taking out rocks to clean?

[patrick8929]

hey everyone
i really want to just get rid of the hair algea in my tank once and for all. i was thinking i could take all the rocks out that dont have coral on them and spray them off and let them dry out over night. im wondering wat i can do with my fire fish because he is already really skidish and i just put him in a week ago.
i dont have another tank to put him in. wat can i do?
thnx,
patrick

 

[hatessushi]

If you take the rock out and let it dry out you and then put it back in the tank it will cycle again. If you have a firefish in there it would prbably die. You might trying getting a creature that eats hair algea or kepp your nitrates and phosphates way down.
You could take it out and put it in some tank water when you do a water change and scrub the algea off as long as it doesn't dry out and you remove any sponges or other stuff you could probably put it back in the tank without a cycle again.
the only problem with that idea is that the hair algea will most likely come back unless you take car of the water issues letting it grow.

 

[patrick8929]

ok cool thnx
i guess i didnt think about that i was more worried about stress on the fish not a whole new water cycle
any recomendations on a good hair algea eater?

 

[hatessushi]

Hermit crabs, Tangs, Rabbitfish, Angelfish, Diadema Urchin, Tuxedo Urchin, Limpets(seaslugs).
Probably a better way to control hair algea would be to;
1. Maintain alkalinity above 8 dKH
2. Use phosphate export via Protein skimming, algea filter, or Phosphate
absorbing media