Quote:
Originally Posted by
Slice http:///forum/thread/385287/har-algae-help#post_3378211
I just nipped in the bud an emerging HA outbreak. It happened from a couple of weeks of sloppy feedings.
(there is that biotope trying to seek balance thing again)
I manually pulled off all I could; took a toothbrush to the rest (with a powerfilter borrowed from the QT running).
I then brought in a gang of Astrea snails and a couple small Mex Turbos. That was a week ago, now all my rock is pristine.
I now will have to feed the expanded CUC to keep them alive and ready for any future outbreak.
as a related aside, dovetailling with what nike said, I've read posts in other forums by reliable sources, Anthony Calfo, most notably, that reducing your photoperiod to reduce HA is not a good idea. The reduction of light will also hinder the beneficial algae and nutrient eaters in the system that tries to outcompete the HA. This may be especially true in this case, with other macros in the tank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/385287/har-algae-help#post_3378438
Slice has pretty much hit it on the head. I know you have that non-removable rock wall; I presume the algae is on that??
I had a similar problem when I let it get a little out of hand on my foam rock column. Couldn't very well remove that either. My main choice of battle gear was a toothbrush, frequent water changes, and snails. I also used a little chemical warfare, but I wouldn't recommend it to you since you have macroalgae in the tank.
It seems to me that the smaller mexican turbo snails do a better job at QUICKLY mowing down HA. Larger ones move slower, seem lile they eat less, and of course they're much bigger bulldozers to contend with. I would choose at least 4 small Mexican turbos.
If your HA is actually BRYOPSIS, then I would definitely suggest you read up on Magnesium additives. You increase your Mg levels to 1600ppm (iirc) but you MUST have a good Mg test kit, and test daily. It did work for me, but at the cost of an Acan frag....they may not like the excess Mg, or perhaps I went too quickly and shocked it. Everything else in my tank survived just fine, and the Bryopsis patch I had is long gone.
Some people have had success with Lettuce sea slugs, but from what I've read it's a hit-or-miss game if they will actually eat HA or not. Apparently there are multiple species of slugs that are given the generic aquarium-trade name "lettuce sea slug" and they don't all eat the same thing.
It does not look like bryopsis to me. The hair algae is indeed on my unremovable rock wall. It isn't long enough to really pluck. A few rocks are fuzzy but even after putting a shield between that section of rock and the light...it is still getting fuzzier. The back wall does not get as much current as the center of the tank. My SHs were very messy eaters until I got them used to the feeding station.
There are no power heads in this tank because it is a SH tank and little tails cling to things they shouldn't. I have two spray bars as my return water from the sump. (2Quills built it)
I was afraid to rub it and spread spores...are you guys saying for me to indeed rub it with a new toothbruch? (mark it fish only) What use is the power head?
