Help Hair Algae Nightmare

[DFRESH]

so heres the story, ive been in the hospital for a month & i came home to find my 180g reef had been ignored by the person who was supposed to maintain my tank & hair & other algae had taken over.
any suggestions?

 

[robsk]

You can try all kinds of things. I have been down this road before. Constant water changes, less light, crabs, certain fish. One of the best things I have found for hair algae on ugly inverts call sea hares...they mow the stuff down.

 

[DFRESH]

reef safe?

 

[robsk]

Sea hares are reef safe. My problem has been keeping them alive for extended periods of time. I have had 4 of them...they are fantastic at eating the hair algae. Some people say they "ink", never had one do that to me. Look for something like a "dolabella" (I think) sea hare online. They are ugly, but do a good job.

 

[E.intheC]

There are tons of great links out there to help with hair algae. The best way is to really remove the algae in your circumstance is to scrub the rocks w/ a brush, physically remove the detritus in the tank, change your filter media (make sure you're running phosphate remover), and keep doing water changes with RO/DI water.

That's assuming the reason for the hair algae really was because it was neglected for the month that you were away. It's a pain, but you can beat it.

 

[southernstyle]

I had a problem with hair algae to then I bought a long spine urchin that mowed it down in my mixed 180 reef, I have never had any since. For an example, i have a ton of it in my fuge where the urchin cant get to it, none in my tank.

 

[E.intheC]

..I have to doubt that the long spine was the ONLY reason the algae is now mysteriously gone in the reef.. it's typically a number of changes that are done. No one thing is a "cure all"

 

[possys]

If you do 25% water change every week for month and cover your tank for 4 days then only have your blue actinic on for week. That will kill the Hair.

 

[possys]

I mean cover your tank with no light at all.

 

[fishguy86]

has any one tried the algae fix from api ? I've used it on some of my service tanks and it seems to help .. I've used it in tanks with corals and inverts with no problem so far

 

[hidnReefAquatic]

granular feric oxide gfo in a small phosphate reactor,will dramatically reduce phosphates that actually fuel HA

 

[RumLad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14398881#post14398881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishguy86
has any one tried the algae fix from api ? I've used it on some of my service tanks and it seems to help .. I've used it in tanks with corals and inverts with no problem so far

Here is a link to a discussion (it's long) in the Macro Algae and Plant forum

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1529695

Seems many folks have had success with it. You may, however, have to find the source of the problem in order to keep it at bay once you have removed the majority with the chemical.

 

[Reefbox]

If you have a good skimmer. Vodka dosing will eliminate the hair algae. Vodka is pretty amazing at removing phospates and nitrates with a skimmer.

 

[DFRESH]

how much grey goose?

 

[scrapING]

I had a 3" tiger cowire that cleaned a fully covered 55 in two weeks but when thier was none left he ate 50 zoos in one night. Sad to say I gave him away. But he cleaned the tank first.