Hair algae invasion...Help!!!!

[Mares77]

I am getting major hair algae invasion..can any give some hints to control the problem? I tried scrubbing them off but it keeps coming back...

[pocilipora]

What kind of water do you use? Tap/Purified

[Mares77]

I am using purified water.,,

[Samw]

I had the same thing. I'd spend half a day pulling out as much as possible only to have it all grow back in 2 weeks.

What I did to get rid of it all was:
-pulled out as much as I could
-bought 6 emerald crabs
-bought 60 hermits (blue legged, S. American red legged, scarlets, and zebra left handed)
-bought 4 lettuce nudibranches

The hair algae never came back since. I actually had to sell off my hermits and emeralds due to lack of algae now.

[ 03 September 2002, 23:48: Message edited by: Sam W ]

[reefburnaby]

Mares77,

If you have time, could you describe your tank and setup on the tank specification forum on Canreef. This will gives us an idea of what your system is and we can give a better response to your question.

- Victor.

[Chin_Lee]

I used Phosgard at 1/2 recommended level but left it in the sump and it went away by itself. I have a 180 FO with refugium of algae and mangroves, light fish load (3 medium size fish and 13 small fishes) for a setup. At one point, I could not see any of my rocks except where coralline were growing. I put Phosgard in and within a week the hair algae were getting thinner. MAKE SURE YOUR SKIMMER is working at PRIME PERFORMANCE level or else it doesn't matter what you do, it will grow back as more die. Then I used a Mag 5 that I am using for internal circulation against the hair algae and they will dislodge from the rocks and make your tank look like crap. But keep the prefilter on the Mag 5 and clean it and/or your tank intake every hour until it clears.
HIH
CWLee

[sea gnome]

Chin Lee, where did you get the phosgard????
Rachel

[sea gnome]

Anyone know where you can get phosgard?????? Thanks Rachel

[aquamansilver]

MOPS has it

http://www.mops.ca (http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/products/FMSE-01860.htm?L+scstore+fcbn6928ff2bc52b+1032283892)

[reefburnaby]

Sea Gnome,

J&L carries it. They also carry Phosphate sponge from Kent. If you don't mind me asking...do you have an hair algae problem too ?

- Victor.