HOw to get rid of Hair algae??

normanviking

normanviking

New member
Just wanted to know what you guys have used to ct least control hair algae. My Nitrates and Phosphates are all 0. I was thinking about trying to get a Sea Hare. But some one told me it was not a good idea. So any suggestions on what to check, do, or buy what be helpful.
 
my suggestion is to erradicate it by hand and add about 40 turbo snails to your 180. Once you pull most of it, the turbos will eat it before it has time to grow back. Make sure for the first couple of weeks after doing this you keep your PH very high, like 8.6. Also make sure your Ca and Alk are balanced aty 10dkh or so, and at least 400. A LM blenny or two in a 180 would help as well.
 
Thanks Eric. How do I get my PH that high though? Will two Lawn Mower Blenny's be ok together in one tank? And lastly where in town do they have good deals on Turbos?
 
I think 2 LM blennys would be fine for a time. Introduce them small and they will pay more attention to the rocks than one another. As for the turbos...let me talk to todd at Neptune's. He is going to set up a group order wfor our club. I'll talk to him and post prices soon. As for the PH, just drip kalk and raise it by .1 point each day. I have some pickling lime if you need it.
 
Ok sounds good. I already have one Lawn mower. That is why I was a little skeptical. Do think it would be safe to add one if Ihave that is already established? He chased my yellow watchman( who I have not seen for over a week) for four days.
 
Ahh if you have one, then don't add another. As soon as you get the turbos, then go to work on that hair algae...in the meantime, where does your water come from. DI and salt?
 
I use a six stage RO/DI unit with all new membrane and filters beginning of this year. I am currently using Instant Ocean. What kind do you recomend?
 
All my bulbs are new the begining of this year also. I need to change my VHO's. Do you know anywhere in town that sells six foot super actinics?
 
The only way that LM will do any good is if you strip it off the rocks and enable him to manage it. Another specimen I would reccomentd is a dragon goby. I have had reat success with these eating hair algae.
 
Probably not poupon...Your best bet there is to ramp up the skimming and water changes for a while. At the same time add 15 or 20 turbo snails...they will eat the algae before it gets locked up with the excess nutrients.

I'd say the cost on a dragon goby Dan is around 25 or so. They are well worth it though. I had a 55 full of hair algae and the dragon goby completely took care of it. I never scrubbed a rock...he would rip it of and it would go into the filtration while the turbios did their job. He ate some of the hair algae but most was carried into the filter.

The downside on the goby is if you have a dsb...he will turn the sand and ruin the filtration qualities of the sand.

Dan one other thing...as far as the DG being reef safe, I would say they are 90%...I had one that ripped zoanthids off a rock. The only threat it would pose is toward your zoos, but if the hair algae problem is that bad, it will be worth the sacrifice.
 
yeah...thats the same one. I saw one at Neptune's a few weeks ago...maybe seascape has one as well. They used to always have them.

I'd check Petco too...
 
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