I've had my current 50g system up for 5 months, after downgrading and moving from a 100g, which had been established since may 2006. I have always had some amount of algae in the tank, mostly HA. I left for a trip this past week, and got back to see the tank overrun with algae. Apparently, the person who was supposed to feed the fish forgot, so where could the excess nutrients be coming from? My amm, nitrtite, and nitrate always read 0 (salifert). I have good cal/alk levels, but haven't tested in a while. I supplement cal/alk with sealab blocks every 2 weeks. I have a lawnmower blenny, 6 line wrasse, sandsifting goby, and a few smaller gobies. Lots of various corals, all doing great. 6 bulb 48" T5 lighting (bulbs changed less than 2 months ago). I am just tired of the algae, but don't want to give up quite yet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Can't Get Rid of HA
- Thread starter khrios
- Start date
Do a search on raising the tank magnesium level.
why would I want to raise the mag level is I don't know that it's low? I don't have a mag test kit. I haven't tested phos in a while, but it has always been 0. I use mostly RO for topoff and LFS saltwater to save time. I'm a college student renting a house, so I don't really have a place to mix/store SW.
demonsp
In Memoriam
Phosphate in high levels can cause HA omong other things. Low flow and cleanup crew.But even with small amounts of tap water over time can cause problems along with trusting you LFS. I found the fighting conch snails loves green hair and is like a lawnmower but other snails will help.
Raising the magnesium level can rid your tank of hair algae. The task is otherwise nearly impossible by other methods.
I just retested phos and it came up 0ppm. I'm going to retest nitrate, cal, alk, pH, and do a water change. I have tried turning the lights off for few days but it didn't seem to help that much. I am looking into the magnesium thing, but haven't seen much related to magnesium and HA yet.
Take a look at this thread for information on magnesium levels and hair algae control.
Shagsbeard
New member
The reason you're reading 0 phosphates is that your hair algae is a very efficient processor of phosphate. You need to eliminate the source of phosphate and the algae will starve. Have you ever TRIED to grow a plant? You have to feed it. If you cut off it's food, it will die.
you can also try getting a hair algae slug from your lfs. The lime hair algae slug is smaller and nicer on the eyes but dont eat as much. I would go with the uglier monster looking one, they eat like pigs. In fact, you might want to ask your lfs if they will give u some credit back if you return the slug after it eats all the HA, as thats when the slugs usually starve to death. Good luck
The fact that an LFS employee has not heard of a particular solution to a reef problem should not dissuade you from trying it based on reliable reports here on RC. I've had LFS personnel tell me that I could have a Sohal tang in a 55 gallon tank.
