Jim, I don't really have an out of control problem, my water test always show Jill or very low nitrates and phosphates. Of course it's likely to be in part due to the growth of hair algae. The issue is that my liverock is covered with hair algae in any place that does not have coral. It's short, but I'd prefer it to be gone.
So, in order to eliminate any nutrients for algae to grow, I just added an AquaC EV-120 skimmer and a BRS carbon/gfo reactor and a filter sock; if I keep up on 10 gallon weekly water changes, change the filter sock weekly and keep up on the skimmer and carbon, the algae should be choked off. Now, I want to clean off the live rock and someone told me that the lights off method would help with that.
I would go ahead and scrub it then. Sounds like your doing everything you need to do to keep the algea from getting any worse.
I would also beef up on the cleanup crew, if you are laking. They will really help the algea not to come back. How long of a photoperiod are you running and how old and type are your lights?
Having had a major HA issue and researching the cause first (most important) it is this remedy I found to work best. It does take time though.
Starve it out! Algae needs nutrients and light to live. Nutrients come from leaching LR-uneaten food and the algae it self, just naming a few here.
Lower the amount and # of times you feed and only enough that your fish will eat. The type of food is also important. The food that goes uneaten, rots and feeds the algae. Next lower the amount of time your lights are on to 5-6 hrs a day for about 6 weeks. Next an absorbent works well in removing excess nutrients also.
Chemipure Elite, Purigen are the ones I've used and are great.
Hope this helps .)
Lights are T5's I think it's a 10 hour photo period; I cannot remember the age, 6-8 mths I think. Definitely need to beef up on cleaner crew; places around here need to sell trochus, they are he best snail. Planning on an tuxedo urchin, emeralds, and a serpent star to clean up uneating food, may need more nassarius too.
Do you have bristle worms in your tank? If not I personally suggest you get some. I've found them to be the best detritus eaters ever. I personally have around 20+ in my 8g. They're harmless to fish and corals but will give a good sting if you should come into contact with one.
If it's HA your dealing with there's really not much you can do as far as a cuc, yet others have had great luck in this area. I have heard that a lawnmower blenny will eat it sometimes.
I've tried an blue spot sea hare, it died. Got it's self stuck in a hole. I tried a tuxedo urchin, it didn't touch it as well. I tried hermits blue and red legged, snails of all kinds. Nothing works except the before mentioned.
Cutting back on the lights to 7 or 8 hours wont hurt, if you continue to see issues after the rock scrubbing.
No harm will come from a couple day lights out, after the rock scrubbing either- If ya would like to give it a shot. I have done it many times for cyno/diatom issues. Ive gone 3 days without ever an issue.
If you have the phosphates under control, the algae will go away on its own. Keep adding phosphate remover until the algae is gone. Testing isn't necessarily going to tell you whether you have the phosphates under control, as you mentioned the algae is still there and is therefore utilizing the excess phosphate.
I decided to try the lights out method, so yesterday I turned the lights off and covered the tank. Tuesday or Wednesday I'll open it back up, scrub the rocks and do a good water change. I'm also going to slowly reacclimate the lights. We will see how it goes.
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