Help !good or bad algae

[dindi]

What is good algae? I have a boat load of hair algae (I think) is this good or bad? Also, how do I get those little 'pods in my tank you guys are always talking about? I have a fluval 404 filter and and outside bio-wheel filter, the biggest they make. My tank dosen't have any fish in it yet but I have a coral beauty and a gramma going in soon from my QT. Got lots of algae! I also have a cleaner shrimp, banded coral shrimp and 1 hermit crab plus 6 turbo snails. I also have a green polyp rock. I NEED help. THANKS ALL

 

[krazzydart]

check the phosephates levels..... also pick out as much as you can by hand,,,, only give the tank 6-7 hrs of light a day...... get your clean-up crew in right away..... get a emerald and a sally lightfoot crab,,,,, they are good at eating hair algae,,,, also a few pepermint shrimp as well,,,,, BEWARE and keep an eye on the BANDED shrimp.... they get aggressive as they get bigger!!!! ( My exp. with them)
Good luck !!!

 

[kris walker]

I've also read in a book that "hair-like" algae are good for reef tanks in that they remove nitrate from the water and produce oxygen, thereby completing the nitrogen cycle. According to the book, "blue-green" algae (looks like slimy green mat) is bad, and indicates an explosion of conditions that make water quality bad.
There still could be a phosphate problem though, and it should be tackled at the source level if too much algae take over the tank. Of course, some are very cautious, and kill the algae immediately, not giving them a chance to explore your entire tank. However, you should also be able to control their proliferation by a little TLC (proper feeding rates, having an adequately sized, cycled biological filter, performing periodic water changes, etc).
I've heard from posters that other macro algae are better in that they are more attractive, and don't spread all over the tank. Eg. Caulerpa. But you probably have to pay for them.
sam