Green Hair Algae in the overflow?

[E_rock]

I just took a look in my overflow for the first time in a while. And I have some super long green hair algae growing in the corner overflow. I do not have any hair algae in the DT. Do I leave the algae be in the overflow or do I try to remove it? Is there any benefit to letting it grow? Will it act like a mini fuge?

 

[tmz]

I'd harvest it and it will probably grow back. It' catching lots of detritus now , I bet. Might develop into a clog problem.

 

[E_rock]

Its getting some light. Do you think I should cover it to block out the light? And I guess I am confused and how it can grow in there but no where else.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Mine has developed some serous hair algae in the last few months. I never had it at all in the prior 3-4 years with this overflow. I feel like I harvest it every other day. It isn't really a problem, except I do have a few frags growing in there that occasionally need to put on a frag rack in my display to be cleaned by the turbo snails.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Its getting some light. Do you think I should cover it to block out the light? And I guess I am confused and how it can grow in there but no where else.

it's an ALGAE SCRUBBER

 

[tmz]

It grows there, I suspect, because lot's of organics and nutrients flow through creating an algae scrubber of sorts. Plus nothing eats it there.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I cover my overflow with tinfoil to block out light. Prevents the problem nicely. Have to change out the tinfoil periodically. No adverse effects I'm aware of. Been doing it 8 years.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

personally

personally

I think the overflow is a great place to grow algae as long as you monitor the situation and don't let it impede performance of the overflow

 

[E_rock]

It seems to be mostly growing on the glass in the corner. So I think I am gonna leave it for now.

 

[cardiffgiant]

I cover my overflow with tinfoil to block out light. Prevents the problem nicely. Have to change out the tinfoil periodically. No adverse effects I'm aware of. Been doing it 8 years.