algae question
 

My tank is a 40 gallon wide tank with 40 lbs of live rock. I have been having a brown algae bloom but it is slowly but steadily subsiding. In its place are these green hair algae.

what is the best way to get rid of the green hair algae? I have a coralife power compact 50/50 96 watts. It is on for about 9 hours per day.

Should i cut back on light until it goes away? I have no corals, fish only.

Thanks.


jonah

How many fish and which fish do you have in the tank?
How much and how often do you feed?
How long has the tank been setup?

the tank is fairly new maybe just over a month...so i expected the brown gunk but now it is turning green.

I have a takifugu oblongus, a clownfish, two damsel and two gobies.

i feed once a day sometimes skipping a day or so.

mmm, the enjoyment of "new tank" cycles. :confused:

the only thing that is new was the liverock...the marine with fish only tank was set up for a while (8 months or more)...then i decided to add the liverock...the algae seems to be sticking with the rocks only so i am not too worried...it looks fine.


js

Do you have enough snails in your tank?

Once my rock has cured and ready to go into the display tank, I make sure I get snails right away to keep the algae down. In a 40g with 40 lbs or rock, I would get about 25 snails.

i cannot get snails...takifugu oblogus is a milk spotted puffer...would eat them all!


js

If you can't get a cleanup crew of snails and hermit crabs, then you'll have to do a lot of manual removal. Also, crank up the skimming and possibly get a refugium up and running. Hopefully that will keep your display tank clear of unwanted algae.

can i get a toothbrush and brush the hair algae? Only problem is I cannot get the rock out...it was a manmade liverock and is one piece...would scrubbing it with a toothbrush inside the tank exacerbate the situation.

Thanks...js

A toothbrush would work if you can't get the rock out. Make sure it is a new toothbrush though. Don't know how toothpaste residue would affect a tank...

Also, while you are scrubbing, have a net handy to fish out any of the floating hair algae chunks.