Hair algea

[ahvrivera]

Hello to all. I am new to the forum and I was wondering if someone can help me:help: I have a 55Gal marine with LR set up. With a tidepool sump, 10gal refugium, protine skimmer and a PC lighting w/Moonlights. Lights are on 9 to 11 hours a day. I am getting amassive amount of hair algea growing everywhere. Can someone tell me why and how to prevented or get rid of it? I thought the refugium would help but, no results yet. Thanks for all your help. Oh the tank has been set up for almost a year.
Austyn

 

[timsedwards]

Hey there Austyn,
Welcome to the Board!:cheer:
OK you need to post your Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite levels. If you can test/post your PO4 (Phosphate) levels and if possible again (maybe a trip to the LFS) Silicate levels.
What clean up crew do you have?
Tim.

 

[ahvrivera]

Hello Tim,
My readings are. 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, O phosphates, ammonia 0. I did notice my KH and GH were rather high. I think I had to add 17 drops before it changed colors to KH. And Gh was about 26 drops. I did the test 3 times to make sure I was doing it right. And all 3 times it was 26 drops. Thanks for your help it's greatly appreciated.:scared:

 

[jeepboy]

A lawnmower blenny will get rid of it. My tank is spotless....only problem now is that the blenny begs for food now since he still wants to eat all the time.

 

[ahvrivera]

I do have a large lawnmower blenny. But it doesn't look like he's eating the hair algea. I also have 6 astria snails,1 brittle star, 2 sand sifters stars, 10 blue leg, 2 emerals crabs,2 peppermint shrimps, 1 cleaner shrimp. Along with a flame angel, hippo, Hiniocus, bar goby, strawberry dotty, Basket star, yellow tang,, Percula. And a spawning pair of Gold stripe marrons.

 

[dreeves]

What kind of water are you using? How old are your test kits? How old are your light bulbs?

 

[ahvrivera]

I am using aged water. I breed freshwater angelfish. I have a 300 gal sump I use to do water changes with. My test kits are barely 2 months old.Master test kit. It comes i a small tackle box. And the lights are 4 months old. I have 43 tanks total. 3 salt and the rest fresh. I don't have this problem with the 2 other salt tanks. 37 gal and the 125. Just the 55. I am using the same equipment on all 3. with the exeption of the size of the wet dry. I also have three 10w u.v. light on each tank. Thanks for your help.,Austyn