Hair Algae

[rapalla]

Hi, members how do you get rid of Hair Algae?

[hippo]

Use old credit, ATM or other cards as a scrapper to scrap it off from the tank wall.

To prevent it from spreading more, reduce bioload, use phosphate remover (e.g. rowaphos), reduce lighting.

Nutrient source for hair algae is phosphate and nitrate. With lighting, it grows faster.

Cheers and merry X'mas to all reefers.

[shiraz]

it's darn hard to remove.. the only way u can remove every single strand is to remove all your rocks, scrape all the algae off and then rescape your tank but before that, u have to make sure there are NO traces of phosphates or sillicates in your tank... small amts of nitrate are fine anyway.. small as is below 20ppm

if u happen to see more, don't just brush it off the rock and let is float arnd in your tank.. it eventually land somewhere where there is no flow and it would spread and spread until it becomes a thick mass..

to me, the WORST kind of algae to have in your tank! i'd be rather happy if i have a cyano outbreak then this one!

[rapalla]

Wah lau.... so much work sigh!

[Godzilla]

hi bro..use to battle with hair algae..used every method there is but the problem never goes away. after i installed a FR, all gone within 1 wk.

[rapalla]

What is FR??

[Lin]

sent some cleaning crew? used to have some on those uncure LR.. my hermit did their job.. juz my 1cent..

[shiraz]

hi bro..use to battle with hair algae..used every method there is but the problem never goes away. after i installed a FR, all gone within 1 wk.

serious?!

[Godzilla]

What is FR??

fluidised reactor..its like a container specially for rowa or other po4 media.its suppose to enhance the performance..

[Godzilla]

serious?!

yup..n i can say my breakout was quite bad,..but all gone in about a wk like magic.

[ReeF_LoVeR]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaecontrol/a/aa070403.htm

[Reefbum]

Hair algae should not be a problem if it is not too much.But if you want totally hair algae free LR, the only way is to remove it and pour hot water to kill everything on the LR(basically become dead rock).Then cycle the rock and slowly cultivate coralline algae from start.My friend did that and it works.

[rapalla]

Thanks guys n gals... think i would reboot my system, taking all the LR out and turn it into a dead rock and start all over again!

[minsmarine]

Thanks guys n gals... think i would reboot my system, taking all the LR out and turn it into a dead rock and start all over again!

Would agree only if your tank is very new.

Otherwise, think outside the box equation.

[weileong]

Before you want to tear apart your system. There is one last thing you can try which will work.

Black out your system for 2 weeks. Cover all sides and top of your tank with 2 layers of black trash bag. Keep your skimmer running. After two weeks do some major water change. When you start to black out, throw in rowaphos too.

All the hair algae will melt away after 2 weeks and by then if you can keep the nutrients levels low in your tank then they will not come back again. This means getting a more efficient skimmer, less feeding etc.

[Eric]

Hi, members how do you get rid of Hair Algae?

Remove all LS and introduce a crack SE MH bulb for 48hrs..........the UV will kill all the hair algaes,diatoms and cyano..........

Eric

[rapalla]

Hmmm... think i follow "weileong" ways, lets see wether it works...

[XPeriment 626]

Remove all LS and introduce a crack SE MH bulb for 48hrs..........the UV will kill all the hair algaes,diatoms and cyano..........

Eric

not to mention most of the other life in the tank

[Reefbum]

Before you want to tear apart your system. There is one last thing you can try which will work.

Black out your system for 2 weeks. Cover all sides and top of your tank with 2 layers of black trash bag. Keep your skimmer running. After two weeks do some major water change. When you start to black out, throw in rowaphos too.

All the hair algae will melt away after 2 weeks and by then if you can keep the nutrients levels low in your tank then they will not come back again. This means getting a more efficient skimmer, less feeding etc.

Think he can do this only if there are no other LS in the tank.And rather kill everything instantly than slowly decomposing which will take more time.juz my 2 cents.