Hair Algae

[skipperawe]

My new tank seems to have encountered an infestation of green hair/grass algae... Its EVERYWHERE. After setting up the tank a few small kenya tree corals died, but i pulled them out of the tank. i have made 2 water changes in the past week, combining for 50% of the water. What can i do to protect my tank and get rid of the algae?

[SunWyrm]

If you're looking for fish, I've had incredible success with a lawnmower blenny on my hair algae and rabbit fish are also great for it.

[Jan]

Have you checked your phosphates? How old are your lights? High phosphates, nitrates and poor lighting is huge contributor to hair algae. Water changes, GFO and new lights can make a world of difference. Sea hares work wonders with hair algae as well. Mine went through all the algae in my tank in about 10 days. they eat non stop. The problem is once the food supply is gone, the sea hare starves. There's one circulating in WAMAS, I believe. You may want to ask if it's still alive and when it will be available. It can be hit and miss with them as well so you want to get one that you now will eat the algae. Good luck.

[astroboy]

I've had good luck with upping the Mg of the tank to 1550 or so. Leaving it there long term seems to do no harm at all and I've never had any problems with hair algae or bryopsis since...

[MBVette]

Have you tried a couple turbos? They are the easiest and cheapest solution if it works

[beatle]

My entire tank was covered in hair algae before I bought a CUC from Reeftopia. I chose the "Total Reef Care Special #2." Despite its name, it did not arrive in Chinese take out containers. In hindsight, I would skip the addition of emerald crabs. My crabs eat my LPS.

 

Running GFO and a refugium with macroalgae as a nutrient export is a good way to keep algae down.

[SunWyrm]

As far as turbos go, I forgot about these. I have some tiger trochus that are much more careful around frags (their shell is conical) compared to the regular turbos.