Christyef Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Help! Hi everyone. I'm back home after working in Jewett, TX for 6 weeks on a powerhouse shutdown. Interesting work, good money, but working 7-12's and staying in a hotel w/ two 60 lb dogs is for the birds. Glad to be home! I had a house sitter that kept my fish alive and tanks topped off. My 35 gal looks like an 80's rock band... SOOOOO much hair algae.... asking for yalls help to fix it! Thank u Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb87 Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 (edited) Can you pull the rock out? Syphoon out as much algae as you can using your thumb on the end of the hose to pinch and pull it off the rock, get it off thebsand bed too. If you can pull the rock out of the tank put some hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray the algae on the rock let it soak for 2-3 minutes and put it back in. In a day or 2 what algae you sprayed will be gone. Do you run any po removal media? Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk Edited December 4, 2016 by jasonb87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 +1 on pull the rock. Best way I've found is to take out about 5 gallons of water and leave it in a 5 gallon bucket or other container. Use an electric sonic scrubber if you can get one, but a coarse brush would work as well, while holding the rock in the 5 gallon bucket and try to get as much of it as possible. I would also spray some straight H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) on all of the rock and whatever algae you can't scrub off and let it sit out of water for 5 - 10 minutes. After that, limit nutrient introduction as much as possible. Use GFO if you have some because the rock and sand likely has absorbed PO4 which will leach out over time. Additional water changes are likely necessary because as the algae dies by whatever method you use, it releases nutrients back into the tank. If you don't remove them, they just get consumed by algae or cyanobacteria, so some method to kill or remove the algae and remove the nutrients from the water is the best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 check out the previous thread where Tim did battle with the hair algae in my tank 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 4, 2016 Author Share Posted December 4, 2016 Thank you. I do not have a media reactor but I am looking into getting one today. I have a skimmer and refugium . The GHA is growing in the refugium as well Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 4, 2016 Author Share Posted December 4, 2016 Someone suggested I do a magnesium spike over the course of two weeks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Someone suggested I do a magnesium spike over the course of two weeks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk You can try it, but I did that for two months and it had no appreciable effect, and isn't cheap. Physical removal is your best bet, and removing the nutrients that are feeding it's growth. I'd cut back your light schedule a bit. The most likely culprit is that they were overfeeding the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb87 Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Someone suggested I do a magnesium spike over the course of two weeks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk You can try it, but I did that for two months and it had no appreciable effect, and isn't cheap.Physical removal is your best bet, and removing the nutrients that are feeding it's growth. I'd cut back your light schedule a bit. The most likely culprit is that they were overfeeding the tank. +1 mag spike did nothing for me. Spray bottle with H2O2, increased water changes, added GFO, limit feedings and a algae scrubber did the trick for me. You got to get the algae out and get ahead of the po and nutrents Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sissy36 Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 I struggled with hair algae and I eventually fixed it by hand picking, scrubbing with a tooth brush, reduced lighting, increased water changes, and reduced feedings to a bare minimum. It's all better now with the exception of a couple of random tufts that turn up but I put a couple of my thin striped hermit crabs in there and they are awesome! My tank is small and I can't remove the rock so I just did as much as I could. Be sure to siphon everything and keep everything as clean as possible. I also changed out my carbon and GFO/ phosgaurd more often. from me 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 just my 2cents, manual removal all you can, raise MG, and get some Phosphate RX made by Blue Life. Then go to MELEVEES REEF (spelling?) and watch his video tutorial on how he dosed his tank, it will explain very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 5, 2016 Author Share Posted December 5, 2016 Thank y'all for all the help. I got a gfo reactor today. It's running now. I will start w/ the physical removal and water change today also. I'll keep y'all posted Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 5, 2016 Author Share Posted December 5, 2016 just my 2cents, manual removal all you can, raise MG, and get some Phosphate RX made by Blue Life. Then go to MELEVEES REEF (spelling?) and watch his video tutorial on how he dosed his tank, it will explain very well.Thnx, off-road. I jst watched his video. I'll get some phosphate Rx this morning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Just be careful and NOT lower you PO4 to fast. Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 The Mg suggestion only works for bryopsis not GHA. Yours looks like normal GHA and not bryopsis which has a sort of feathery appearance at the ends of the algae strands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 6, 2016 Author Share Posted December 6, 2016 Spent a few hours w/ a toothbrush and big bowl of peroxide. Looks 100% better! Hopefully the gfo reactor and new lawnmower blenny will keep the rest in check. [emoji39] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexMorsePremium Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 Looks a lot better! Many of my rocks aren't removable so I've been using toothbrush in-tank, and netting what comes off. That and moving snails over to offending areas every time I spot one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 6, 2016 Author Share Posted December 6, 2016 The lawnmower blenny is doing a pretty good job. And he's fun to watch. Looks like a grumpy old man to me. [emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexMorsePremium Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 I wish my bicolor liked hair algae! He is one of my favourites to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 The lawnmower blenny is doing a pretty good job. And he's fun to watch. Looks like a grumpy old man to me. [emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yep, one of my favorite fish. I've also found they like new, young growth on hair algae. Sometimes all it takes to get mine cleaning again is to manually remove the older, longer GHA so that he can get the fresh roots. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 6, 2016 Author Share Posted December 6, 2016 I definitely have a renewed excitement for the hobby after being gone 6 weeks. The 2 weeks before I left, I was so stressed about how to keep the tanks running I was ready to throw it all away. I'm so glad I didn't and found a house sitter. Such a blessing! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gott Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Lawnmower blennys are awesome! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgardner Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I've got an urchin you can have - Did a great job clearing hair algae on my 75 gallon. I got it specifically when I had a bad issue. I've got him in my QT right now, as I am in need of re-homing him, as he does knock over corals, if not attached. and will eat coraline algae. Just move him from patch to patch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 I've got an urchin you can have - Did a great job clearing hair algae on my 75 gallon. I got it specifically when I had a bad issue. I've got him in my QT right now, as I am in need of re-homing him, as he does knock over corals, if not attached. and will eat coraline algae. Just move him from patch to patchI appreciate it. I have an urchin in there. It jst got way out of control so fast and they couldn't keep up w/ it. It's much better nowSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarleyGuy Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I've got an urchin you can have - Did a great job clearing hair algae on my 75 gallon. I got it specifically when I had a bad issue. I've got him in my QT right now, as I am in need of re-homing him, as he does knock over corals, if not attached. and will eat coraline algae. Just move him from patch to patch Did you re-home that Urchin? If not I'll take it. I got in a motorcycle wreck (11 broken bones) and my tank took a hit. I'm now struggling with hair algae (big time) thanks, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christyef Posted January 14, 2017 Author Share Posted January 14, 2017 I've got an urchin you can have - Did a great job clearing hair algae on my 75 gallon. I got it specifically when I had a bad issue. I've got him in my QT right now, as I am in need of re-homing him, as he does knock over corals, if not attached. and will eat coraline algae. Just move him from patch to patchDid you re-home that Urchin? If not I'll take it. I got in a motorcycle wreck (11 broken bones) and my tank took a hit. I'm now struggling with hair algae (big time)thanks, John OH NO!!! Sorry to hear that! Hope ur ok and doing better!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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