hair algae

[landshark]

I am having problems with hair algae in a ten gallon tank. Water quality is good, but ph seems to really fluctuate. Running 2 months. Using Chem Pure Elite, but Dark green algae continues to grow, some in clumps 1 to 2 inches in height.

[bassman]

What type of lights are you running and how long each day?

[digital-audiophile]

What is your water source? Tap, RO/DI?

[michika]

Tell me about your rocks.

[landshark]

I'll try to answer all your questions. Lights are nova extreme,T5HO 18" . Current 10000K and actinic, 38watts total. I've cut back to 6hrs daily. I am using r/o. Rocks are Fiji C/W lots of coraline algae from well established tank.

[michika]

I'm guessing rocks have phosphates/nitrates in them and they are feeding your GHA outbreak. Manually pruning seemed to work best for me, it took about 6 months for everything to leech out of the rocks.

[digital-audiophile]

Are you running a phosban reactor or have the ability to run one?

[michika]

Another thought, are you sure its hair algae and not bryopsis? You can try algaebase.org for a clear ID. There are different proceedures for dealing with each.

[dsaundry]

See if you can borrow a sea hare, just make sure you cover all your filter and pump intakes with sponge. They are great little lawnmowers...

[michika]

Long spine urchins, and lettuce nudibranchs work too, again assuming it is GHA and not bryopsis.