Hair algae
- Thread starter tspfish
- Start date
You've just got to stay on top of it as best you can. Running a fuge with lots of Chaeto would help, try not to overuse foods high in phosphate, skim wet, use a top quality phosphate media such as RowaPhos along with a good carbon or Purigen which will remove disolved organics, frequent small water changes, constant manual removal, etc.
I have found that the absolute best critters at eating hair algae are the giant Mexican Turbo snails, they are algae eating machines but they will also eat many types of macroalgae and especially the red colored ones. I have also found that the more intense types of lighting (halides, T5s) can sometimes cause hair algae to flourish, and also using daylight bulbs in the 6500K range also seems to make it grow faster.
I have found that the absolute best critters at eating hair algae are the giant Mexican Turbo snails, they are algae eating machines but they will also eat many types of macroalgae and especially the red colored ones. I have also found that the more intense types of lighting (halides, T5s) can sometimes cause hair algae to flourish, and also using daylight bulbs in the 6500K range also seems to make it grow faster.
Hair algae is just a normal problem and not specific to TBS rock. You'd probably get more responses if you posted your question in a more general forum so more people will see it.
In general:
-check your water quality
-remove it by hand, trying not to let pieces float away
-get some algae eaters
In general:
-check your water quality
-remove it by hand, trying not to let pieces float away
-get some algae eaters
tspfish
New member
I have noticed on a lot of rock people have got from TBS has this same hair algae on it. My TBS rock is about 9 months old and all the water quality perameters are looking great. When I first got my TBS rock it had a little of this hair algae on it but has never gone away except when I go in and pull what I can off. You can really never get it all off though and I was wondering if anyone else has had luck getting rid of this green hair algae that seems to be on all the rock from TBS in this forum. Thanks for you commets.
Iphis
New member
It really, really depends on your tank. Everyone's tank is going to be different. A lot of good suggestions were mentioned here though.
I've been running two TBS tanks. One is going on three years old and I have not seen any hair algae in over a year. I am overskimming in this tank, though so it could be the lack of nutrients that lead to the lack of algae. I also have several turbo snails running about the tank which might lend to it as well. (They're each over a year and a half old, so I know they're eating something.)
My second tank is going on a year old now on TBS rock. I am beginning to grow small spots of hair algae in various places after a long dry spell of nothing. The hair algae is nothing, though and is kept well trimmed by a chevron tang I have in the tank.
I can't keep turbos in this tank due to some gnarly atlantic hermits that came in with the first half of my rock (When they couldn't pull rock from the gulf side). They eat anything snail-like in the tank and are currently wearing large turbo shells.
Anyway, its really up to your tank balance how to get rid of it. Pulling it out does not solve the problem as to why it is there in the first place. Either you have too much lighting or too much nutrients with little to keep its growth in check. The key is finding that perfect balance.
If you have too much lighting, or are lighting for excessive periods of time and want to keep doing that, its fine, just buy something that will eat it and keep it in check. Turbo snails and herbivores are great. I generally suggest tangs if your tank is big enough. Lawnmore Blennies rarely actually eat the algae as opposed to rip it off, suck out the "slime" algae and spit out the hair stuff to grow somewhere else.
If you have too many nutrients (generally tell-able by the amount of nitrates in the water) you may want to cut back on feeding. Make sure that you only feed enough that your current livestock can gobble up in a minute to two minutes. If you don't want to cut back, make sure you have the clean-up crew to compensate for it. Hermit crabs, snails, serpent stars, bottom feeders, etc. If you like protein skimmers and don't want to stop feeding as much, you may look at investing in a higher-rated skimmer. This can be dangerous, though, as some things like nutrient rich waters and if you don't get that balance, they could starve.
Hope this helps some.
Iphis
I've been running two TBS tanks. One is going on three years old and I have not seen any hair algae in over a year. I am overskimming in this tank, though so it could be the lack of nutrients that lead to the lack of algae. I also have several turbo snails running about the tank which might lend to it as well. (They're each over a year and a half old, so I know they're eating something.)
My second tank is going on a year old now on TBS rock. I am beginning to grow small spots of hair algae in various places after a long dry spell of nothing. The hair algae is nothing, though and is kept well trimmed by a chevron tang I have in the tank.
I can't keep turbos in this tank due to some gnarly atlantic hermits that came in with the first half of my rock (When they couldn't pull rock from the gulf side). They eat anything snail-like in the tank and are currently wearing large turbo shells.
Anyway, its really up to your tank balance how to get rid of it. Pulling it out does not solve the problem as to why it is there in the first place. Either you have too much lighting or too much nutrients with little to keep its growth in check. The key is finding that perfect balance.
If you have too much lighting, or are lighting for excessive periods of time and want to keep doing that, its fine, just buy something that will eat it and keep it in check. Turbo snails and herbivores are great. I generally suggest tangs if your tank is big enough. Lawnmore Blennies rarely actually eat the algae as opposed to rip it off, suck out the "slime" algae and spit out the hair stuff to grow somewhere else.
If you have too many nutrients (generally tell-able by the amount of nitrates in the water) you may want to cut back on feeding. Make sure that you only feed enough that your current livestock can gobble up in a minute to two minutes. If you don't want to cut back, make sure you have the clean-up crew to compensate for it. Hermit crabs, snails, serpent stars, bottom feeders, etc. If you like protein skimmers and don't want to stop feeding as much, you may look at investing in a higher-rated skimmer. This can be dangerous, though, as some things like nutrient rich waters and if you don't get that balance, they could starve.
Hope this helps some.
Iphis
Can you show examples of this TBS type of hair algae that is different than hair algae in non-TBS tanks? Are you running other tanks with no hair algae that are identical to your TBS tank in every possible way except they don't have TBS rock? I'd like to see us eliminate all other variables before we start blaming TBS for introducing some new species of super hair algae. This would be quite a discovery actually, since hair algae problems in the past have basically been 100% related to husbandry issues on the part of the hobbyist!
tspfish
New member
Here is an example of the hair algae I am talking about. It has more of a grass texture than a slimmy hair algae though.
[/IMG]
Here is another thread with the algae. It is on the fifth pic down.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=845275
Thanks for you help and input.
Tom
Here is another thread with the algae. It is on the fifth pic down.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=845275
Thanks for you help and input.
Tom
coralreefhugr
New member
We have tons of hair algae too. It covered the sides of the aquarium, all over the front and back glass panals, and all over the rocks. we're hoping that when we get the second half of the tbs package that the snails and hermits will eat it all. Other than that you just have to remove it manually. good luck!
Hair algae grows because the conditions are right for it to grow. It is not caused by TBS LR, nor is it more common on TBS rock. It is a symptom of other issues and you will only get it under control when you have identified and corrected the root cause(s).
Hair algae thrives in environments with nitrates, phosphates and the right lighting conditions for it (not necessarily the right lighting conditions for a reef tank). Make sure you have quality light bulbs that are not too old and reduce the photo period. Measuring for nitrates and phosphates may be misleading since the algae will be using these compounds up for growth and therefor the tests will show low readings. Use Rowaphos or Phosban to remove the phosphates and do lots of water changes to remove the nitrates. Don't let low or zero readings on your test kit fool you while you still have the algae outbreak. One of both of these is too high.
Flaked foods are often high in phosphates and should be avoided or fed sparingly. Rinse frozen foods in FW well before feeding the tank and remove any food that remains uneaten after a few minutes.
Add a large cleaner crew, not only to help battle the algae but also to scavenge the tank for other uneaten organic matter. Mithrix crabs, hermits, turbo, astrea, cerith and other snails are great to have. The recommendation to add macroalgae to your refugium is also a good one.
Increase flow within the tank and make sure you have a quality skimmer sized appropriately for your tank. If you are using a mechanical filter, clean it often and consider replacing it with a good skimmer. Good skimmers aren't cheap but they are the best filtration for a reef tank.
Test your PH and Alk and raise them if they are low. Algae doesn't seem to like high PH and high Alk conditions. Go slow on these adjustments though so you don't kill your coral and critters. Use RO/DI for water changes and top offs. Tap water often has high nitrates and/or phosphates.
Since you have a rather bad case of algae, you may also consider covering the glass with dark towels or paper and going without lights for a few days so the algae will die back a bit. Filter heavily and be prepared to do lots of water changes as the algae dies of as it will release phosphates back into the water and may also result in increased nitrates.
Good luck!
P.S. Snails and crabs will help but they probably won't be able to put much of a dent into a major outbreak. You gotta go after the cause rather than figuring out how to remove it.
Hair algae thrives in environments with nitrates, phosphates and the right lighting conditions for it (not necessarily the right lighting conditions for a reef tank). Make sure you have quality light bulbs that are not too old and reduce the photo period. Measuring for nitrates and phosphates may be misleading since the algae will be using these compounds up for growth and therefor the tests will show low readings. Use Rowaphos or Phosban to remove the phosphates and do lots of water changes to remove the nitrates. Don't let low or zero readings on your test kit fool you while you still have the algae outbreak. One of both of these is too high.
Flaked foods are often high in phosphates and should be avoided or fed sparingly. Rinse frozen foods in FW well before feeding the tank and remove any food that remains uneaten after a few minutes.
Add a large cleaner crew, not only to help battle the algae but also to scavenge the tank for other uneaten organic matter. Mithrix crabs, hermits, turbo, astrea, cerith and other snails are great to have. The recommendation to add macroalgae to your refugium is also a good one.
Increase flow within the tank and make sure you have a quality skimmer sized appropriately for your tank. If you are using a mechanical filter, clean it often and consider replacing it with a good skimmer. Good skimmers aren't cheap but they are the best filtration for a reef tank.
Test your PH and Alk and raise them if they are low. Algae doesn't seem to like high PH and high Alk conditions. Go slow on these adjustments though so you don't kill your coral and critters. Use RO/DI for water changes and top offs. Tap water often has high nitrates and/or phosphates.
Since you have a rather bad case of algae, you may also consider covering the glass with dark towels or paper and going without lights for a few days so the algae will die back a bit. Filter heavily and be prepared to do lots of water changes as the algae dies of as it will release phosphates back into the water and may also result in increased nitrates.
Good luck!
P.S. Snails and crabs will help but they probably won't be able to put much of a dent into a major outbreak. You gotta go after the cause rather than figuring out how to remove it.
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8086715#post8086715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tspfish
Here is an example of the hair algae I am talking about. It has more of a grass texture than a slimmy hair algae though.
[/IMG]
Here is another thread with the algae. It is on the fifth pic down.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=845275
Thanks for you help and input.
Tom
grass-like hair algae is also called "turf algae"
I had a lot of that when I started.
time and good care will get rid of it.
use RODI makeup water
pull manualy
take rocks out and scrub in a bucket of old water from a water change.
add detrivors and herbivores
feed less
test with top rate test kits
less light
change water
--- repeat till gone.
coralreefhugr
New member
We scraped all the algae off of the sides and everything, but there is still some hair algae on the rocks. I know you cant rely just on snails and hermits if you had it like we did. We removed all of it manually except the algae on the rocks. When we tried to remove it from the rocks it just floated away whereas it would sort of stick to the scraper and not float away so much when cleaning the glass.. Its harder to get it off the rocks then the glass IMO. so were hoping the snails and hermits can get it off. There is hardly any algae problem anymore.
