sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
So...I've got a nice fat bloom of hair algae growin in my tank. I was gonna look into possibly picking up a sea hare to devour the algae. Anyone got any other suggestions?
Freekin hair algae!!
- Thread starter sal-t-dawg
- Start date
sandalscout
New member
Manual removal, my yellow tang, and running phosban has almost completely gotten rid of mine. Unfortunately, the phosban appears to have killed (or rather, will kill) my clam, apparently you have to REALLY REALLY REALLY rinse the stuff, and in the last 3 days the clam has seriously receded.
poolkeeper1
New member
Hmmm Not sure that Phosban has directly harmed your Clam, But a rapid reduction of PO4 may have contributed to It's demise JAT. I think I have seen simailar Issues reguarding Phosban use If conditions are changed too quickly. Like all things slow Is always better In the Reef hobbie.
sandalscout
New member
Actually, I was reading that any iron containing phosphate remover (GFO, phosban, etc) that is powdery can do this, apparently the clams react to the iron dust if it's not very thoroughly washed. Granted, I don't know for sure that is the cause of my clam freaking out (just got new bulbs, moved from the 55 to the 90 about 3 months ago, etc) but I think it could be that.
ai-reefer
New member
Tangs love that stuff. You could give it another try. Buy a cheap tang. You could try emerald crabs if you don't have any Zoanthids.
I had a ton of hair algae in my tank but it all died eventualy. Not sure how. Only thing i added was Astrea snails.
Also tweaking your protein skimmer will help i think.
If you want you can bring some rocks with hair algae and put it in my tank. It will be spotless in a week
It'll save me some work on having to feed them everyday
If all else fails, get you about 300 astrea snails. they'll clean it up
I had a ton of hair algae in my tank but it all died eventualy. Not sure how. Only thing i added was Astrea snails.
Also tweaking your protein skimmer will help i think.
If you want you can bring some rocks with hair algae and put it in my tank. It will be spotless in a week
It'll save me some work on having to feed them everydayIf all else fails, get you about 300 astrea snails. they'll clean it up
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commonstranger
New member
Carl i have a solution but you wont like it. Once youve tried everything else and it hasnt worked get in touch with me.
Mikeyjer
New member
Some tangs do eat that stuffs like no tomorrow, but some tangs just plan won't touch it, but you can teach them to eat it!!! As for the comment with emerald crabs, good algae eater too and I NEVER had mine picking on zooanthid polyps, but it is a possibility! But mine never did and I had quite a few in the past....Sea Hare works GREAT together with help of a tang. Just make sure you cover the intakes on pumps cause they will get sucked in no matter what you do!
sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
Its been setup for quite a while. When I got it it was already up and running and I transfered all the water and everything. I took the phosphate reactor off for about 2 weeks and then the hair algae went nuts!! I have since hooked it back up. I also picked up a lawnmower blenny yesterday and so far all he has done is set there with a rather strange look on his face :hmm4: Id really like to pick up another Tang however have been rather unsuccessful in locating a cheap one. Im gonna wait for another week and then look seriously into a sea hare. Even if he dosent work it'll be a cool addition to the family.
Mikeyjer
New member
When you move a tank it can cause hair algae outbreak. I know it did for me when I moved everything to my new location awhile back. Just some water changes and maintain your levels, you should be back to normal. Sea hares are awesome, but once your out of algae, you better give him away!
