Hair algae outbreak - what will eat it , how to use it?

[StanD]

Hey C-Sea gang:

I am battling a hair alge outbreak in my 220 reef tank. Algae is not the string type but more of a green feathery strand. Current inhabitants include a Foxface and Kole tang that I was hoping would clean it up. Tried a half dozen Mexican turbos, an aplysia, a boatload of Cerith snails, and a couple other things. They ate all the maidens cup Caulerpa, but are not eating the hair algae very well.

Questions: Any fish anyone would recommend that might clean them out? Other tank inhabitants include-flame wrasse,- yellowtail, blue damsel- dragon goby- 2 pajama cardinals. I am thinking about a yellow tang, or other tang or lawnmower blenny that might be compatible with the existing fish

What about a lettuce nudibranch?? The sea slug (Aplysia) did not clean the rocks very well at all.

Anyone have any amphipods, copopods, etc that might help eat this stuff??

Any other ideas appreciated.

StanD

 

[BrunstuckyJoe]

Did you try removing the rock and scrubbing it in tank water in a bucket and rinsing it in another bucket of saltwater...it worked for me...you might have to buy more mexican turbos....that's all the have in the live rock bins at AT....they do a number on really gunked up rock.

 

[Bowman]

Stan it has also been recomended to raise the Mg levels to around 1500-1600 to help combat hair algae. That is what I am trying currently.

 

[cmador]

Have a pic? I think identifying the algea first is the key. It is one thing if it's hair algae but a whole nother story if it's bryopsis.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15494901#post15494901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmador
Have a pic? I think identifying the algea first is the key.

+1

 

[Jasonf08]

Try a black long spine urchin. It did wonders in my tank.

 

[cash03ins]

Second on Mexican Turbos

 

[sbin]

Mexican bulldozer is more like it they do a good job but will move your frags for food.

 

[Burgman]

Hi Stan,

If you can find a Sea Hare it will clean off your live rock. They do a great job, just sell it afterwards so it does not starve to death.

Dave

 

[serpentman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15494897#post15494897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bowman
Stan it has also been recomended to raise the Mg levels to around 1500-1600 to help combat hair algae. That is what I am trying currently.

Stan, this sounds like that stubborn strain of Bryopsis, which is that nasty stuff you see growing on piers and boat docks. The stuff can live in virtually any environment and from what I gather, not much eats it. As John suggested, I have had luck with raising Mg levels to 1500>. It just withers and dies.

It may come back periodically as spores hatch.

 

[BrunstuckyJoe]

Besides the elevated mg levels, some suggest raising and keeping ph around 8.5 for a bit.

 

[seamom]

I am by no means an expert, however, I had first hand experience with this pest during my tank cycling a 2 years ago. +1 to all the above suggestions. I really didn't want to remove my rock because the pieces were just too big, but I used alot of elbow grease almost nightly manually pulling the hair algae out using a pair of forceps. Followed by water changes. I really watched my phosphates/nitrates/feeding/skimming/water supply, and although your reading might say 0, this algae uses it up. I changed what I could even started using a phosphate remover and also bumped up my Mg as well. Well, it worked and I haven't seen the beast since. It was a nightmare, but I lived through it.

 

[Gary Briggs]

I don't know if this will work for bryopsis, it does for cyano.
Read about this on RC - the "all lights off" (even cover windows) for 3 days while doing at least 3 big water changes (at least 50%).
This had no ill effects on my coral.

 

[StanD]

I have been looking at lots of web info and it appears that some sea slugsmeat the stuff, but many do not. Also, a real prolem is temperate sea slugs being sold for reefs.

Anyone have a Bryopsis eating sea slug that has cleaned up your tank and needs a home with lots of food??? Anyone know a LFS that handles "tropical" Bryopsis eaters??

Any help appreciated.

StanD

 

[StanD]

I have been looking at lots of web info and it appears that some sea slugsmeat the stuff, but many do not. Also, a real prolem is temperate sea slugs being sold for reefs.

Anyone have a Bryopsis eating sea slug that has cleaned up your tank and needs a home with lots of food??? Anyone know a LFS that handles "tropical" Bryopsis eaters??

Any help appreciated.

StanD

 

[aerius007]

Ive heard the best thing for bryopsis is elevated mag levels, possibly in the 1700 range. I would obviously do more research on it but that might be the direction to pursue.

 

[diablo30xp]

i have this prob, right now how do u raise mag lvl?

 

[mike660r]

If you do indeed have Bryopsis. Start by doing some searches for Bryopsis and Kent Tech M. This is the only product that seems to do the trick. I have used it in my tank with success.