Yet another hair algae thread.

[jasontk]

Ok this stuff is starting to really piss me off. I recently took out all of my rock and scrubbed it free of almost all hair algae. As expected, it is starting to grow back slowly. I knew scrubbing it wouldn't be the total solution but there was a ton so at least I've cut back. I've got about 25 hermits and only a few snails... most of my snails seem to die or are murdered by the hermits for a shiny new shell. Nothing I put in my tank seems interested in eating hair algae. I've only got a few options left which are emerald crabs, mexican turbos (which I've read don't do well in warm waters), and maybe just buying a mass of regular turbo snails but like I said, most of them end up dead. I was really hoping all the hermits I bought would take care of it since it is a small problem at this point but those little @#$!ers would much rather chase each other around the tank apparently. Are there any other inverts that might help? More fish are out of the question.
I am wondering.... how long would I have to leave my lights off for the hair algae to die off? I have a few anemones and I'm wondering if they will do OK without light for at least long enough to kill the algae.
I also realize that high nitrates and phosphates don't help and I'm trying to get the nitrates down (feels like I'm losing that battle too) and don't have a test kit for phosphate yet.
Help!

 

[shoreliner11]

IMO I would rather start at the source of the problem instead of finding more inverts to take care of the problem. If you have high nitrates trying adding a fuge and doing frequent water changes. With a tank of your size you should be able to slowly get them down using water changes. With that said, if your bioload is too high you will always be fighting a losing battle. One thing I've found to help a little with algae is to vacuum my sand bed. It gets excess detritus (nutrients for algae) which has settled down into the sand and gets it out of the tank. Hope this helps...good luck. Oh, if you don't have a fuge you can try holding some macros in a cpr bakpak protein skimmer. Its currently what I use and holds enough macros to get the job done for me.

 

[shoreliner11]

Oh, and I wouldn't suggest leaving the lights off to try and kill it. I would think that by the time the hair algae dies the anemones might be in some trouble. this is just my opinion though. Good luck once again.

 

[ivanfj]

IMO inverts can tolerate a high nitrate level. So I guess you first gotta lower your nitrate level to a point where inverts can survive and then start from there. Are you overfeeding or do you have too much bioload like shoreliner has said???
I used to have tons and tons of hair algae on my LR and like what you do there, I tried scrubbing them off. I stopped my feeding for about a week or so and did a couple of 10% water changes. Then got my inverts/clean up crew when my nitrate is around 20 ppm and now I am @0 for over months.

 

[jasontk]

I was thinking about setting up a fuge but that is going to cost me more than I want to spend right now (not that it's a ton of money, I just need to cut back on my spending )
I only feed twice a day and I'm trying to cut back even more. I've got 5 fish which is a little much, I know. I'd like to have less for this reason but I don't know what to do with them. I hate to send them back to the fish store but I don't know anyone I can give them too.
I will try cutting back even more on the feeding and keep doing the frequent water changes and see where that gets me.

 

[footbag]

I only feed twice a day
Hopefully you mean twice a week. And...5 fish in what sized tank?

 

[bencc]

A refugium really helps. I had air algae galore and now zero, none at all anywhere after adding my refugium. It took a couple months for it to really completly get rid of it. I run the refugium lights 24/7

 

[jasontk]

No, twice a day. I say only twice a day because it used to be three times. A regium is definitely next on my list of things to add but it just might be a while before I can set one up.

 

[footbag]

I only feed my fish two or three times a week. Twice a day is way to much IMO. Do you have any fish that specifically require that much feeding? What kind of food?

 

[jasontk]

I alternate between Formula One and Formula Two by Ocean Nutrition. No one needs to be fed twice a day, its just the habit I am stuck in because that is how I started when I followed the directions on the food jars that say feed 2-3 times daily I am going to cut back.

 

[fishking]

i have about 21 fish and i want to no if my bioload is too high and also do clams and xenias absorb nitrate

 

[nm reef]

A 29 gal with 5 fish...fed twice a day...no refugium...and high nitrates...that has developed a hair algae problem...Hmmmmm.
I don't intend to be critical but you have already addressed a few possible sources of your algae problems. You could take the approach of beaslbob and just let the hair algaes continue to consume your aquarium or you could find ways to limit the available nutrients and control the growth of the pest algae. For starters I'd ask what your basic filtration is? Second I would suggest limitations on excess nutrients which the algaes require. I keep a 100 gal dsiplay with four fish and I seldom feed more than twice a week! Regular water changes....reduction in feedings will help...manual removal with add to the process of reducing the algae...possibly reduce the lighting period will contribute...also insure a quality source of top off water to futher limit the introduction of nutrients.
It may seem to be a futile battle but with proper filtration...quality water...steps to reduce introduction of nutrients it can work.
provide details on your lighting/filtration/circulation/livestock....the more info you provide the easier it may be for conscientious hobbyists to help you over come your algae problems.
Or...as stated you could follow the advice of beaslbob and just be content with massive amounts of unsightly algaes. Myself I believe pest algaes can be kept to a minimum and the display looks much better for the effort.:thinking:

 

[fishking]

Originally posted by fishking
i have about 21 fish and i want to no if my bioload is too high and also do clams and xenias absorb nitrate
does anyone know:help: :help:

 

[nm reef]

Without specific info on the type of fish and the total filtration on your system it would be hard to say how your bio-load is affected.
Its my understanding that xenia can effectively reduce nitrates...some folks have had success using xenia in refugiums for nutrient control...and its also my understanding that clams can consume nitrates.

 

[reefer44]

yes to the clams and xenias asorbing nitrates (almost postitive on this if i am wrong someone correct me)
also what size fish and what kinds and what are the feeding requirments
(i usually try to keep about 1 fish per 15-20 gallons and if they get to only about an inch 2 in every 15 gallons and if tang 1 every 55 gallons)

 

[reefer44]

lol you beat me to it NM Reef

 

[fishking]

i have 4 tangs, 3 clowns, 4 gobies, 2 domino damsels, three 4 stripe damesels, two yellow tail damsels, andi think about 5 other damsels

 

[buzz]

I definitely would recommend a refugium. However, now I'm going to throw a wrench into the works.
Do you know what kind of hair algae you have? Is it standard hair algae? Or bryopsis (looks like fern leaves)?
If bryopsis, it is somewhat toxic. Few inverts will touch it, and pretty much no fish will. There is however, one thing I know works...the lettuce nudibranch. I had a bad bryopsis outbreak for a while. It is now virtually gone, thanks to 2 of them. The only drawback is once the bryopsis is gone, they will starve, so you'll need to find another home for them, or try and find some other macro they might eat.
Keep at the water changes to keep your levels in order also. You might want to try some chemi-pure bags as well. I have been happy with those as well. Water chemistry is very important to algae control.

 

[jasontk]

It is definitely the regular hair algae, single filaments only. How is that chemi-pure stuff? I've been tempted to buy some but have a hard time believing their claims.

 

[buzz]

Personally, I like it. It is a carbon alternative, that exports more nutrients than carbon alone, and improves overall water quality. I have seen a huge difference in my tank since using it. A friend of mine tried it as well, and he had the same result.