Green hair algae

[GMCsonoma00]

I know this one has been asked a million times. I have it, Ive tried nocking down my lighting for a couple of weeks to about 3 or 4 hours, seemed like my corals were suffering so upd the lights to about 6 now the algae is getting worse. I has totally covered about three of my 12 rocks and my snails. I have a skunk cleaner shrimp, peppermint, and coral banded, two emerld crabs about 8 misc snails and a few blue legged crabs, a tux urchin serpent sea star a sally lightfoot. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

ummm..ok..whats your water source?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

get a few turbo snails and/or a Lettuce Nudibranch.

lowering your nitrates and phosphaes will help out greatly as that is the source of their food.

use RODI water for your water changes and pull out as much as you can by hand.

 

[heyfredyourhat]

I think it is all a part of a new tank syndrome. I am dealing with it as well, so far it is being held back nicely. I have a bunch of astrea snails who dont really care about it. But i have a stiff brush with a 1/4" hose attached to it that i can scrub and siphon the rocks with, it pours into a metal screen/strainer into my sump so no water is lost it just collects the algea. Works like a hot damn. I just rigged it up today and went to town on the stuff, it works great!!

 

[GMCsonoma00]

I water change with store bought marine, and top off with RO

 

[GMCsonoma00]

sweet idea fred

 

[heyfredyourhat]

it doesnt "suck" very fast or hard but it helps. I also run a filter sock when i scrub.

 

[shuguley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13016048#post13016048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by heyfredyourhat
I think it is all a part of a new tank syndrome. I am dealing with it as well, so far it is being held back nicely. I have a bunch of astrea snails who dont really care about it. But i have a stiff brush with a 1/4" hose attached to it that i can scrub and siphon the rocks with, it pours into a metal screen/strainer into my sump so no water is lost it just collects the algea. Works like a hot damn. I just rigged it up today and went to town on the stuff, it works great!!

That is an awesome idea! My new tank is also growing some hair algae. I will be using your idea to scrub the algae. But maybe a plastic strainer is a better idea. Isn't metal bad for our tanks?

 

[heyfredyourhat]

You could use a filter sock, i just had no way to keep the other end of the hose in the sock. And i had the strainer around, and it doesnt sit in the water, and i dont know if they make a really fine plastic strainer...

 

[the whelk]

had the hair algae problem added turbo snails and about 3 days it wuz gone

 

[whatta]

Try running your lights on your regular schedule for a week or so then completely turn off your lights for 2 to 3 days.

I did that when i first started and it fixed my problem.