Zoolander Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Even after breaking the tank down and scrubbing everything it came back in about a month's time. How do I get rid of this freaking stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoolander Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 This seems to have pretty good info- http://www.saltyzoo.com/HairAlgae.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I can agree with a lot of what that article has to say, but I dont agree about the scrubbing. I think that we did the right thing removing as much as possible. Now, what feeds the algae is phosphates and nitrates. You definitely have those things working against you. I would get a skimmer ( a good skimmer ) as soon as you can afford it. I would also continue to come over to my place and get RODI water to top off with. Tap water just adds to the nutrient problem. Flake foods are bad, and overfeeding in general is bad too. A skimmer would greatly reduce the impact of feeding, as well as the nutrients in the water now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Hey good find. I was doing good and it was almost gone and now it is going right back. I am going to implement some of these ideas and see if I can't kick this stuff for good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I can agree with a lot of what that article has to say' date=' but I dont agree about the scrubbing. I think that we did the right thing removing as much as possible. Now, what feeds the algae is phosphates and nitrates. You definitely have those things working against you. I would get a skimmer ( a good skimmer ) as soon as you can afford it. I would also continue to come over to my place and get RODI water to top off with. Tap water just adds to the nutrient problem. Flake foods are bad, and overfeeding in general is bad too. A skimmer would greatly reduce the impact of feeding, as well as the nutrients in the water now.[/quote'] They didn't really say if they meant scrubbing in the tank or out. I could see if you were scrubbing in the tank it would be really bad. but if you took it out that would only help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 They didn't really say if they meant scrubbing in the tank or out. I could see if you were scrubbing in the tank it would be really bad. but if you took it out that would only help. thats true, they probably meant scrubbing in-tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAD Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 What sized tank are you running Zoolander? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreefer Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 The things that helped me... 1) Never underestimate need to change bulbs regularly! 2) Never underestimate how many snails/crabs you should have in your tank! 3) Never underestimate the need for VERY good circulation! 4) Never underestimate the benefit of nutrient export (skimmer, water changes)! 5) Do not overfeed! Most importantly...do not allow yourself to STRESS over hair algae!! It happens in the best of tanks. I used to get bent out of shape when I'd get an outbreak...For some reason, frustration seems to make hair algae grow faster!!(nono) Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 The things that helped me... 1) Never underestimate need to change bulbs regularly! 2) Never underestimate how many snails/crabs you should have in your tank! 3) Never underestimate the need for VERY good circulation! 4) Never underestimate the benefit of nutrient export (skimmer, water changes)! 5) Do not overfeed! Most importantly...do not allow yourself to STRESS over hair algae!! It happens in the best of tanks. I used to get bent out of shape when I'd get an outbreak...For some reason, frustration seems to make hair algae grow faster!!(nono) Good luck! I am in need of new VHO's in a bad way. Will be getting those asap, and I am going to be grabbing 25 snails and 20 hermits also I think. I have a sea hare but he has slowed down on the grazing in the last 2 weeks. He was a machine for a solid 2 months their. It was all but gone from just him really. He went from less then 2" to over 5" in like a month it seemed.:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Very good article it covers all the main points. I had a hair algae outbreak in my second year and ended up tearing my tank down and moving it. I believe water quality is number one, from the start good ro-di then circulation, skimming etc. I would place the snails and hermits at the bottom of the list, they can play a small role in keeping rock and sand clean but they do not eat hair algae and to many in any tank will just result in their death. The only other thing I did was move my tank from a room where it was in a corner (the back and side against the wall ) to a spot where the tank was "free standing" with room and air flow all around it. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 algae blennies help too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonH Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I was having a hair algae problem that was driving me crazy. I bolstered my cleaning crew. Increased the flow in my tank. And got rid of my large egg crate frag rack - which I think was limiting flow and providing a lot of surface area for the hair algae to grow. Finally, I switched my primary feeding to Rod's food - in addition to Cyclopeze and Mysis. I was feeding a frozen food from Petco (whistle) called Emerald Entree - and I think it had a lot of phosphates. Not sure if any one thing did the trick - or a combo of all four. My lights are unchanged. I still have some macro that I have to pull out every once in a while, but little/no hair algae (knock on wood - please don't curse me algae gods). I do have an Algae Blenny, but I don't think he eats hair algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Always use rodi water even for top off. This is probably the biggest cause of algae. Next would be a poor skimmer and current then overfeeding where the food id left on the bottom to rott then always and I meen always defrost your frozen food on a folded paper towel to catch the juice and quit feeding any flake or pellet food. Stick with your seafood mixtures but just dont add any juice to the water. I have been algae free till this last year...thats 7 years without a problem except the first year. I now have algae problem in my tank....it just goes with reefkeeping. Unless it is completly covering your rock and is unsightly dont worry that much about it. Just keep up your maintenance. I would add a refugium with cheato if you havent already. I have not read this entire thread so sorry if I am repeating others advice. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 A cole tang eats it. But I dont think he would keep up with a huge amount of algae. I would say invest in a good RO/DI unit and test its output with a TDS meter. Simple as this....add no water unless it reads zero on the meter. If its above 5 tds then change the rezin beads. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wobble Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 A cole tang eats it. Jay Not all kole tangs do. Mine didn't touch it. I ended up getting a yellow tang and it devoured it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoolander Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thanks, guys. It's a 55 and I don't have a skimmer. I cannot justify buying one, though, until after my car show May 9th because my extra money needs to go into that. So unless there is one for free ninety-nine I can't use that fix for another month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I was having a hair algae problem that was driving me crazy. I bolstered my cleaning crew. Increased the flow in my tank. And got rid of my large egg crate frag rack - which I think was limiting flow and providing a lot of surface area for the hair algae to grow. Finally, I switched my primary feeding to Rod's food - in addition to Cyclopeze and Mysis. I was feeding a frozen food from Petco (whistle) called Emerald Entree - and I think it had a lot of phosphates. Not sure if any one thing did the trick - or a combo of all four. My lights are unchanged. I still have some macro that I have to pull out every once in a while, but little/no hair algae (knock on wood - please don't curse me algae gods). I do have an Algae Blenny, but I don't think he eats hair algae. i had a hair algae scare too but i do weekly water changes with rodi water only and i added a few more snails and an algae blenny..and mine loves the stuff but i still have frickin macro that i gotta pull out every 2 weeks or so (flame) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thanks' date=' guys. It's a 55 and I don't have a skimmer. I cannot justify buying one, though, until after my car show May 9th because my extra money needs to go into that. So unless there is one for free ninety-nine I can't use that fix for another month.[/quote'] are you gonna be in the car show or just attending? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoolander Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 It's my show so there is a lot of financial involvement on my end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 It's my show so there is a lot of financial involvement on my end. oh wow! sweet (rock2) where is it gonna be held at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonH Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 "i added a few more snails and an algae blenny..and mine loves the stuff" That does it. I'm going home tonight and beating my Algae Blenny. Eat the hair algae - eat it! (gavel) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 "i added a few more snails and an algae blenny..and mine loves the stuff" That does it. I'm going home tonight and beating my Algae Blenny. Eat the hair algae - eat it! (gavel) hahaha (threaten) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoolander Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Albany www.eurosinthevalley.com Oregon's largest European car show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Albany www.eurosinthevalley.com Oregon's largest European car show. Hijack Alert (naughty) Hey Zoolander - thanks for the link. That looks pretty cool. I drive a 2001 S4 Avant 6M but it's pretty near stock... rare car though from what I can tell. I may have to try and make it down there at some point. I wonder if Futrell Autowerks (local APR tuner) is going to be there? Hijack Alert over Good luck with the hair algae, seem like a never ending fight. I have had good luck with my tangs but it usually requires an assortment to clear everything out. At one point, I had a scopas, sohal and kole - everybody eat different algae but it sure kept the tank clean. Seems like you have been getting lots of good advice already but I would definitely take the issue of natural sunlight to heart as that seems to be a major contributor to many algae outbreaks due to the more favorable spectrum of the light (well, favorable to algae anyway). That and take Curtis up on his offer of RO/DI - that is a huge help. Keep up the good fight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoolander Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Futrell's too good to be there. We have a lot of other large vendors that will be there. I say throw it in the show, the whole point is to have fun, the trophies are just an added bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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