Overgrown hair algae killed my tank

[Pico]

Hair algae overran my tank and killed my cynarina, mushroom and GSP. Now left with live rock, hammer and octopus:( Thinking of converting the pico tank into FOWLR. How can I prevent the algae from overrunning? Do I need to totally restart and recycle my tank? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[[V]tEc]

do water change, salt with di water. run FR with rowa or media to reduce po4. control feeding.

[Pico]

I just changed the water. But what is FR with rowa or media? sorry really new to this

[rekian]

I just changed the water. But what is FR with rowa or media? sorry really new to this

Biopellet.

[Pico]

Thanks for yr advice! We're currently using ceramic pellets. Are they the same? The hair algae is growing on the live rock and the sand as well. Do I need to change the live rock and sand as well?

[rekian]

How old is the tank? What is the nitrate and PO4 level?

[Pico]

Half a year. Not sure about the levels though. It's a really small dymax iQ5 tank

[rekian]

Do you use DI water or tap water for top up and change? What is your water change routine?

[Pico]

I use distilled water for top up. For change, I use tap water with the dechlorinator and salt mix

[Guest]

It is hard to control the nutrient level in a small nano tank. So you might have to do more regular water change to control it.

Dosing Brightwell MB7 bacteria will help as well.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[rekian]

I use distilled water for top up. For change, I use tap water with the dechlorinator and salt mix

Tap water introduce PO4 which promote nuisance algae. Better to use DI water for top up and water change.

[Pico]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I will try it out and update you all if there are any changes. Thank you soooo much:) hopefully will make improvements to the tank.

[Ahhyi]

My tank encounter same problem. I just off my lights a few days. Then now on only few hours aday. Problem solved.

[Pico]

Any more suggestions are welcome:)

[Pico]

My tank encounter same problem. I just off my lights a few days. Then now on only few hours aday. Problem solved.

Thanks! Will try that too:)

[tropic]

No tap water at all. DI water or rodi.

[Sengreef]

Try to get bino goby (Amblygobius bynoensis) ... I'm sure nobody know this goby is a hair algae eater like hector or rainford goby but this is bigger size compare to hector tiny fish tat 1 fish can consume my 2000L tank full of hair algae in not more than 3 weeks time ...

[finind]

the irony - green alage starts to grow on coralline alage covered liverock... after started running rowaphos in fluidizer for a few weeks

to add salt to the wound.. that used to be hardworking turbo snail starts to "strike" ... siam the hair alage..NBz..

go buy another 2 bigger turbo hoping for the best... still they no interest ... siao!! 3 turbo zhor boh lxx!!

now need hermit crab!!

[sherman]

Get turbo snails, big one . Sea urchin. Good at clearing hair algae. I have the same problem 6 months ago.

[Pico]

I have already cleared all the hair algae infested corals. The tank is now really plain looking:(( Btw are turbo snails reef safe? I only have a 3g tank. Will it be big enough for the snail?