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Hair algae problems

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connordog View Drop Down
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    Posted: April 28 2010 at 9:42pm
I have a bunch of hair algae on one of my rocks. What should I do so it does not take over???
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bfessler View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bfessler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2010 at 11:21pm

Is it only on one rock and can the rock be removed from the tank without disrupting the whole aquascape? If so you can remove the rock and clean it with hydrogen peroxide which will kill all the algae on the rock. Replace it and it should be fine. If the rock has corals on it you can spot treat the rock with a pipette or syringe. Some corals are fine with the treatment. I have done it on Zoo rocks with no problems. The zoos foam and retract for about a day then pop back open better than ever.

You can also increase your clean up crew and run carbon and phosban to remove nutrients form the tank.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scott Walsh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:24am
Originally posted by bfessler bfessler wrote:

Is it only on one rock and can the rock be removed from the tank without disrupting the whole aquascape? If so you can remove the rock and clean it with hydrogen peroxide which will kill all the algae on the rock. Replace it and it should be fine. If the rock has corals on it you can spot treat the rock with a pipette or syringe. Some corals are fine with the treatment. I have done it on Zoo rocks with no problems. The zoos foam and retract for about a day then pop back open better than ever.

You can also increase your clean up crew and run carbon and phosban to remove nutrients form the tank.
 
x2.  You could also add (or borrow) a herbivorous fish.  You could also just pull it off as best you can and drop a few snails onto the remnants and see if they take care of it.
 
Hair algae is sometimes just a symptom of larger problems, though.  How are your levels?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PMGuernsey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2010 at 7:40pm
I had problems like this in one of my tanks for almost a year. What finally did the trick for me was turning off all of the lights, putting a blanket over the tank for two days. This made the algae very week and I was able to pick it off with my fingers, and siphon it out. If your problem is just one rock though I would get the rock out before it becomes a headache. Just clean it off as they have said.
Good Luck!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugzme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2010 at 7:43pm
Raise you mg it will weaken the hair algae
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tycallsky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2010 at 7:51pm
emerald crab, lawnmower blenny, and i believe some tangs will eat it. Pull the hair out (not your own) and remember not to RUB IT IN! You need to pull it out and let the critters do the same. If it is on one or two rocks do as they say and pull the rock out. Check levels etc
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugzme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2010 at 7:53pm
Again! raise your mg it will get rid of it. Not many tangs eat it.
Jeff
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T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bfessler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2010 at 8:01pm

If it's just normal hair algae the snails, crabs and herbivorous fish will eat it. if it is bryopsis then the only solution is to raise your magnesium levels to 1500+ ppm with Kent Tech M. You can tell it's bryopsis if it has fern or feather like stems. If it just looks like a wavy mass of green then it's just hair algae and your clean up crew should take care of it as long as you keep the lights and feeding down.

Burt

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tycallsky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2010 at 8:03pm
good to know
-Tyler C.
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