recommendations for brown hair algae control?

[DrDNA]

Hi all,
Well I finally have some rock in the tank, put it in about a week and a half ago. My tank is 300gal and I have about 250lbs of rock. I got rock that was basically already cured and did not see much of an ammonia spike, it was barely detectable. It is now at the "starting to grow lots of brown filamentous algae" stage. I am working to bring down the nitrates (about 10-15ppm) and phosphate (about 0.10 ppm) using the nitrate and phosphate sponge stuff...
So, I was wondering what species you folks would recommend for algae control? I have put in some Turbo snails and they seem to do a good job stripping it off the rocks. I also put in a few blue-leg hermits, but was planning to get a bunch more if John gets more in this week.
What else would those of you with experience with cycling in a new tank recommend for biological control? Would a sea hare work okay as well?

 

[MrMikeB]

The snails are tops for algae control, tangs also do a bang-up job if you are planning to run fish too. Do you use an RO unit? In most cases if you strip the phosphates out brown algae has nothing left to eat and coupled with the snails it will begin to die off and stay gone. When I cycled my tank all my cured liverock was covered with the stuff because I did not use RO water. I since recognized the errors of my ways and with those snails and an RO unit, its all but a faint memory.

 

[Nu2SW]

I have been using RO water for the last month and I have seen my Green hair algea die off the last few days.

I do have a emerald crab in my nano, but it hasnt been touching the hair algea. Atleast that Ive noticed.

 

[edsimmons]

Don't forget hemit crabs.

 

[DrDNA]

thanks for the suggestions. I do want to someday get an RO system set up. I do use RO water for top-off water though but I buy it in five gallon jugs. As for hermit crabs, Yourreef was out of them but may have more this weekend. If so, I am going to get a bunch of blue-legs from him. Will probably also get a bunch more Turbo snails and maybe a yellow tang or foxface...

 

[Elite]

Put in some snails and wait. Your tank is very new. Let it finish cycling. Dont put any fish in there yet.

 

[DrDNA]

Yes, it is a new setup... it has been over ten years since I have been through a new tank setup, it is pretty exciting to have one in my house again. Unlike one of my previous tanks, I am trying to stay pro-active and aggressive about controlling unwanted algae since it can be a real pain to bring under control if it gets out of hand.

 

[4jlong]

there's a new store on MADISON AND DEWEY called "CORAL REEF SHOP" they give RO/DI water away. you will need to add salt, and i have not got anything from them yet as i'm still setting up my tank, but having it givin to you is better than buying it!

 

[MrMikeB]

a 300 gallon tank? Wow! That would be a lot of trips to the LFS. Your best first investment besides the tank for algae control is to get an RO/DI unit. Especially before the first 50% change you do typically after cycling.

 

[funman1]

Right now it sounds like NTS (New Tank Syndrome)
It should go away, but if you are not using RO then it may never go away.
Test your tap and see what's in it..

When I started I heard NEVER go with out RO so even tough I started out with a 12G nano I bought a $200 RO system. Never had a major alge breakout ever in any of my tanks. (yet)

Just spend the cash and do it.
http://www.airwaterice.com I LOVE my Typhoon III
Comes with meters, gagues, made of metal, and has DOW filmtec RO, and only $200

What more could you ask for?
Also mention RC and get a free Float valve.

~Steve~