Hair algea problem. Need help or further thoughts

[dareefking]

Hi everyone, I've been battling a HA problem for about 2 months now and I've finally decided to do a 3 day lights out. My Phosphates are reading 0, but I assume this is because the HA is using them all up to spread???

I am also considering adding a Lawn Mower Blenny to see if he can help. Anyone have success with these?

After my 3 day period is up, I gonna pull whatever HA is left and add the Lawn Mower. Is my thought process correct for this problem? Was also thining of adding a Foxface, any thoughts on that?

I recently gravel vacced (I have CC) one half my tank, which only seemed to make it spread more over night LOL.

Any other suggestions? Not looking to purchase a Phosban Reactor at the moment for money issues as Im setting up a 210 which is consuming mucho $$$.



Sorry for the long post but would appreciate any other ideas whether its Im doing something wrong or other thoughts on how to battle it even more.

Thanks for looking.

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10563828#post10563828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dareefking
Hi everyone, I've been battling a HA problem for about 2 months now and I've finally decided to do a 3 day lights out. My Phosphates are reading 0, but I assume this is because the HA is using them all up to spread???

I am also considering adding a Lawn Mower Blenny to see if he can help. Anyone have success with these?

After my 3 day period is up, I gonna pull whatever HA is left and add the Lawn Mower. Is my thought process correct for this problem? Was also thining of adding a Foxface, any thoughts on that?

I recently gravel vacced (I have CC) one half my tank, which only seemed to make it spread more over night LOL.

Any other suggestions? Not looking to purchase a Phosban Reactor at the moment for money issues as Im setting up a 210 which is consuming mucho $$$.



Sorry for the long post but would appreciate any other ideas whether its Im doing something wrong or other thoughts on how to battle it even more.

Thanks for looking.

So you can afford to buy a Foxface and or a Lawnmower Blenny but you can't afford a phosban reactor? :lol: The reason for not having the money to make you small system better is that you're setting up a much larger system? :p Do you have Chaeto in a sump or refugium for nutrient export? Do you have a good skimmer on your current system? What is the PH of your system? What fish do you currently have? In other words, need a lot more info before we can provide you with the best way to go about battling hair algae.

[adnup]

I would be concerned about WHY you have the hair algae just as much as how to get rid of it. you say phosphates are 0, but what are your other param's and temps?

[dareefking]

Well my tank is stocked with a Lion and a Grouper which I know is also a reason Im having this trouble, they'll be gone soon. I'm trading my Grouper to my shop I work at and the Lion, well his been with me forever so he is going in my 210. My pH is good at 8.2-3 and my temp varies between 77-81 depending on lighting. My nitrates read 5. Cal 400, Alk. 12. Dont really test for trites to much anymore so who knows. I'll check but would imagine there very low. Other occupants are smaller fish a striped damsel, spotted hawk, 3" hippo, and a Coral Beauty. I do plenty of water changes as I work at a LFS and get the water for free. Usually change 15 gallons every 2 weeks. Top off water is distilled water which I was under the impression that was just as good as DI water.

Peter Eichler - Are you saying that the 40 $ I'm spending on my LMB and Foxface would equal the cost of a Phosban Reactor. i havent really checked on the prices of them, just figured it would be a little more expensive. I get my livestock for next to nothing with my discount, but my boss doesnt really discount equipment too much. That's my only reason to avoid the reactor. If its comparable to 40$ and thats the way to go then I might try it, Thats way Im asking for opinions. I mean I work at a LFS but Im not really familiar with all the reactors and stuff. Do you think that would be my best bet.

What about the 3 day blackout? is that gonna do anything for me?

Any other questions feel free to ask.

Oh and by the way yes a have Cheato in my fuge, which is growing like crazy.

[Peter Eichler]

Well, your main problem is you have a heavy fishload with some messy fish that eat a lot and create a lot of waste. Also, you didn't mention anything about a skimmer. Harvesting the hair algae as well as harvesting the chaeto in your sump will help with nutrient export. Also, if you're feeding frozen foods like mysis, krill, brine shrimp, etc., be sure to rinse them well before adding them to your tank. I think getting those two fish out of your tank and improving nutrient export could go a long way to helping you overcome to algae problem.

At most of the popular online sites a phosban reactor is around $35, you could find a used one for even less. Then you could get a MJ pump for pretty cheap used or new and some of the less expensive GFO media to fill it with.

[dareefking]

Yeah, I do have a HOB CPR fuge w/ skimmer, but Im upgrading to a Euro-reef RS-80. I'm planning on using the HOB jsut as a fuge and running the RS-80 as my skimmer. Just gotta get the overflow and return pump to run the skimmer below in my cabinet.

I always strain my frozen foods before feeding as well. I do have chaeto in my HOB fuge but are you saying to put some of the HA in there as well?

I'll look into the Phosban Reactor since the cost doesnt seem to high. thanks for your help, if you have any more ideas let me know.

[Rustylugnuts]

I think he was saying to pick off the GHA and throw it in the trash along with a little bit of the cheato. This discards the excess nutrients sequestered in the living plant matter. When my GHA bloom was too much to keep up with (and I was too broke to buy ANY equipment for the tank) I let one of the rocks grow wild. This became the poor mans phosban, the longer hair algae was much easier to harvest and it also kept the rest of the tank pretty clear by munching nutrients.

[dareefking]

So get rid of some of the Cheato and HA all together?

[dareefking]

BTW thanks for the quick repsonses, its really helping.

[Peter Eichler]

You should be harvesting Chaeto regularly as it grows. In other words, let it grow for a bit, trim it back, let it grow for a bit, then trim is back again, rinse, repeat. Pulling out the hair algae as it grows will help with nutrient export as well. Until you get those two big fish out of the tank and get a better skimmer you're going to have a tough time with high nutrients.