Evidence of my Hair Algae attack
- Thread starter screebo
- Start date
Thanks Erik. I've got a couple snails but they don't seem to be working on the algae. Some little pods working it like dandruff in someone's hair! I'm doing two 20% changes a week during start up, I haven't tried to manually remove it. That's an idea too. I feed the tank the Kent photo-whatzits twice a week, just 10 drops each feeding along with the Kent reef builder "part B" also 10 drops. Oh........I'm also using Purple up weekly, again 10 drops each time.
Unless you have a lot of filter feeders, you're feeding quite a bit of phyto for that size tank. Especially if it's the super concentrated stuff.
How long are your lights on during the day?
What's the wattage of the lights, and what type?
How old is the tank?
What animals are in the tank?
How often, how much, and what do you feed them?
Are you using RO/DI water for topoff, and to make saltwater?
B
How long are your lights on during the day?
What's the wattage of the lights, and what type?
How old is the tank?
What animals are in the tank?
How often, how much, and what do you feed them?
Are you using RO/DI water for topoff, and to make saltwater?
B
Hi B,
Lights come on at 4pm and stay on until midnight. they are the two lights that come with the Nanocube Deluxe (25w ea?). The tank is going on 4 weeks old and has very low levels of nitrites and nitrates. PH is just a "little low" but not bad. I've only added a few soft corals, polyps and star with a couple shrooms. I feed them the Kent phyto twice a week at about 10 drops a feeding. I also use the Kent coral builder that is suggested to used in combination with the food. I also have been adding "Purple up" once a week to encourage coraline algae growth. Seems to be working as the purple algae is beginning to spread. I always use RO water for all changes and additions. I use a refractometer to insure proper salinitiy also. Temp is 76 degrees/lights off and about 79 degrees/lights on.
Thanks for your help.
John
Lights come on at 4pm and stay on until midnight. they are the two lights that come with the Nanocube Deluxe (25w ea?). The tank is going on 4 weeks old and has very low levels of nitrites and nitrates. PH is just a "little low" but not bad. I've only added a few soft corals, polyps and star with a couple shrooms. I feed them the Kent phyto twice a week at about 10 drops a feeding. I also use the Kent coral builder that is suggested to used in combination with the food. I also have been adding "Purple up" once a week to encourage coraline algae growth. Seems to be working as the purple algae is beginning to spread. I always use RO water for all changes and additions. I use a refractometer to insure proper salinitiy also. Temp is 76 degrees/lights off and about 79 degrees/lights on.
Thanks for your help.
John
Abarnswell
New Member
How about using a lawn mower? 
My hair algae is just starting to take off, and my blue legs don't even make a dent in it. I got three Scarlett hermit crabs today, hoping that will help (someone at the LFS suggested that). I look at my hair algae and think, it's time to mow the grass.
Let us know what you try and what works for you.
My hair algae is just starting to take off, and my blue legs don't even make a dent in it. I got three Scarlett hermit crabs today, hoping that will help (someone at the LFS suggested that). I look at my hair algae and think, it's time to mow the grass.Let us know what you try and what works for you.
Basically you've got a very young tank. Most wouldn't consider it out of it's cycle yet, and you're feeding concentrated foods, (phytoplex, or whatever phyto product you're using), and using additives that are designed to encourage algae growth. You're also adding energy to the system by way of the lights. I'd suggest that the fact that since you have readable levels of nitrites, that you haven't finished your cycle yet. Normally I'd just tell you that you haven't finished your cycle, and that you need to turn the lights off and stop feeding the tank ANYTHING. Since you've already stocked the tank, I'd leave your lights as is, and go ahead and feed flake for the fish.. I'd stop adding phyto, coral builder, purple up, or anything else for that matter for the next 6-8wks. This won't hurt anything at all, but it will seriously decrease the levels of nutrients available for algae, and it will give your beneficial bacteria cultures time to grow. After this time period start back on your additives, but start slowly. All of those additives are really designed for larger tanks. Use half of what you've been using for 6-8wks, and monitor the algae levels. If at the end of that time period you haven't had any algae blooms increase it up to the levels you have been using.
In the meantime if they're at your LFS, you might try a couple scarlet legged hermits, and a couple turbo snails. Turbos aren't my favorite, as they're large enough to knock stuff over, but you can always return them after they've helped clean up your current problem.
You definitely don't want this to get out of control. People have had to strip their tanks and start all over because they've lost the battle to algae. However if you simply take away it's energy sources before it really gets out of hand it should be a quick fix.
Good luck,
B
In the meantime if they're at your LFS, you might try a couple scarlet legged hermits, and a couple turbo snails. Turbos aren't my favorite, as they're large enough to knock stuff over, but you can always return them after they've helped clean up your current problem.
You definitely don't want this to get out of control. People have had to strip their tanks and start all over because they've lost the battle to algae. However if you simply take away it's energy sources before it really gets out of hand it should be a quick fix.
Good luck,
B
Abarnswell
New Member
I think that advice applies to me as well. My tank is young and hair algae is appearing spreading. I've been feeding live Phytoplankton for feather dusters. Apparently, that's not a good idea this early in a tank's life. I'll cut back significantly on the phyto. I did add three scarlet hermits to my tank this evening, hoping they will start grazing on the hair algae.
Thanks for the advice, guys!!
Good to know.
You've just got to give those bacteria cultures time to get large enough to deal with the waste inherent in feeding concentrated foods like this. Even turning off the pumps to keep it suspended longer, there's ALWAYS gonna be waste, and if the bacteria isn't there to break it down, it's free food for nuisance algae.
B
You've just got to give those bacteria cultures time to get large enough to deal with the waste inherent in feeding concentrated foods like this. Even turning off the pumps to keep it suspended longer, there's ALWAYS gonna be waste, and if the bacteria isn't there to break it down, it's free food for nuisance algae.
B
This all makes perfect sense to me. Thanks for the diagnostic assistance. I'm pretty happy with some of the images that are coming from the tank but embarrased to even show it in the scruffy state it is in. As it develops nicely you can say, "looks like you've got your tank's pretty happy now"
Every day, try to lean something new and when in doubt, just say "yes" and walk right into trouble. Maybe I'll pick up a little water proof lawn mower too!
John
Every day, try to lean something new and when in doubt, just say "yes" and walk right into trouble. Maybe I'll pick up a little water proof lawn mower too!
John
smoke eater
New Member
I had the same problem stopped feeding for awhile. Scrubbed the rocks. Checked the phosphate levels and the were high. Added phosban in a filter bag and let it run passively in the sump and the hair algae cleared up.
Now I feed less and monitor phosphate levels, where I didn't before.
Now I feed less and monitor phosphate levels, where I didn't before.
Where's my brain! I forgot all about phosphates and their effect on algae. I've still likely got a phosphate sponge around I can drop in the back slot for a while. Thanks for the great idea. By the way, today, when changed a bit of water, I yanked a bunch of the hair algae out. I've gotta be careful because everything is so darn small and delicate. It's sooooo easy to knock stuff over! I feel like a giant trying to do some tiny task. Same way with keeping the glass and back free of algae. My hands feel like baseball mitts.
Abarnswell
New Member
This is very interesting. I've not checked my phosphate levels. I'll have to pick up a kit for that today and see what it is. Will also check into Phosban.
I'm not exactly sure what the relationship is between phosphates and hair algae. Time for some research... Thanks for the tip!
EDIT: This seems to be a good page on fighting the different types of bad algae:
http://www.seahorse.org/library/article ... lgae.shtml
I'm not exactly sure what the relationship is between phosphates and hair algae. Time for some research... Thanks for the tip!
EDIT: This seems to be a good page on fighting the different types of bad algae:
http://www.seahorse.org/library/article ... lgae.shtml
The only problem with testing for phosphates in the middle of an algae bloom is that you may get 'zero' readings, but your phosphates can still be too high. The algae will just be pulling it out of the water fast enough that you won't have testable amounts, left in the water column.
Since you're not overrun with algae yet, the test kit will likely get a positive reading.
B
Since you're not overrun with algae yet, the test kit will likely get a positive reading.
B