green hair

[elvis142]

hello to all, i need some help. the tank has been set up for 18 months. it started great, then came the cyno. got rid of that crap and something much stronger came in. thats right the frickin hair! i have heard it all, your feeding too much, your phosphate is too high and so on. the hair has been around for 3months now and i am getting grey hair because of it. do i just keep trying to get rid of the crap or do i take out my rock, loose a few corals and get some new rock that is cured?

thanks,
john

 

[jessesoto33]

I had a full break out myself, and got rid of it in three days.
Here's how
1. Yes! you have to take the LR out and scrub it."for fast results"
2. Use "Blue Vet" phosphate control follow direction. "mine was gone in three days"
3. Then use "API" Algafix Marine "make sure it is Marine" for about a week " this is to keep it off"

I haven't had a alge break out sense, LMK how it works if you try my method, I'm sure there are other methods also.

 

[SuperDragon]

John, relax, we all go through hair algae hell at some point.
Understanding why we have it is only 1/2 the puzzle.
this thread will help you out.
http://www.reefdiscussion.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8077

I started with a reactor & ferric oxide media, it does wonders, not expensive either.
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=FI-VAPR20-20
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=FI-MN4005

Keep us posted.

 

[elvis142]

thanks for the reply. i have the blue vet and i have used it. did'nt do a darn thing. man, if i take out the rock, i might as well replace it. thanks again, i have 2 weeks of from work and i hope to get it taken care of. there are a few corals that have crusted onto the rock. i guess just scrub around them right?

thanks,
john

 

[jessesoto33]

when I used blue vet before scrubbing LR it didn't work either!

 

[elvis142]

so, do you scrub it in a bucket of tank tank water or does it mater?

 

[elvis142]

i'm out. thanks

 

[jessesoto33]

I scrubbed mine in the sink with fresh water, and all my live animals are still alive. But scrubbing in salt water sounds better!

 

[Kbra]

Depending on how much you have emerald crabs love hair as well as bubble algae. Where ever you put them they seem to stay also... They could be a good maintenance crew to add.

 

[jessesoto33]

My emerald crab was so aggressive I had to get rid of it.

 

[Kbra]

I have a few in my nano and 50 no problems so far, maybe u need to smack him around a bit. LOL

 

[jessesoto33]

I don't think he liked the fresh water either! LOL!

 

[ReeferChick85]

I have a few in my nano and 50 no problems so far, maybe u need to smack him around a bit. LOL

How fast are they at eating the hair algae? Do they just nibble on some here and there or do they go town right away? Just curious cuz I am going through some hairy algae issues and i tried a sea hare but he died after a week for some odd reason.I just want to try to find something to eat it without me having to take out my rocks and what not.

 

[Aquarium In Motion 1]

Sea hare works great. Also there is this stuff called hair algae b-gone that works also. I've had few a customers swear by it. I think best choice is a sea hare though.

Jason

 

[Kbra]

they seem to always be eating and if you but them directly on the problem they wont leave it. I dont think they would ever completely remove it unless there were a lot of them but they definitely keep it in check. I guess it depends how much you have. They are just like any clean up crew the more you add the more they will take of the issue.

 

[ReeferChick85]

Thanks Kbra!

I'll look into that algae b-gone stuff. I did actually like the sea hare and I did see him eating but he died on me suddenly without finishing. I have tried locating another one but had no luck.

 

[elvis142]

hello, i tried the crab thing. got a couple of testers and 1 of them started eating the tips on my bali slimer.:thumpdown: sea hare, one was not enough. AIM 1, is the hair b-gone reef safe? i have alot of that crap, i can't see the rock in alot of areas. off to work, have a good day everyone.

thanks,
john

 

[elvis142]

aim-1

 

[goth2o]

I had a bad case of hair.I let my tank go for a while and it was every where. I still have a spot of it,going away thought. its taken some time to get rid of it months i should say, but all i did was got turbo snails if you dont have them already a few troca snails hermit crabs mid-larger size and pin cushion urchin. phosban reactor to rid phosphates consitantly,plugged my 18 watt uv backin and started changing my water every other week again but when i changed my water i would concentrate on sucking up the hair alge. and thats my 2 cents as the alge goes away remove any thing that might pick at corals large crabs urchin ect. as long as there fed they souldnt pick though

 

[SuperDragon]

invest in a cheap phosban reactor for long term control, you'll be happy you did
instead of using AIM-1, B-gone, etc. those are all temporarly solutions
that don't solve the root of the problem. I agree with goth2o.