Hair algae problem help

wgama · #1 03-12-2010, 12:13 AM

I have a 90 gallon reef tank that is over run with hair algae. Ive been siphoning as much as I could off once a week and its not really making a difference. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to get rid of it?

chris121277 · #2 03-12-2010, 12:20 AM

what are your levels at? do you use RO water? How much are you feeding?

It took me months to get rid of the outbreak that I had.

ottoman · #3 03-12-2010, 01:12 AM

I will get a sea hare. They are very good hair algae eaters. I got mine clean my 90G within a week. But it doesn't eat any other algae such as red slim. So may be you can sell it or bring it back to the store after he done his job. Cheers.

Norstar · #4 03-12-2010, 01:47 AM

Would a Kole tang or some Mecican Turbo Snails help?

toxic111 · #5 03-12-2010, 01:55 AM

Ok, never fun. I was going to point you to a great write up my Myka, but couldn't find the thread anymore.

Anyway I battled it for 2 years (ask Kelly & I think you saw my tank there once). I am finally getting it under control, but there is still some battle.

First thing to do is deal with the source of the problem, usually phosphates. Test your water & post results here. The algae will prob help the test to show zero, that doesn't mean there is none. Are you using RODI water? From a store or your own unit?

Next, flow, got enough? How often are you changing water? (When mine was really bad I was doing 2 10 gallon changes twice a week while scrubbing rock)

Lighting, what type & when were bulbs last changed? How long is your lighting period?

Stocking, what is in the tank? everything accounted for?(no missing fish or large creatures?)

Also get a phosban reactor & use it. Got a sump? (If I remember right you do) get cheato in it.

Thats what I can think about right now. I am sure someone else will chime in.

outacontrol · #6 03-12-2010, 01:56 AM

Mexican turbo snails all the way

OceanicCorals-Ian- · #7 03-12-2010, 02:15 AM

One word.... Pellets.

Nutrient control is key.

naesco · #8 03-12-2010, 03:14 AM

Hair algae is caused by poor water conditions, overfeeding, and poor lighting conditions.
You need to correct the problem to solve it.
To have your algae eaten, borrow a sea slug (acclimate her properly) from the LFS or a fellow reefer and she will get the job done and remember to return her before she starves to death.
You will be amazed at how quickly the algae disappears.

A kole tang will not help as they eat and need film algae to survive. Film algae grows on the glass.

BlueWorldAquatic · #9 03-12-2010, 12:52 PM

Water quality and Phoshpates are your enemy.

For Hair algae we have found these are the most effective;

foxface, Scopus Tang, and Dragon (brown bar) goby, after it's all gone you will have a few nice additions in your tank.

Seahare, exellant choice, but when you run out of algae, you need to re-home him or he will starve. If he dies, you have a mess of chemicals in your tank.

Mexican Turbo snails, HA gone in days, they will survive afterwards.

Ken - BWA

DiverDude · #10 03-12-2010, 04:45 PM

+1 on the Sea Hare. I have one in my tank and in 24 hours it had eaten most of the algae. It goes back to the LFS on Sunday.

Of course, the algae is just the symptom of the water quality problems others have already addressed.

I guess each case is different and it's still early for me but between stringent water quality management and the Sea Hare (and really no livestock in the tank for bio load), my algae problem is almost done (knocks on wood).

You can win the war -you just need to outsmart the enemy !