I have lots of hair algae growing in my tank. If algae growing were an art, I'd be the master. What animals will eat this green hair and what else can you do to control it? Thanks! :-D
Green hair algae
I have lots of hair algae growing in my tank. If algae growing were an art, I'd be the master. What animals will eat this green hair and what else can you do to control it? Thanks! :-D
CR Member
#1 good water quality... tested recently???
#2 Proper lighting... how old/what kelvin are they???
#3 overfeeding... just what and how much/often???
#4 dosing any chemicals... what and how often???
#5 what is your bio load???
#6 got a clean-up crew that will take care of a system your size???
There's nowhere else I'ld rather be... unless, of course, you're buying
CR Member
Reduce the nutrients in the water column and increase circulation. Test for phosphates/silicates.
Between our lawnmower blenny and tangs they pretty much keep HA in check. We,re finding a few types of snails are also rather fond of it as well, but they are pretty slow compared to the fish.
Every electronic device is manufactured with smoke stored deep inside... only a true genius can find a way to set it free.
Nitrates are 0 but I don't have phosphate test kit. I use ro/di water though. For lighting I have 2 actinic 03's, 1-10,000K bulb,1-6500K, and 1 actinic/daylight ?K. It's a 55gal tank with a magnum7 pump, 2 -1000 gph powerheads. There's 15 zebra/blue legs crabs, and around 15 turbo's, cernith, and other snails.
I think I might try a yellow tang and a lawnmower blenny if I can find one.
CR Member
Been a while since your last update. Sounds like you are starting to really get things together. The lighting you mentioned are those all power compacts or long tubes?
Every electronic device is manufactured with smoke stored deep inside... only a true genius can find a way to set it free.
CR Member
How many gallons have you run out of your RO/DI unit? The carbon cartridges and DI resin need to be changed periodically. The membrane also needs to be back flushed every now and then if you do not have a unit that auto cleans.
I find I have to change my DI resin about every two months. Do you have a TDS meter to check your RO/DI water? If not get one and check to see that your water actually is being filtered to zero or near zero total dissolved solids.
CR Member
I'mn willing to bet that phosphates are an issue... regardless... IMO, no feeding or adding any chemicals and reduce your lighting cycle until you find the source.
There's nowhere else I'ld rather be... unless, of course, you're buying
My ro/di unit is pretty new and has produced maybe 125-150 gallons in total. I'll have t/o look into a TDS meter. I had a yellow tang in there for awhile and no hair algae. I was feeding it frozen brine shrimp and romaine lettuce. It died (probably because no Green hair to eat) and week later hair is growing. It's been growing for about a month or so now and it is pretty tall. Some of the turbo snails look like little punk rockers with their long flowing green hair. (snails with mullets) Thought I might try another tang since there is plenty for it to eat now.
Oh yeah, the lights I have are just NO tubes. I have 240 watts in total. I run them for 9 hours a day.
CR Member
IMO, I would not recommend feeding Romaine just for the fact that so many pesticides and fertilizers are used on produce, I would use Nori instead.
Definitely get yourself a TDS meter. You will then at least be able to monitor your water that the RO is making and know when you need to change resin and such.
How old are the bulbs?
bulbs are 3 months old
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