Leave hair algae alone or scrub it away?

[flfirefighter13]

Ive got a 75 gallon tank that is really just keeping live rock live till I get my big one set up and I have had a Hair algae outbreak on the back glass. The rocks only have a a few spots on 3 rocks and that has been the same from when i put the rocks in. The stuff on the back glass is about 2-3 inches long and a solid mat.

My question is this, the algae isnt bothering me that bad, but I dont want it to take over my awesome rock, so do I leave the algae growing as a kind of in tank refugium or do I scrape it off and risk stiring it up and causing it to grow everywhere? How fast will it spread from the glass to the rock? any ideas?

 

[headjigger]

I just had a problem with it. You must scrub it away!! Otherwise, It spreads and grows on everything. It isnt terrible if you scrub it away somewhat often. If it gets bad, there are bacterial products out there which all but eliminate hair algae. These are not chemical algaecides and thus do not kill other macro and micro algae.

naturally try water changes etc.

 

[flfirefighter13]

Im just fearful of spreading by scrubbing, its nice and on the glass right now. Maybe ill wait 2 days till I have a day off and setup a seperate tank for the rock then just scrub and do a major water change, hopefully the devil weed wont root onto my rocks!

 

[bluerug]

Get a starry blenny, they do a great job.

 

[mfp4073]

Scrub, get it into the water, do water change. Repeat!

 

[orb]

i'd siphon out what you can. is there any corals/fish in there too? if not just leave the lights off-it should go away. if it's just rock in there-there should be no need to feed the tank either. some people have rigged up toothbrush heads to the end of the siphon tube, to help in removing it. search for "cooking live rock" may get some help.

 

[flfirefighter13]

Alrite, I guess the consenus is in, Ill be haveing a scrub party on sunday, come on over guys, theres plenty for everyone... FREE HAIR ALGAE!!!!! If your quick enough to grab you can have an aptasia or two as well!!!! In all seriousness though thanks for your help, I like the toothbrush on the siphon tube, but im going a step further and using a scraper, The brush would be usefull on rock but luckily it hasnt gotten that bad on the rock, I am however looking at a algae blenny that is getting lost in a forrest on the black glass an trying to eat his way out so some progress is being made!