Hair Algae

dave3112 · Post by **dave3112** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:46 pm

What is the best natural way or fish to get rid of hair algae?

Phisher · Post by **Phisher** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:48 pm

Kole tangs work well in my experience. Fox face prob work good too.

Joe

Jahdiel · Post by **Jahdiel** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:33 pm

Our yellow and naso tangs are known as the algae terminators

andy4499 · Post by **andy4499** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:19 pm

I also have had good luck with yellow tangs

wtrhed · Post by **wtrhed** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:42 pm

Sea Hares are popular. I have never used one, but I think I'm fixing to try them.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... did=381138

SaltnLime · Post by **SaltnLime** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 1:22 am

blue leg hermits, lawnmower blenny, tangs, mexican turbo snails....

Those I have seen work....although it seems more of a hit or miss with some.

Also of course try to reduce phosphates and nitrates... refugiums I think help. You may have to scrub it down to get many of the above listed critters to consider it food.

Good luck... Hair algae sucks, and there should be a team of scientist working day and night to find a way to irradicate it like red bugs and planaria.

KrazyPlace · Post by **KrazyPlace** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:29 am

I have lots of hair algae, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me... I agree with all the above and I currently use:

sea urchin (local, long spinny, purple ones)
tangs (Kole & Hippo)
rabbit fish (awesome eaters)
snails (all of them)
crabs (all of them)

Also try adjusting your lighting. You can cut back by 10-20% and sometimes see results.

ShagMan · Post by **ShagMan** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 7:24 am

best natural way to get rid of hair algea is water changes, or alternatively, find out what's wrong with your water now. If you're not up for that, I would suggest yellow tangs, because they're relatively cheap, that's if you have a tank large enough.

tbmoore · Post by **tbmoore** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:21 pm

shag is correct with water changes and water quality...if your water is right it can't grow.....

dave3112 · Post by **dave3112** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:45 pm

I do water changes every other week, my levels are within range, ammonia is 0, nitrates are 0, nitrites are 0, specific gravity is 1.023, ph is 8.2.
I don't have a great amount of the algae just a small amount on a toadstool, but it seems to be spreading slowly.

Beaver · Post by **Beaver** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:50 pm

what about PO4 levels?

ShagMan · Post by **ShagMan** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:36 pm

where do you get your water from? Sounds like you are using tap or poorly filtered water... algea loves it.

Also, what do you feed? Do you keep a refugium?

KrazyPlace · Post by **KrazyPlace** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:36 am

My PO4 levels are 0 (I used the test kit I stole from Josh to check it

), I have 3 month old RO/DI water system, and my nitrates run 1-3 ppm depending on my mood. I don't do water changes.

If I had to guess... I'd say the PO4 is not the algae problem I have. It might be the lack of water changes. I'm due for another one. Hopefully I can get some salt and test it.

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:45 am

What is your Alk / Ph ? I have read a lot of people advise to raise your Alkalinity, but usually raising Alkalinity means raising PH, so I'm thinking that elevating the ph would help to kill it.. I don't know might be something to check out.. that stuff sucks.

dave3112 · Post by **dave3112** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:49 pm

I don't know what my PO4 levels are, I don't have a test kit for that.
I don't have an RO/DI filter (to expensive) I presently filter my tap water.
I have cut by my lights to 8 hrs a day and still no decrease in algae should I remove MH and replace with PC for a while? Thanks