hunterdaddy
Member
How do I get rid of hair algea and what causes it? I have a lawnmower blenny but he dosen't eat much. my LFS has some stuff that he says works well. I just am hard pressed for cash right now. any suggestions???
hair algea problems
- Thread starter hunterdaddy
- Start date
musipilot
Member
I'm a veteran of the Hair Algae wars, let me tell you what I've discovered.
Your best friends in defeating the hair algae problem are light and water changes.
I actually set up a 29 gallon tank with algae filled rocks to see how to get rid of it, here's my technique.
If you have corals or other light dependant creatures, they will need to go somewhere else for a while.
Turn the lights OFF on the tank for 30 days. No light at all.
Do 10% water changes every other day for 1 week, then every 3 days for the rest of the 30 days the lights are off. Clean what hair algae you can physically, and use a brine shimp net to catch the loose algae that will float in the water. I would recommend a good foam filter (like an aquaclear) for a while during this process, it catches tremendous amounts of loose algae.
After the 30 days, you can start turning the lights back on, slowly, starting with 4 hours a day, and adding an hour a week until you're up to about 7 1/2 to 8 a day. With this method I've managed to control the hair algae very well. Forget about creatures eating it, doesn't seem to work!
Good luck, let us know how you make out.
Your best friends in defeating the hair algae problem are light and water changes.
I actually set up a 29 gallon tank with algae filled rocks to see how to get rid of it, here's my technique.
If you have corals or other light dependant creatures, they will need to go somewhere else for a while.
Turn the lights OFF on the tank for 30 days. No light at all.
Do 10% water changes every other day for 1 week, then every 3 days for the rest of the 30 days the lights are off. Clean what hair algae you can physically, and use a brine shimp net to catch the loose algae that will float in the water. I would recommend a good foam filter (like an aquaclear) for a while during this process, it catches tremendous amounts of loose algae.
After the 30 days, you can start turning the lights back on, slowly, starting with 4 hours a day, and adding an hour a week until you're up to about 7 1/2 to 8 a day. With this method I've managed to control the hair algae very well. Forget about creatures eating it, doesn't seem to work!
Good luck, let us know how you make out.
clarkiiboi
Active Member
Your on the right track with wanting to get it under control and then, maybe (most likely, IMO) the lawnmower will maintain it. Dont use any chemicals, its just a temporary fix. I battled it and have won with no chemicals.
Give some specifics on the tank. How old? water source? parameters? lighting/are they new or maybe need replaced? feeding? and everything else you can give, basically from top to bottom list what you have. Trust me it helps, never too much info. HTH
Give some specifics on the tank. How old? water source? parameters? lighting/are they new or maybe need replaced? feeding? and everything else you can give, basically from top to bottom list what you have. Trust me it helps, never too much info. HTH
dattong
Member
Just order the "big boy" package from this site (best for 100g) It offers 100 turbos and 100 blue legs. Believe me they'll clean your tank in the matter of days (not even a week). I had hair algea bloom last few weeks but now they've all gone. don't bother to move your corals to another tank or reduce your lighting period. It's stressful for the corals being moved back and forth.
dreeves
Active Member
Hair algea thrives on Nitrates, Phosphates and Silicates.
When you scrape/clean the living hair algea from the glass, etc...the pieces you miss while sucking them out (providing you do) simply turn into new food (nitrate and phosphate) for new growth.
Control the nitrate's, phosphate's, and silicate's in the aquarium.
-Use RO/DI water.
-Ensure lighting is of higher quality and out of the orange/red range. Older lights change their lighting abilities moving to the red end of the spectrum.
-Get snails.
-In the early stages, clean old algea...do a 10 or so percent water change. Repeat this about every 3 days or so.
You will go through some salt at first, so ensure you have enough available. Once you have the problem under control (removing live growth), continue with the water changes to prevent the spores and such from re-attaching and obtaining new nutrients.
Only use RO/DI water. Don't use tap water. Monitor lights. Keep snails.
Stay away from chemical removers. Natural is always best.
You should never rely solely on clean up crews. They should only augment your continuing efforts.
Good luck.
When you scrape/clean the living hair algea from the glass, etc...the pieces you miss while sucking them out (providing you do) simply turn into new food (nitrate and phosphate) for new growth.
Control the nitrate's, phosphate's, and silicate's in the aquarium.
-Use RO/DI water.
-Ensure lighting is of higher quality and out of the orange/red range. Older lights change their lighting abilities moving to the red end of the spectrum.
-Get snails.
-In the early stages, clean old algea...do a 10 or so percent water change. Repeat this about every 3 days or so.
You will go through some salt at first, so ensure you have enough available. Once you have the problem under control (removing live growth), continue with the water changes to prevent the spores and such from re-attaching and obtaining new nutrients.
Only use RO/DI water. Don't use tap water. Monitor lights. Keep snails.
Stay away from chemical removers. Natural is always best.
You should never rely solely on clean up crews. They should only augment your continuing efforts.
Good luck.
smellsfishy
Member
hey this is a good thread. Seems like theres a new hair algea question every week or so.
I too am in the midst of a hair algea battle. The stuff sprung up over night once I added (well..doubled) my PC lighting. Its slowly coming under control (not growing) with lots of water changes, and not overfeeding the tank. I also added a bunch of bigger snails to the ranks of the smaller snails and hermit crabs, and they are great. Plus a little blue tang and coral beauty. They are eating it like crazy. Oh, and a emerald crab. HTH
I too am in the midst of a hair algea battle. The stuff sprung up over night once I added (well..doubled) my PC lighting. Its slowly coming under control (not growing) with lots of water changes, and not overfeeding the tank. I also added a bunch of bigger snails to the ranks of the smaller snails and hermit crabs, and they are great. Plus a little blue tang and coral beauty. They are eating it like crazy. Oh, and a emerald crab. HTH
B
bambalamb
Guest
I have battled hair algae in the past and all the previous posts have covered about all of the causes and cures. Just thought I would add that my LFS recommends a Kole Tang for eating/removing hair algae. HTH