Hair Algae

[FallRiverReefer]

so i'm trying to get my tank started its been a real issue because of $$ issues but, i've said screw it saturday everything is going up and running....i have a guy that is selling me his LR for 1$ a lb. for a 100lbs....i asked if any pests and he told me that there was just some small hair algae on it...how hard is hair algae to get off if i'm putting into an entirely new tank? can i just scrub the rock before i put it into the tank and that will solve the problem?

few notes:

The water i'm putting into the tank is already cycled water from an established tank.

its a 46g bow front going to put 50lbs. in it and give the other 50lbs. to the mate i'm getting the water from.

putting store bought sand from petco but going to seed it with established tank sand to save some $$.

skimmer is coralife super skimmer 65.

is this going to cause a recurring problem in my tank if i have the proper rock/water ratio and a good skimmer still? or can i just scrub the rock and put it into the good established water with the skimmer running and nothing in the tank with the lights off for a while and it will die off and my water will be fine? lil help here...


***ALSO*** haha sorry this email just keeps going and going :eek2:

will this rock w/ the hair algae on it affect my friends 110g. with the hair algae on it? he's already had an established tank for quite a while and he is running a sump/refug setup with it i believe.

[george1098]

A new tank will alwais have a hair algae bloom, regardless of how much the rocks already had growing on it. If your freind that you bought the rock from had an established tank that still had hair alge problems I would suspect that he had major phosphate and /or nitrate issues. I would recomend "cooking the rock". This means putting it in the tank or a kiddy pool in the garage or something and not heating it or lighting it for 6 to 8 weeks. then doing several 100 percent water changes. this will get rid of any nasty hitchikers. Also, coralife skimmers are junk. I would recomend something with a better reputation like an acua c remora if you wanted to go the hang on rout.

[FallRiverReefer]

well right now the option with the skimmer is this...coralife super skimmer 65 for 45$ or go to petco and buy that seaclone 100 that they have there for 100$ since i have about 50$ cash set aside for the skimmer already or a 150$ gift card to petco....which is better IYO

[Slakker]

Neither...both are spotty in performance, at best, and you will end up spending more money to replace them in the future.

I would try to sell the petco gift card and put the money towards a decent skimmer. You can usually find the smaller AquaC models (I think an AquaC Remora would be perfect for you) for sale here on the RC buy/sell/trade forum for around the same price as the Seaclown. (not a typo, they're just that bad.)

It's been a while since I priced, but a lot of people like the Octopus skimmers, and I think their smaller model is about $150, so if you've got a sump maybe that's another option for you.

[george1098]

^^well said^^ aqua C remoras are the only hang on skimmers worth mentioning. unless you want to shell out $400 for a deltec or add a sump to your system.. don't spend money on a skimmer that doesn't skim. save for a good one and you will tank yourself.

[FallRiverReefer]

well then...guess my weeekend plans just got all screwed up...can i put a bunch of rock in my tank w/o any skimmer? because apparently my petco gift card is worthless...i will use it to buy the sand and maybe some powerheads if they can order them...anyone know if petco will order koralias? or a remora? i know they don't keep it in stock but will they order it...ANYONE?

[crvz]

check their online site, maybe you can find stuff there. otherwise, stop in and see what they say.

[FallRiverReefer]

lol...so this kinda turned into what skimmer should i get thread but is cooking the rock the only way to get the hair algae off?

[bsagecko]

ummmm.....i dont know about the other ppl who have posted but you dont need a protein skimmer at all

it is called weekly water changes.......(what a thought)

if you want a skimmer you can get an Aqua C Remora or a Octopus 150 NW great skimmer and pretty cheap...........

i dont think petco can get you koralia but it should be able to get you a maxi-jet..............

if you have a sump you should make a fuge cost less and does the same thing........also increases biodioversity

[FallRiverReefer]

first SW tank...trying to go the simplest route to get started.

[crvz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13154944#post13154944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FallRiverReefer
lol...so this kinda turned into what skimmer should i get thread but is cooking the rock the only way to get the hair algae off?

No, diligence in water changes, siphoning of detritus, limited feeding, and good skimming will eradicate the hair algae. Also throw in some manual removal of the algae and you should see it backing down after a couple months.

[FallRiverReefer]

so is it worth even buying the rock for 1$ a lb. for 100lbs. of it? or is it going to cause more headaches or is hair algae a normal thing and it will be fine?

[sk8rreefgeek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13152866#post13152866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by george1098
A new tank will alwais have a hair algae bloom,

Mine never did. I had a Diatom bloom, but no hair algae.

I will say this though: The only time I dealt with hair algae, I got a nice mushroom rock for $10 (yes $10!) haha, it had a Dime-size area of the HA. I would pull it off, then BAM! next day it was back...
so I feel your pain (kinda)
the mushrooms finally covered it, and it's gone now.

[supervdl]

You might get hair algae also on rock that's visually clean but has it somewhere out of sight. Make sure you keep nutrients low. Good skimmer is important and aqua c is the only hangon I would recommend. I got live rock initially from other tank and it had hair algae on it. Never was an issue really.

[supervdl]

You might get hair algae also on rock that's visually clean but has it somewhere out of sight. Make sure you keep nutrients low. Good skimmer is important and aqua c is the only hangon I would recommend. I got live rock initially from other tank and it had hair algae on it. Never was an issue really.