Will running just actinics get rid of hair algea

[option720]

I have been plagued by hair algea for the last 3 months or so. It has been very minimal in apperance until two days ago. In my tank i have about 10 hermit crabs to graze on the stuff. will running just my actinic lights kill the hair algea? I'm hoping it will give it the wrong spectrum of light.

 

[fender]

Nope, They will slow down. But do you want just the actinics forever?
Even if it dies, without finding what is causing them (high phosphates/nitrates) it'll just come back.
What are you using for cleanup duties other than the hermits? An Emerald or two might help, snails?
[ September 05, 2001: Message edited by: fender ]

 

[salisbury a d]

Option your phosphates are causing the hair algae. .2 is enough to cause the algae to grow. I have hair algae and do not have a cleanup crew, at least not yet.
Adam

 

[pufferlover]

I run 2 of my tanks on actinic bulbs only (46 and 65) and have had no algae problems what so ever since switching them to that last December (I change all my bulbs every December). The fish seem content and I have lost no one in either tank this year so it does not seen to cause the fish any problems. The tanks have no algae at all none-zip-nad-da.

 

[fender]

What about the anenome? How will it handle actinics only? This is in the reef section so I assume either Option has corals or would like to get them. Can corals survive on just actinics? Will the light be intense enough, going bluer means less intense.
Not disputing you Puffer, I just think more there is more going on here than just a lighting issue. Option has another post about high phosphates, I would start there as I don't think the actinics are the BEST solution.

 

[coconuttelegraph01]

how long have you been running your lights? after a while (8-12 months) power compacts, flourecents and VHOs will lose the desired spectrum promoting undesirable algae growth such as hair and slime. I have had problems in the past with both hair and red slime algae when my lights were due for a change.
What type of water are you adding to your system during water changes? using RO water, or even distilled will limit undesired nutrients and chemicals that enter your tank.
Also adding Caulerpa spp. into your tank will absorb much of the phosphates. resulting in much less hair algae growth.
I added Caulerpa to my tank as well as using RO water and changed my power compacts over to MH lighting with actinic VHOs over 2 years ago, and have not seen any hair or slime algae since.

 

[pufferlover]

Since there was mention of corals I assumed there were none. If corals are involved then yes I agree actinic by themselves would not work. Mine are on FO tanks my reef has a double strip with one white one blue and again no algae after the intial run of having some early on.