Help!!! Green hair scare......

[six line wrasse]

Greetings,
I've started to have a bad case of hair algae in my 55 gallon. It's everyhere. On the liverock and growing on my other stuff as well. All the water stuff is in check. I've been doing by weekly water changes with purified water. Still can't seem to get rid of it.
I've even taken the rock out and scrubbed and picked this stuff off. My tank looks killer for 3-5 days and then BOOM. Mass outbreak again. Any suggestions? I have cut back on lighting and feed the fish every other day.
Do any of these phosphate additives work? I'm scared to use them. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[bammbamm74]

Ok, I've had probs with this. What are you changing your water with? Tapwater? What is your lighting? You probably have high phosphates and maybe not enough light. You can get a phosphate remover, either a sponge or a liquid added to the tank that helps phosphates get removed via the skimmer. After you scrub it, get some crabs and they will help keep it in check.

 

[jim672]

I'd get a Phosphate test kit first to confirm that phospahte is the cause of your algea outbreak. Assuming it is, there are some good products out there to help control it. PhosAbsorb and other phosphate spongs can be placed in small net bags and put in your cannister filter, sump, or directly in your tank.
If you have high phosphate levels it's an indication of other situations happening.....you may be feeding too much, there may be high amounts of built up detritus (waste, dirt, old food, etc) in your substrate. Are you using crushed coral at the bottom of your tank or sand? If CC, invest in a good "gravel vacuum" (about $20) to help remove your built up detritus. Better yet, if you do have CC, remove it and add Live sand as your substrate.
By the way, scrubbing the rock worked for me, after I found the reason I had the algea and remedied that.
Good luck.
Jim

 

[six line wrasse]

BammBamm74,
I use RO/DI water for my water changes. Lights are 4 65 watt PC's. Have a CPR backpack which runs wide open daily.
Andy

 

[six line wrasse]

Jim,
Using sand and LS for the substrate. I have a 4-4 1/2" sand bed. I'm starting to wonder if the stuff is coming from other things in the water. Stuff behind the liverock where I can't seem to vacuum. I have a coral banded shrimp that seems to clean up the extra food pretty well at night.
I'm going to have to have the stuff tested for phosphates.
Andy

 

[bammbamm74]

Look at what Jim672 put down. That's what needs to happen. Remember, the skimmer won't remove phosphates until you get a product like Saliferts Phosphate Remover. I'm still new to this =) Just throwing out there my experiences.

 

[six line wrasse]

Say bammbamm,
Where can you buy the Saliferts Phosphate removal stuff? Any online stores you know that carry this stuff. I'm going to give it a try.
Anyone else tried these phosphate pads? I've seen them advertised @ pet warehouse. They call them phosphate pads made by Jungle Inc. Just sorta scared to put them in my tank. I just want to rid my tank of this damn hair crap.
Andy <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />

 

[lerch]

Get you a lawnmower blenny, they kick butt. Mine cleans the rock all day long and is really cool to watch. they don't seem to do much for cleaning the glass but they mow down algea on the rock.

 

[rabid frog]

there is a product called marine s.a.t its nto a chemical but they are enzimes that eat the algae... anyone else hear of this my lfs has it and turned me to it.. <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[bammbamm74]

I got mine from Jeff's Exotic Fish. They have a website and you can call them. <a href="http://www.exoticfish.com" target="_blank">www.exoticfish.com</a> it was $10. I put it in and my skimmer cup is filling up really fast. Looks like it's doing a good job.
The thing with lawnmower blennies is that they won't eat the really long algae.

 

[six line wrasse]

Cool,
I believe I will order some of the phosphate remover from Jeff's Exotics. Thanks for the help fellows.
Andy

 

[six line wrasse]

Cool,
I believe I will order some of the phosphate remover from Jeff's Exotics. Thanks for the help fellows.
Andy

 

[drummerboy]

The phos-zorb sponges do work well too, mine was an aquarium pharmasuticals brand. I had started with tap water (didn't know any better), it took it about two weeks, but got my levels down to zero.