Ugh...hair algea!!

[monalisa]

My tank is once again blooming. What do I do???
I've already cut down on feeding my 3 little fish in my 37gal. Bright light has been cut down to 6 hours/day. No...my tank is NOT in direct sunlight. I will take a test tomorrow, but my phosphates have been consistently reading 0 - .5 (insignificant, right?).
I've already taken the rocks out that I can during water change and cleaning and scrubbed, only to have the algea come back again. I have some phosphate media placed in my filter (for weeks now), and that doesn't seem to be helping.
I will be picking up 5 Mex. turbo snails tomorrow to see if they will help me out.
I hate, HATE the thought of dosing, but what will Phosban do for me...and do I need it???? Geez, louise, my phosphates do not seem to be out of control!!!

HELP!!!
Lisa :happyfish

 

[jafrench]

Do you run a protein Skimmer, Is their live sand and is the rock you're scrubbing live rock? Where do you get your top off water, tap or RO? Sounds like tap water making your tank very nurient rich. Also how long has your tank been running? Six hours of light is very low and shows their is something else helping your algae out, How often and much do you feed? Sorry bout the 100 questions but there are many possibilities.

 

[fishmamma]

Hi Mona! Ant and I have al ittle thread going and we would love it if you popped in to say hello.........good luck with the hair algae.

 

[oceanists]

do you have crushed coral

 

[larrynews]

get yourself about 50 blue leged crabs it well be gone in two weeks...

 

[houndhome1]

Every once and a while I will get some hair. My tangs eat that stuff up. You didn't mention what type of fish u have.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by jafrench
Do you run a protein Skimmer, Is their live sand and is the rock you're scrubbing live rock? Where do you get your top off water, tap or RO? Sounds like tap water making your tank very nurient rich. Also how long has your tank been running? Six hours of light is very low and shows their is something else helping your algae out, How often and much do you feed? Sorry bout the 100 questions but there are many possibilities.

Still battling the problem. I do run a protien skimmer and it does an excellent job. The rock I scrubbed is indeed live rock. Top off/change water strictly RO. Tank has been running for 6 months now. I've tried cutting down on the feeding. I do feed every day and give treats once/week, but the regular daily feedings have literally been cut in half. I have only 2 clowns and 1 coral beauty angel in my tank. Anything else to help? Oh, parameters consistently...
Phos...0-.5
Ph......8.4
temp..80-82
amm.. 0
nitrites.0
nitrates.0
calcium.360 (that's why I decided to change over to Oeanic salt...slowly)
Any and all help appreciated
Lisa :happyfish

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by fishmamma
Hi Mona! Ant and I have al ittle thread going and we would love it if you popped in to say hello.........good luck with the hair algae.

Be there in a minute...always ready to dish the "sorority girls".

Lisa :happyfish

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Oceanists
do you have crushed coral

No crushed coral, base sand that I believe is going live.
Thanks.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by larrynews
get yourself about 50 blue leged crabs it well be gone in two weeks...

I do have some blueleg crabs in the tank, not sure how many at this point. I have some Mex. turbo snails on order, will that help??
Lisa :happyfish

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Houndhome1
Every once and a while I will get some hair. My tangs eat that stuff up. You didn't mention what type of fish u have.

Tangs are out of the question. I'm only running a 37gal tank, and I don't want to stress anyone out. Thanks for the response, though.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[oceanists]

your mexi turbs should help alittle