Anyone else with hair algae only on baserock?

[NasotheHutt]

I set up a tank about 2 months ago and for the 1st time used base rock (from a well known and used source) and live rock. I've been plagued by HA on the base rock for the last month, none is on the LR. Is there something in the rock leaching out fueling the algae that will eventually stop? In the future should the rock be soaked in Brutes to allow this leaching? Will it continue forever?

 

[kalapnath]

hey can you describe your tank so we can figure out if it's a problem with your light's,water or feeding habits.

 

[crvz]

It will likely recede with time, but where did the rock come from? And what type of rock is it?

 

[NasotheHutt]

hey can you describe your tank so we can figure out if it's a problem with your light's,water or feeding habits.

It's a 20H AIO that I made. 24 Cree LED's for lighting. About 15lbs baserock from macrorocks.com and 10lbs LR. I do not feed anything as I have no fish. I have 3 sps frags, 1 lps and 1 zoa. Lights are on 8hrs a day. I do a 3G water change every week and run carbon that I replace every 2 weeks. Also have a Tune 9002 skimmer. Top off using RO/DI.

I feel it's not a problem with the tank becasue it's not on the LR, just the baserock. I plan to set up a 180 next year with alot of this rock and am worried I'm going to have the same probelm.

 

[Ritten]

Man, I feel for you. I bought two mag rocks for use in a well established aquarium. Never once have had an issue with HA, I have had HA on those two rocks only. I've been scrubbing it off with a toothbrush, which of course, is easy for me with just these two small rocks.

 

[ghostman]

Sometimes people report hair algae growing on base rock and Marco rock as there is no coraline algae encrusted on it to compete with. Given time and the right conditions (good levels of Ca and ALK, and low PO4 and NO3), the base rock will become live, coraline will thrive and replace the hair algae. My whole tank is Marco rock, and this happened to me. Luckily it disappeared as quickly as it occurred. A good clean up crew will help in the meantime. Good Luck.

 

[SDguy]

I've had single rocks sprout all sorts of algae while the rest of the reef was fine. Assuming proper husbandry on your part, it's probably just an issue with that rock, and should go away over time.

 

[jedheuer]

I have had this happen and I think it is because there is nothing to compete with the hair algae. The base rock has little or no coralline growth, etc. to out compete the HA for nutrients and space. In time it will get covered with coralline and the like so untill then employ a good clean up crew to get it knocked down.

 

[sirreal63]

It is normal for dry base rock to have algae, it is the perfect environment for it to grow. It will pass if you keep the water parameters in check.

 

[loganthebomb]

if u want get rid of hair algae get foxface thats just how i got rid of mine

 

[kalapnath]

phosban reactor.............