Getting rid of Green Hair Algea

[corwise]

When I initally set up my tank I had a surge of green hair algea taking over everything. I managed to get rid of most of it once I bought snails/crabs, when it made a comeback. I add a lawnmower blennie, and he did all right for a while. Unfortunately, the algea is once again making a comeback. I have lost a few snails and crabs since I first set up the tank (there are now several crabs wearing snail shells), should I just add a few more and see if that helps? Anything else I can do other then trying to clean it out by hand? Thanks.

Dave

 

[zoomfish1]

This may not be the preferred method of choice, but, a couple of doses of Chemi-Clean will certainly do the trick. After getting it back under control I would restock the clean-up crew.

Some would say " No Chemicals". Depends on how long you want to work at the chore. I got tired of the mess and went chemical. No more problems for over 2 years.

 

[pwhitby]

for green, or any algae to appear there is an imbalance. Usually an excess of nutrients. This could be either nitrates or phosphates.

I would improve water flow, cut down feedings, if you can-cut down light. Do water changes and remove as much as you can.

Do you have a hang on filter by chance?

Paul.

 

[corwise]

Paul,

No hang on filter, I have a sump with a protein skimmer inside. I have 6x T5 lights going, which might be the problem. The water flow is the sump (700 gph return) and two powerheads. All my water parameters test good, I'll cut back on feeding (not to many fish in there at the moment) and do a water change and see if that helps. Thanks for the info.

Dave

 

[dugg]

Are you growing any cheato in the sump? If not that is you ticket to purple rocks instead of the green hair look lol. Growing macro algae in the sump under 24/7 lighting and sensible feeding will clean the algae right up.

 

[Wildstar1063]

I recently changed from using tap water to RO/DI water,
and increased the flow in my tank, and my hair algae problem
went away, almost over night. Now I'll have to actually buy
greens for my rabbit fish.

Dugg,
do you run the lights on your chaeto 24/7? I've always ran
my on the opposite cycle from my tank lights.


Chuck E.

 

[dugg]

I run my sump lights 24/7, and my cheato grows so fast it actually has almost choked out the calerpa that was growing in there.

 

[papagimp]

My 55g went from being a lush green field of hair algea to an actual reef-tank within a week after adding cheato to my sump. I still overfeed like crazy, due in part to a few of my fishies being partial to hand feeding, they'll let everything else float by and right down the sump. But my pod, tunicates, and stometella populations went through the roof! Can't recommend Cheato enough. As for lighting, I run it pretty much 24/7 but do turn the lights off for a couple nights a week, more for the pod & Stometella populations than the cheato though.

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8239618#post8239618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
My 55g went from being a lush green field of hair algea to an actual reef-tank within a week after adding cheato to my sump. Nutrient overload was my initial cause, too much phosphates and nitrates. I have more than my fair share of dead spots w/ little or no flow and I still overfeed like crazy, due in part to a few of my fishies being partial to hand feeding, they'll let everything else float by and right down the sump. But my pod, tunicates, and stometella populations went through the roof and I have yet to see any detectable Nitrates or Phosphates! Can't recommend Cheato enough. As for lighting, I run it pretty much 24/7 but do turn the lights off for a couple nights a week, more for the pod & Stometella populations than the cheato though.

 

[corwise]

I've never heard of cheato before. What exactly is it, what does it do? I don't have a refugerium, just a sump, does that matter? How much lighting do you need, just a normal 60 watt bulb, does it have to be something special?

 

[dugg]

Can-o-worms coming up lol.

Cheato is a macro algae that you can grom in your sump. It looks like a green brillo pad. You can grow it in the sump if you have room. By growing it under 24/7 lighting, it out competes the hair algae for nutrients. You can use one of the cheap lights of america bulbs that they sell at wal-mart or lowes/HD. The fixture and all should cost about $15. You just buy one of the clip on silver shop light fixtures ($10) and a bulb ($5). Mount it over the sump, turn it on, and leave it on. Change the bulb about every 6 months for best growth. There is a thread in the forum right now with someone giving some cheato away, so i would hit them up quick before it's gone. If it's already gone, i bet someone can hook you up.

 

[papagimp]

for what it's worth dugg, I've been using a similar bulb i picked up from dollar general, 3 bulbs for 6 bucks or something like that, 5053K, And Corwise, as far as just having a sump vs. a refugium, My refugium was just a simple sump until I added the cheato, then the pods and everything else just kinda said "Yeah, this spot looks good right here!" then BLAM!, instant refugium.