Hair Algae??

I would try an emerald crab or two. They also do a good job of cleaning up extra food the fish and coral do not get. Another reason I use emeralds is because I stay away from using any hermits.

 

Hey Kylie,

I had it horrible.

What I did was pick as much out as I could by hand. Then use a turkey baster to blast them & the rock. Then I got some GFO from BRS & ran it. It took about a month but I have been HA free since.

Craig

 

1+ on GFO and should check TDS My hair algae killer is a " black sailfin blenny" This guy "does work" all day long. Cant really see it in pic but he is a phat basterd./DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/unsure.gif

 

+2 on the GFO. It took about a month also and it cleaned up nicely. I have a little left, but I'm thinking that too will clear. The clean up crew helps "maintain" but I don't think they are good to get rid of an outbreak. The GFO, on the other hand, will cure the source of the problem. Blennies are awesome additions. I have big fat sailfin starry blenny, who eats all day long....but, again, maintainence, not major cleanup. But, I don't think I'd mix a blenny with a midas...I think one will end up dead....but, you might get lucky, too.

 

+3 on the GFO and if you are going to get a blenny I would get the starry blenny because they will eat algae as well as what ever else you feed the tank. That way it wont starve after you get the hair algae under control like a lawnmower would. I have no idea wether or not to mix with a midas though.

 

Sorry to hear this it is a pain to eliminate. I also has it in my 250, I bought a Sea Hare from Adams Aquatics and he went to town did a better job than any other inhabitants did. I paid 25 bucks for him they are slow movers but target only hair algae, the down fall is once it is removed they will die from starvation unless you do a good job target feeding them. The next best thing is water changes to keep nitrates at 0..
Good Luck
Tony

 

GFO = best algae removal ever /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
Hair algae seriously took over the tank I got from work & there is a large sailfin blenny in the tank that couldn't keep up. I was doing 25% water changes twice a week and added a couple of koralias to increase flow and eliminate dead spots. No luck making any progress after 6 weeks so I bought a dual carbon/GFO reactor from Bulk Reef Supply. Hooked it up and saw a significant improvement after only 2 weeks.

 

MARINE TLC for hair algae, its NOT a chemical and cant ne overdosed. I think i mentioned this B4 in another thread of yours. It works. If u are scared to try i'll see if i can find some old pic of my 72 bowfrnt B4 the TLC and after. It takes about a month and a half but its better than a chemcal solution. GFO works but if your are already running GFO then thats not the issue, its NUTRIENT EXPORTING. Slow down on your feeding (once a day is fine) NO flake food, and if your using frozen food rinse it with R/O water B4 you give to your fish. Most frozen food is high in PO4 (phosphates). If you have a refugium put some chaeto in it, it will help export all the excess nutrients. This is JMO and works 4 me.

 

I know they state these guys (foxface)are only to be housed in larger tanks, but one could be kept for a while in a smaller tank and everythign I have read says they do a great job at keeping them clean after you get the main issues with your hair algae under control.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+2704&pcatid=2704

-Justin

 

Kylie-
I'm curious as to water your parameters are, especially Alk?
I battled various algae in the past and was able to get a handle on them as soon as my Alk got close to 10.  I noticed a week or so ago that I was getting green hair and red turf (looks like red cotton) back and when I finally tested my Alk was @ 6.
-Eric

 

I use baking soda, which in my system equates to 1 teaspoon to raise 1 measurement (6-7, 7-8. etc).
I was dosing kalk when I started vodka and that will keep the Alk & pH up - baking soda, uncooked, messes with pH.  I haven't dosed kalk in a while which may be an issue.
-Eric