hair algae

michika · #1 03-18-2008, 02:22 PM

I'm guessing rocks have phosphates/nitrates in them and they are feeding your GHA outbreak. Manually pruning seemed to work best for me, it took about 6 months for everything to leech out of the rocks.

digital-audiophile · #2 03-18-2008, 02:35 PM

Are you running a phosban reactor or have the ability to run one?

michika · #3 03-18-2008, 02:39 PM

Another thought, are you sure its hair algae and not bryopsis? You can try algaebase.org for a clear ID. There are different proceedures for dealing with each.

dsaundry · #4 03-18-2008, 03:24 PM

See if you can borrow a sea hare, just make sure you cover all your filter and pump intakes with sponge. They are great little lawnmowers...

michika · #5 03-18-2008, 03:27 PM

Long spine urchins, and lettuce nudibranchs work too, again assuming it is GHA and not bryopsis.

mseepman · #6 03-18-2008, 04:19 PM

Sorry to go off topic here but Landshark, where did you get the T5HO 18"? I've been looking for them and haven't found those short ones anywhere.

landshark · #7 03-19-2008, 06:08 AM

Thanks for all the great advice! Checked calcium 480, KH 9, But I don't have a test kit for Magnesium. PH 8.3, nitrate 5, nitrite 0, ammonia 0 ,phosphate 0Spec. gravity 1.024-025 . I'll check on algaebase.org exactly what this stuff is. I havn't any access to sea hares or urchins, and not excited about purchasing said critters. Hmm. Rock theory possible, as I just moved some rocks around in my tank that were partially buried in substrate.( about three weeks ago).Wouldn't testing pick up leeching live rock? Sorry, I'm unaware of what a phosban reactor even does. STEVE

michika · #8 03-19-2008, 03:46 PM

A phosban reactor is a canister in which you fill it with GFO (granulated ferric oxide) like Phosban, and it sucks up phosphates. It works reasonably well in the battle against GHA/bryopsis.

You can always just wait it out, manual purning, regular water changes, and turning the rocks helps too. Although this can take awhile.