Hair algae? Please say no.

KoNP

KoNP

New Member


This has been appearing on all my rocks, and has gone from fuzz to what you see here in a few days. It's photosynthesizing like mad, as you can see from all the bubbles.

Is this the dreaded hair algae or is it something else? If it's hair algae is there anything reef-safe that will eat it, and if not, is pulling it off the rock the best way to go about it?
 
KoNP

KoNP

New Member
funkngroovy said:
How old is your system?

That looks bad, you need to take all of that out and scub it off.
Click to expand...
About a month, and I'm not scrubbing anything simply because it will kill all the other things that are growing on the rock. I don't mind manually removing it, it comes off relatively easily.

According to quite a few sources, this forum included, I've got the "christmas twins" - hair and cyano. It's fallen exactly where it should in the "new tank syndrome" timeline. I've increased the flow by adding a hang-on filter, 300 liters per hour, and I'm going to reduce the amount of light by about 4 - 6 hours a day. I don't see the need to disrupt the tank when it's just gotten nicely established. I'm going to get a phosphate test kit when i get paid on the weekend - probably a reef master test kit, i have the saltwater master already but need the tests for KH and phosphates and whatnot.
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Use a clean water source, increase flow, reduce nutrient import, and do a couple extra water changes. I don't see any cyano. (Cyano is a bacteria, not an algae FYI)
 
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funkngroovy

New Member
You have a majano anemone (do a google search) in the centre right of that photo.

They are nasty. Peppermint shrimp will eat babies but at that size, wont touch it.

They are easier to remove manually than aptasia so you just take the rock out and chisel it off.

A very invasive species that will sting corals that are within range and kill your micro life.

There has been lots of them in Australian live rock supplies in recent months.
 
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davenia7

New Member
I would stress too much. Deal with the majano... otherwise, increase WC's and test your source water for phosphate and nitrogenous waste (Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates), just to be sure you're not introducing ickies.
 
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