So i was told that getting a Blue Hippo Tang might help with my hair algae problem... I have a side of the tank that i guess the flow isnt getting to or something and hair algae grows and grows and grows. Ive been pulling it off with my hand trying to figure out what to do but am tired of that. Is this true that a tang would eat that stuff? Ive been planning on getting a Blue Hippo Tang anyways and would get a small one since i only have a 30g (about to setup my 55g so it wont stay in the 30) but wanted to ask the audience. This a lie? or just a possibility? or fact?
Tang vs Hair Algae?
- Thread starter Hotrod324
- Start date
reefD
New member
if you have algea blooms then water chemistry is oof and a tang will suffer in this envirnment,,,,,,, strip nutrients first ..tang will compound issues wuth blooms........try feeding less and not doing water changes for 4 weeks as water may be phos. filled and source of issues. this is not an issue when bacteria is established but let time help...tang as solution no way. lower feeding and bioload....this helps once steady for a while.
drummereef
Team RC
Totally agree. You need to get to the source of the prob. Test for nitrates, phosphates, and silicate. If you aren't using RO/DI, then I would recommend it highly. Got rid of most all of my problems.
You dont think it has anything to do with flow or something else that would target just one area? The only reason i am asking this is because the only areas being hit with algae are portions of my sand bed and some rocks on the left side of my tank. The rest of it is free of any algae whatsover. Ill try that though...but when you say feed less...if everything is being consumed when i feed...should i feed less? i guess maybe because more ingested food means more waste...i dunno though
reefD
New member
ok when you feed less then you create less waste for not yet established bacteria to consume. what we mean is that when tank is new feeding every other few days is ideal as bacteris can get used to load increase slowly and not shooked. basically this issue in a new tank means you went to fast with stock. ideally you set up tank with live rock and just let it be...top off only with fresh untill ammonia spikes. sumps help alot with competing algea eating same stuff grows faster due to 24/7 lighting in sump. thus out grows and burns it up
Peter Eichler
New member
Dbl. post
Peter Eichler
New member
In addition to controling your nutrients try some hermits (I prefer cortez red leg) or turbograzers. Both will consume hair algae and neither will be cramped in a 30 or 55 gallon like a tang will.
BTTRFLYGRL
New member
Tangs don't eat hair algae...and a Hippo needs a 6' tank. If you have a sump, try adding Macroalgae
I wish i did have a sump but that would just double the price of my tank so i couldnt afford that. I have 4 hermit crabs now, dont know the kind, so how many more would you recomen me getting? Also have 2 big top crown snails and 5 other smaller margarita and something else so should i get more of those as well? and if yes how many?
Kiel'thalin
Member
You are not going to have any luck buying something to eat the algae. This will only increase the growth. It seems you are in prime Hair Algae Phase in your tank. What filtration do you have? I hope it includes a skimmer. You are probably getting such a outbreak from overloading the tank too early in the game. It is now catching up with you since you didn't let the tank mature enough to handle the bio-loads. Now there is a build-up of nutrient in your tank that is practically impossible to remove quickly. You have already supplemented too many nutrients, just cut back a bit on feeding and ride this one out until the hair algae depletetes the nutrient issues. Then remove the algae manually and start over. The only thing I see that could really help is put a competing macroalgae in a refugium or even into the display. There is really no quick fix here. Good Luck.
My hippo doesn't like algae much. he loves Formula 2 flakes that have algae in it. But he seems to be a meat eater. My purple and yellow graze all the time, but won't touch hair algae. My Foxface is the big algae eater. He also won't eat hairalgae but loves cheato. Eats it like spagetti. I had a Naso that loved sargassum.
Like the others have said, and I wish was said more, critters are a poor way to solve algae problems. With the exception of snails and diatoms, I have never seen a fish or crab that can keep up with a algae bloom So even if crabs, for instance, eat hair alage, the algae is going to grow much faster than the crabs are going to eat. Another problem is that algae problems most often stem from phosphate and nitrate in the water. Adding a big fish (and big pooper) like a hippo might amplify the problem your trying to solve.
My first recommendation if you thought you had to buy something for algae contol would be a phosban reactor.
I would look at maybe increaseing Kelvin of your bulbs to 12,000. Although 10,000 has never been a problem for me.
Limit your fish load.
Mike
Like the others have said, and I wish was said more, critters are a poor way to solve algae problems. With the exception of snails and diatoms, I have never seen a fish or crab that can keep up with a algae bloom So even if crabs, for instance, eat hair alage, the algae is going to grow much faster than the crabs are going to eat. Another problem is that algae problems most often stem from phosphate and nitrate in the water. Adding a big fish (and big pooper) like a hippo might amplify the problem your trying to solve.
My first recommendation if you thought you had to buy something for algae contol would be a phosban reactor.
I would look at maybe increaseing Kelvin of your bulbs to 12,000. Although 10,000 has never been a problem for me.
Limit your fish load.
Mike
ReefBuilderNJ
In Memoriam
ive never had any tang that did anything with hair algae. heard alot about foxfaces eating it though.
Well, usually because that's where it was originally (ie spores/remnants, whatever you want to call it). And it just hasn't had time to spread. Or that's where detritus is collecting. Also, it grows easier on bare rock. Rock with coralline on it doesn't grow HA as easily.
Also, the tank is about 9 months old so is that still not old enough to handle this bioload? What are some examples of macroalgaes? so far all i have in there is some green plants that are spreading like wildfire and a piece of dragons breath that is getting huge. Thanks for all the replies btw
p.s.
and my filtration consists of a emperor 400 and a prizm skimmer that was just recently added (like 3 weeks ago)
p.s.
and my filtration consists of a emperor 400 and a prizm skimmer that was just recently added (like 3 weeks ago)
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