how to get rid of hair algae on rocks

[hiepatitis]

I got some rocks that have hair algae on it. I don't need the rocks right now. If I let them sit out of water will the algae die off?

 

[jedininja]

The algae will die, but then you'll also have a lot of nutrients in the rock. Look up "cooking live rock" Its a process where you starve the rocks of nutrients in the dar,. If its only 1 or two rocks, then some people have boiled their rock before then sprayed them out real well.

 

[steve70]

lawnmower blenny!

 

[happyface888]

Thoes blennys will remove that hair algae in no time.

 

[ZooZ]

i second the idea about the blenny...add a lot of personality to the tank but make sure its compatable with your livestock

 

[650-IS350]

LMB, FoxFace or Urchin....

 

[ZooZ]

hey delsol you play FF7? I like ur display pic

 

[jedininja]

Why add a fish or invert that you dont really want in your tank when he's able to remove the rock and clean it in other ways?

 

[hiepatitis]

I never liked the idea of nuking rocks and starting all over. Will they be just as good in time?

 

[RENE]

i nuked my rocks cuz i had aiptasia and hairalgae..looks better than before..=)

 

[650-IS350]

Hiep you can do the natural way of using various aniamals like I said before like the Lawnmower blenny, foxface and an urchin. By them selves it'll take a while but in combination it'll be a shorter time..... those animals are beneficial in a tank.. although unrchins like a tuxedo is the least dangerous it can still carry frags on its body. LMB and Foxface will try to consume different types of algae not just HA.

Zooz- used to play a lot of FF but now just stuck playing KILLZONE.

 

[Nuuze]

I had a bit of a hair algea problem a while back and I bought reeftopia's reef pack #3 and some lettuce nudi's. Ever since them hair algea is gone completely.

 

[650-IS350]

SeaHares or Lettuce nudis...

 

[undertai]

get a old tooth brush and scrub the rocks
or
dip in fresh water and scrub with tooth brush

also check phosphate levels to make sure it doesn't come back again

 

[jedininja]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10438144#post10438144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hiepatitis
I never liked the idea of nuking rocks and starting all over. Will they be just as good in time?

The rocks would be better than originally. All the algae will be gone as well as all the excess nutrients will be out of the rock as well. As for colonization of coralline and pods, those will come back really quick if your tank is in good condition. I hate the idea of adding a fish that I dont like, or an invert that I didnt want in my tank. Better to get rid of the source of the problem instead of always throwing things in to try to just control the problem.

 

[TimTen]

I'm looking at getting a lawnmower blenny to help control my Hair algea problem. I'm not sure if it would be okay with my current fish. I have Watchman Goby, Clown, chromis, Cardnal, Yellow tank, and a 6 line. Thanks for you help. All the fish are small and get along great.

 

[nasotang]

Since you don't need the rocks at the moment I would agree with Jedininja and cook the rocks. It sucks trying to battle an algae out break in your tank, and would be better to avoid it all together if you can.

 

[650-IS350]

Depends on the size of your watchman's size...

My large blenny would be cool with everyone except the watchman that was territorial on his little corner... everytime the blenny would come near there to clean the rocks a battle would ensue.... after a couple weeks of fights, they started to tollerate each other...

 

[jafrica]

I tried using a sea hare to get rid of most of my algae. After giving him three weeks to go around the tank and clean it up I decided to try just turning off the lights for three days and covering up the tank with a blanket. That worked much better...

Anyone want to buy my sea hare?

 

[dochou]

complete darkness for 4days worked for me.