There seems to be a hair algae epidemic

[sterling]

I've taken note of all the posts regarding hair algae problems. Mine being one of them.
Does it seem unusual that there are so many lately? or am I just more aware of them because of my problem?
And, in regards to my continuing battle with the hairy algae thing.......I took down my MH's and put my PC's back up. I know, I know.......but it's another attempt to figure out the problem.
So now in my fight I have:
1. Done a 50 to 60% water change
2. Took out all the rock and scrubbed off hair algea with toothbrush.
3. Put tank back together with rock rearranged to put algae-growing sides down.
4. Added new phosphate pads, phosphate sponges
5. Upped the skimmer rate
6. Added 6 royal urchins, one lawnmower blenny, more crabs, more snails and a foxface
7. Test the water weekly, additives as seemed needed
8. Hand pick the hair algae out, but now have a handy, dandy brush that looks like an overgrown toothbrush that I found in the painting area at Sears, works great
9. cleaned all the filters and filter pads
10. And today took the MH's down and put the PC's back up, and added more powerheads for more water movement.
And to all that I have been using a product called AZ-NO3, and my skimmer every day is full of green gunk. And am doing 10 to 20% weekly water changes.
I'll keep posting on progress, or no progress.

 

[krishj39]

I know! It does seem like we have gotten a lot of threads lately on hair algae problems. Of course, I may also just be noticing them more because that is the algae I also struggle with. Currently, I have mine fairly under control, just a few little bits here and there. I have been fairly aggressive at hand pulling it, which seems to have helped a lot. I've tried most of those solutions too, Sterling, and had only nominal results. My next big solution (which I really feel will solve it once and for all) is to get a much more adequate RO/DI. Right now I just have the "economy" model, 2-chamber RO, which I'm very skeptical of doing much filtering at all. Thankfully, my water is very good without any filtration, so I've been able to get away with it. I'm going to upgrade to a 6-chamber RO/DI once I get the cash, and I hope that will solve my problems. It will also make it easier for me to do water changes, as I have been avoiding them because I suspect I'm adding worse water from my RO than I am taking out of the tank. Let us know how that chemical works for you. If you think it is effective, I'll have to get some.

 

[aarone]

hair algae is just a common thing.

 

[jonthefb]

do a search on the net for a product called Marine SST (formerly Marine SAT) thsi product was reccommended to our shop by a fellow reefer in Boulder....it is a bacterial supplement not and algicide, that actually competes with hair algae for nutrients in the water column....this bacteria basically overpowers the algae by sucking up all the nutrients and the algae just disappears.....one of our employees is using it in his 90 and says that it works wonders....we are also using it in a few tanks at the shop and are noticing considerably less hair algae....if you can find it i would reccommend it...im usually not for these sort of things....but the bacteria is a natural bacteria found in seawater!
good luck
jon

 

[sterling]

Jon, this product I'm using AZ-NO3 is also a biological product that competes for the same nutrients as the hair algae. I think that is why my skimmer is going bezerk and full of green gunk every day.

 

[hondo]

There are really no miracle cures for hair algae and it is probably one of the most common problems so that is why there are so many posts about it. Looks like your taking almost all the necessary steps but I have a couple of questions.
What size tank do you have and what is in it for a bioload?
Do you have a DSB or a refugium?
What is your method of filtration?
What additives are you adding to the tank?
Basically Hair algae is almost always a sign of too many nutrients in the water. This can be the result of overfeeding, too large of a bioload, byproduct of filtration system, nitrates in top off water, ect. sounds like your skimmer is just removing the additive your putting into the tank to remove the hair algae, how effective was the skimmer before you started dosing the AZ-NO3. Have you tested for nitrates and phosphates and if so what are the results.

 

[dburr]

7. Test the water weekly, additives as seemed needed
What are you adding? With all the water changes, you shouldn't be adding anything. "It's in there" (sorry, breakstone sour cream commercial) j/k
Dan

 

[sterling]

Not adding much, if anything.
I have a 125 gallon
Fish population:
2 yellow tail damsels
1 flame angel
1 sailfin tang
1 melanarous wrasse
1 orchid dottyback
1 maroon clown
1 lawnmower blenny
130 lbs of LR
3 to 4 inch DSB
wet/dry/skimmer
H.O.T. magnum
I had MH's on, 3 175 w and two 110 w vho's
but just took those down and put my JBJ PC's back up.
Lots of clean up crews, crabs, snails, urchins, sally lightfoots, stars, etc. etc.
I have always used the same R/O water. Have always used the same salt.

 

[j21kickster]

i was having a little breakout myself- last tikme i had one was 4 months ago

 

[aileena]

Just a note...I never had a hair algae or any algae problem when I used crushed coral...I think that the sand may have something to do with it..IMO...
I purchased a 36watt UV and that has done a fab job at killing any and all algae that was free floating in the water...this helps when I clean the glass w/the magnet and the algae comes off and into the water...