Hair algae choking my acan lord

[Nht8134]

I have a acan lord that is at risk of hair algae taking over. I have tried picking some of the hair algae off with my fingers but some of it is growing on and inside of the skeleton of the colony and it is not allowing the tissue of the acan to extend.

How do I get rid of this before it becomes catastrophic? Its not a really bad problem now but this is by far my favorite acan and I want to take preventive measures before it becomes unresolvable. Thanks

 

[Chads29]

limit your nutrients through skimming and water changes. make sure your water is @ 0 tds when you add it to you tank. Make sure you are not over feeding and rinse the food off to help with the efforts.

 

[chrisstie]

If worse comes to worse you could get a critter that would eat it like a lettuce sea slug or if your tank is big enough and you really want another fish something like a foxface would probably pick at it. I'd go with a slug though .. less bioload and size overall and they do a decent job on that stuff

 

[Serioussnaps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9677224#post9677224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
If worse comes to worse you could get a critter that would eat it like a lettuce sea slug or if your tank is big enough and you really want another fish something like a foxface would probably pick at it. I'd go with a slug though .. less bioload and size overall and they do a decent job on that stuff

Dont get a foxface.

 

[grisha]

good flow helps with the algae

 

[musty baby]

Agree with limiting the nutrient input to your tank. In the short term, tweezers will get at the algae your fingers can't get to.

 

[ChurchBoy]

I would first do a 10 % water change, manually pull out more algae, & shoot it with a power head. Second I'd try what's called Marine S.A.T. Biological Clarifier. It's reef safe cause it's only live bacteria and is made especially to deal with undesirable marine plants. You'll have to remove as much as possible and after a treatment remove all that's dead due to the bacteria, but it really cleaned up my system. But it If that doesn't work and you're willing to spend a bit more get some chaeto into your refugium & also add both a phosphate & carbon remover. You can either place them in filter bags or purchase a phosphate reactor ($30 bucks at marine depot). You still need a pump to work the reactor so it might cost you an additonal $20-25 including extra tubing, but it's well worth it. Hope this helps.