Green Hair Algae

[MstgKillr]

How do I get rid of this stuff. What else can I do.

58 Gallon Mixed Reef including SPS, LPS, and Clams.
50 Gallon Sump with Refugium
ASM 3 Skimmer
Phosban Reactor with new Phosban.
Weekly 5 gallon water changes.
Stocked with a lawnmower blenny, hermits, and a small purple tang until I get the 215 going.
Feeding every other day or every third day.

Salifert Test Kit for the following
PO4 = 0
NO3 = 0
Ca = 405
Alk = 8.3
Mg = 1260

Reef Keeper 2 for the follwing
Temp = 78.2
pH = 8.05

Refractometer
SG = 1.025

 

[uscharalph]

Not to be difficult, but this is a very popular subject. Have you tried reading any of the other threads?

 

[MstgKillr]

Sure have but I seem to have a problem even after using the recommended remedies.

 

[uscharalph]

It's not an overnight battle. I've been battling it for 3-4 months and am just getting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[sirjohn]

What kind of water are you using for top-off?

 

[MstgKillr]

I have been using the recommended remedies from the initial setup of the tank. I was trying to avoid GHA altogether. I have also been using RO/DI from the start.

I did find some info about Mg. Should I increase it to 1400 or so. I have noticed that my Mg levels have slowly decreased from 1400 to 1260 over the last year.

 

[KDodds]

Are you manually pulling it and suctioning out at every water change? Using this method, I've yet to have a tank with hair algae blooms persist past a few weeks.

 

[MstgKillr]

Yes, I am manually removing it and suctioning it out.

What does everyone thing about increasing Mg?

 

[travdixon]

I got rid of mine with 4 turbo snails. Like lawnmowers

 

[landlord]

I second the turbos, 4 of 'em made quick work (3 days) of GHA in a 90 gal

FWIW --landlord

 

[flamenco-t]

YOu have enough flow in your tank ?

I did batlled GHA on 2 tanks, I had to do the lights off method, manual pulling and increase flow and it went away.

stan

 

[MSU Fan]

Magnesium trick only seems to work consistently on Bryopsis, not Hair algae (I wish it did work on GHA). Careful of the turbos - they have no respect for frag placement. A phosban reactor will help.

Diligence is keyword here.

 

[sabazerehi]

i got a pincushion urchin, the hairy colored one and it's doing a pretty amazing job. it's a little slow but it's getting the work done. only issue, it likes to pick up my little frags and sometimes hermit crabs and carry them around, but it's pretty entertaining at the same time

 

[gregorfd]

5 turbos, wet skimming, bumped refugium light to 12 hrs/day reverse cycle, and a few water changes worked for me. Turbo's were the biggest difference I think.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Careful of the turbos - they have no respect for frag placement.

At least for me, turbos also have a habit of dying in hidden corners, which only makes the algae problem that much worse. Those big snails release a lot of polution into the tank if they die and you can't find them to remove the corpse. :eek2:

Phil

 

[barrysalt]

Are your lighting cycles minimal? I have my MH on for only 8 hrs per day, havae a lg clump of chaeto in my fuge, and put in a seahare! The seahare is a large slug-like critter, and it is a voracious eater of algae. I feed every other day.
Also, a 5 gal water change is minimal. Try 15 gal first week, 10 the next, then at least 7 gal each time after. All this, plus phosban sock, worked for me. Good luck!