Hair algae in overflow

[luvreefs23]

I have a 90 gallon aga tank with the built in over flow box and im getting a good amount of hair algae in the top part of the overflow by the vents. I run a phosban reactor and there is now algae anywhere in the tank. Why just there? How can i get rid of it? Im running a tek lighting system 8x54watt. Someone said to cover the overflow box gets no light but im not sure if that will be feasible for me to do....any other suggestions? Could i throw a few snails back there to help with algae? I dont want it to clog my box or restrict the flow to my sump.

Thanks

 

[garygb]

I doubt snails will eat it. You can occasionally scrap it off if you want to. It's absorbing nutrients, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Cadu]

just one turbo snail will do the job

 

[Agu]

Hair algae grows there because there's a consistent supply of nutrients and sufficient lighting. Be glad it's growing there and not in your tank. Think of it as a DIY algae turf scrubber and harvest the crop regularly .

 

[coralnut99]

You could use a tubing cleaner brush. Just run it through the teeth periodically. If you're handy, try cutting some black acrylic to fit right over the top of your overflows. That should take care of the lighting in the equation that Agu described. This is the prime reason why lots of folks employ toothless overflows, and just cut some eggcrate with plastic veil netting over it.

 

[goldenfamaliy]

do you have a filter sock? if so just scrape it off and then clean out thw filter sock. I do it about twice a month. I would not put a snail in there just because it might die back there.

 

[el aguila]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12854128#post12854128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Agu
Hair algae grows there because there's a consistent supply of nutrients and sufficient lighting. Be glad it's growing there and not in your tank. Think of it as a DIY algae turf scrubber and harvest the crop regularly .

ditto

Just keep it cleaned out enough to be sure that water flows through it. Mine has a very high population of amphipods in it. I try to extract them before pitching the algae.

 

[bph0013]

not to be rude by why isn't this in the regular reef section?

 

[Yellow Carpet]

Check TDS of RO/DI water. That might also be the source of the algae. I think your only option is to cover the overflow and clean periodicly.

Cheers,

Kurt

 

[Terraserver66]

X2 for AGU

 

[tanker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12854128#post12854128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Agu
Hair algae grows there because there's a consistent supply of nutrients and sufficient lighting. Be glad it's growing there and not in your tank. Think of it as a DIY algae turf scrubber and harvest the crop regularly .

Yes..Leave it alone as long as it is not spreading. Every once in a while scrape some off and toss it. Your own algae filter.

 

[drparker]

I bought a 2 dollar black plastic office garbage can from Wal-Mart. Cut out a section from the side of the can to fit over the overflow. Then I cut a small hole for the air intake of the durso into the cover piece.

I cleaned-out the overflow and put the cover on. No hair or slime has returned after three months. Cheato grows better now too.

 

[skoomamonster]

I had the same problem but the algae would clog the overflow and raise the tank level up too high so i just put a snail in there and it did the job but if its not effecting the water level then i would just leave it, like Agu said its better there then in your tank.