ago and have had no problems since, just make sure you do the water change
 
samuel_l

samuel_l

New Member
i was really frustrated and had tried numerous things, chemy clean was the only thing that worked for me, i did it about 2 months ago and have had no problems since, just make sure you do the water change, and shut off your skimmer
 
djminus1

djminus1

Member
Ok...just got the chemiclean. Here are my questions.
Q) When do I do the 20% water change? The bottle says after a full treatment. Does this mean right after I add the stuff or after some period of time? The bottle does not specify.
Q) Do I really need to shut off my skimmer? The directions do not say so.
Q) Do I really need to aerate? I have lots of surface movement on my tank.
Q) Any other suggestions?
 
scubadoo

scubadoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by djminus1
Ok...just got the chemiclean. Here are my questions.
Q) When do I do the 20% water change? The bottle says after a full treatment. Does this mean right after I add the stuff or after some period of time? The bottle does not specify.
Q) Do I really need to shut off my skimmer? The directions do not say so.
Q) Do I really need to aerate? I have lots of surface movement on my tank.
Q) Any other suggestions?
Don't use it.....find out what is causing the prblem..address it and the problem will go away....the only suggestion I have
 
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