green hair algae...

[SHLove16]

Okay, so I think I have 2 tiny patches of green hair algae on the same small rock. one patch is probably the size of a dime and the other is probably half the size of a dime. Is this common? What exactly is causing it, and should I remove it? I have the standard 12g Nanocube with stock lighting so I don't think it's from that...any replies will be appreciated.
Thanks,
-Simon

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Yes, very common unfortunately haha. It got there on rock or something that you put in your tank and must have just started growing.

Stuff that makes it grow...regular nutrients...check your nitrates, phosphates, and hair alga also used iron i believe, so test that.

For getting rid of it...I'm no expert at that part of it...besides keeping the levels down, make sure you've got a good variety of snails (maybe a mexican turbo, some ceriths, a few astreas, and maybe a nerite, but i've never tried nerites.) But you want a variety because all snails eat different things, so the more variety, the better chance something eats it, you know?

You could also try a small emerald crab. Make sure its small though...they can get a bit aggressive as they get bigger

hth

 

[SHLove16]

Alright thanks, so is it possible if I get my levels good again it will die off or something? My purigen pad needs to be "bleached" so I have a purigen pad and a chemi-pure pad soon to be delivered to my door. I have 3 nassarius snails, and 2 hermits, maybe I should pick up another type soon. Anyways, it's not "out of control" or anything, just a small patch that I don't want to see get larger...
Thanks again.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Ya those nassarius snails dont touch algae so they're no help for that. The hermits might help a little, but i dont like them and suggest the other snails over them. There's also a sea hare that eats the stuff REALLY good i think..

 

[lat0403]

I have a rock that has a small patch of hair algae on it, too. I pulled it out myself at first, but now the snails usually take care of it.

 

[fish2]

it mostly feeds on nitrates and light

 

[SHLove16]

Hmm...that's kind of strange then because I have the Standard 12G nano-cube's stock lighting (which can't even support brains and some other LPS's), and my nitrates are like 2.5 or less....

Maybe the new purigen pad, and chemi-pure on top of me pulling out the algae will work....

 

[danch]

If you've got thinks living in water (producing waste) and light, you'll have some algae. Enlist the help of herbivores, and control the waste, and you'll control the algae, but you'll never eliminate all algae.

 

[xian]

I just posted this somewhere else but Nassarius snails are carnivorous scavengers, they eat food that settles into the sand but not algae.

Personally, I would add 10 astrea or trochus snails and 2 turbo's.

I thought that the standard buld in a nanocube was a 65w fluorescent? IMO more than enough for a brain with quality water.

 

[SHLove16]

Thanks, everyone...

Nope...24 watt