Need some help with cleanup crew

[NanoCubicle]

Hello everyone,
I have a nanoCube 28 HQI and am having hair algae problems. The tank has been established for about 8 months, running a Pheonix 14k bulb. The hair algae got bad enough I did a complete tear down, scrubbed the rock, and cooked it for about 3 weeks. About 2 weeks ago I put it all back together and today when I got home from work I notice a few spots where it appears to be coming back.

All my paramemters are in check:

Temp 78
ph 8.2
sg 1.024
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0
calcium 460 ppm
dKH 10
phosphates 0

I run 2 Maxijet 1200 return pumps (using the Ocean Pulse timer, alternating at 1 min), 1 Ecotech MP10ES (set in reef crest mode, little less and 3/4 pump speed), Aquamax HOB skimmer, and also run a Current 1/15 chiller, tank always stays between 77 and 79 degrees.

As for water, I only use RODI (Buckeye Field Supply), water used is measured at 0 TDS with a calibrated meter. Filters were recently replaced along with the DI resin.

Live stock is zoas (about 6 palm sized rocks) 3 are 100% covered, 3 are about 1/2 covered), a medium sized leather(4-5"), medium sized colt(4-5"), starburst polyps(6" rock covered), 1 maroon clown (4"), 1 firefish.

Cleanup crew right now is 2 turbos, 2 cerith, 4 astreas, 4 margaritas. I have about a half dozen scarlet reef crabs but did not reintoduce them (at least not yet) because I find they like preying on the snails and I'm trying to go without if possible.

I do not overfeed; vary from once daily to once every other day. All the food I put in is eaten by the fish, never any excess floating around. I vary feeding brine(frozen), mysis(frozen), Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef flakes, and spirulina.

Questions:
Light cycle is about 10 hours (11am-9pm) which maybe is too much, not sure and need some help here.

Not sure if I'm light on the cleanup crew, or if the makup is wrong, need some help here.

Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[NanoCubicle]

Oh - wanted to add that the only thing I dose every so often is purple up, maybe once or twice per month (1 capful). Water changes are bi-weekly. I also run Chemipure elite and floss. The floss is changed weekly.

 

[~RuSh~]

Maybe try an emerald crab? Sounds like you are doing everything right otherwise. I run my light from 10am - 8pm which is roughly the same amount of time you run yours and I've not had problems... (knocks on wood).

 

[Angel*Fish]

Just a thought... feed your pods. Does rock cooking and scrubbing kill a bunch of amphipods? You're not adding the crabs back to avoid predation of the snails? I think they also eat your amphipods which in big enough population will nip your hair algae in the bud before you even see it. I would say give it time and feed those pods or introduce new ones.

Are your certain what you have is hair alge and not bryopsis? I assume there's no biowheel on this. Is the floss necessary? I'd be inclined to just remove it. I assume you rinse any frozen food before feeding.

I think putting a ball of cheato in there, even in the display temporarily, would be good to compete with your hair algae. It will also act as a pod refuge.

And be patient.

 

[Angler7]

Won't a Sea slug take care of hair algae

 

[jddaniel]

I would find the source of your HA growth. Shorten the photo period a bit and maybe try a round of phosban or such to remove any phosphate that may be in the water. Rinsing your frozen food is also a good practice if you are not already doing so.