How do I get rid of hair algae

[US Marine Coral]

I have a hair algae outbreak in my frag tank but not in my display tank and they are tied together. What could cause this and how do I get rid of it. I have a Kole and yellow tang and a lawnmower blenny in the frag tank along with various snails and the lights are on the same cycle as the display

[muttley000]

What type of lighting are you using in the frag tank compared to the display. Also, how does the flow rate compare? If the systems are tied together you may want to read up on reversing the photoperiods and how that helps keep PH stable.

[US Marine Coral]

Ii have 2x 250w MH with 4actinics on the DT and a 8bulb t5VHO on te frag tank. DT has a Vortech MP40es and frag has 2 Koralias. I can't reverse the lighting cause they are right next to each other. 150gal DT and 90gal frag tank

[muttley000]

What are the kelvin temps of the bulbs in each fixture?

[streak]

I dono if this would work for you but i didnt have corals at the time.. but i reduced the lights to about 3 hours a day.. for 3 days.. some say turn out the lights for 3 days i wouldnt do that if you had corals at all.. you say you have snails in there.. Do you have any extra you could toss in from you DT tank for awhile.. and pick up a 10-20 more for QT..... and lastly I know it wont show up good on PO4 test now that you have the outbreak.. but have you a phosphoban reactor.. which might be your best choice to help starve the alge.. just make sure you skim a bit wet as soon as you see it dissapear i had some nasty stuff come outta the water and i mean my whole tank was bottom rocks included was bright red..

[US Marine Coral]

Kelvin for DT is 14k
Frag tank is all t5VHO 460nm 420nm

I will take out the egg crate and scrub them and reduce the lighting for a few days. I don't currently have a phos ban reactor. I have been relying on my fuge/macro algae to take care of that. Tks or the advice!

[streak]

Yeah i also picked up a ball of chato that helped alot too...

[Sisterlimonpot]

You have to remove their food source, which is nitrates and phosphates. Which is really difficult to do sometimes, it may just be as easy as practicing better husbandry and as difficult as removing it by hand and adding GFO as well as some macroalgae (as stated above)
Try and figure out the source of the high nitrates and phosphates and work towards lowering them.

[reeftanknewbie]

heard you could raise your magnesium but not sure how.

[Dustin1300]

heard you could raise your magnesium but not sure how.

How does raising your mag help combat hair algae? Sounds like a band aid approach. Manually remove as much as possible and try to determine source of the nutrients. Get GFO/Phosban reactor to help your macro algae do the job.

- What is the TDS on the RO/DI water?
- What are your params?

[garygonzales]

"Manually remove as much as possible and try to determine source of the nutrients" ...+1 on this ......also my yellow tang ate every last piece of my hair algae...so this worked for me.....

[lordofthereef]

How new is this frag tank?

[Sisterlimonpot]

heard you could raise your magnesium but not sure how.

How does raising your mag help combat hair algae? Sounds like a band aid approach. Manually remove as much as possible and try to determine source of the nutrients. Get GFO/Phosban reactor to help your macro algae do the job.

- What is the TDS on the RO/DI water?
- What are your params?

I think he's confused with bryopsis. If you raise the magnesium with the Kent brand (it only works with Kent Marine) It kills it.

Here's the thread. (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1113109)

[muttley000]

I have read that there is suspicion that the white eggcrate leaches something that supports algea growth. Not sure if it is true, I don't have any submerged in bright lighting to speak first hand about it!

[US Marine Coral]

The frag tank/remote deep sand bed had been up for over a year now. I use black eggcrate and have 2 levels, one high and one low, but it is the lower level that has the problem. Under the lower level egg crate is the DSB that has Caulerpa growing. Could that contribute to the hair algae problem?

[Sk8r]

The most effective control for any algae is water quality and eliminating phosphate. That means everything from skimming to water changes, replicating sea water as best you can, and avoiding fish and invert foods that are high in phosphate, plus avoiding putting in new rock and sand, and also a do: run a fuge, use ro/di water and watch your tds so you don't inadvertently add phosphate via an expired filter. HTH.

[mcosta528]

Water Changes, do you have phosphate test kits? Phosban reactor will keep it in check. Also phosphate media and pads can be put in bags. Do you use a sump?

[mcosta528]

***corection phosphate media can be put in bags, and phosphate pads can remove the problem. And continue water changes, monitor nitrates. Suck out dead spot areas of detritus, filter system etc. Does this help a little?

[US Marine Coral]

I don't currently run any phosban but I will add it to my sump. I may also have to change my ro/di filters. Thank you all for your advice