What eats green hair algae

atblj5 · 05/13/2009, 06:56 PM

What eats green hair algae snails? What kind?

demonboy369 · 05/13/2009, 07:05 PM

when i had my GHA i added some turbo snails and they devoured it

atblj5 · 05/13/2009, 07:10 PM

I have a bunch and don't eat it. Picky eaters.

Mopar Reefer · 05/13/2009, 07:28 PM

I've had good luck with emerald crabs, but people will tell you there hit or miss.

singold · 05/13/2009, 10:13 PM

+1 Turbo Snails

THE ROOK · 05/13/2009, 10:16 PM

Grab a Sea Hare. Just be sure to return it when the HA is gone. I used one for about a month.

CloruroDiSodio · 05/14/2009, 09:40 AM

+1 turbos. They are absolute algae eating machines

stingythingy45 · 05/14/2009, 10:27 AM

I have never witnessed any critter that eats enough HA to keep up with an outbreak.It is best to attack the algae by reducing nutrients and if needed GFO.

Biocubist · 05/14/2009, 12:06 PM

There are 2 types of HA that I am aware of: the short patchy HA that most snails / crabs would love to feast on and there is the long stringy kind that looks like straight green pubic hair that nothing will eat.

The technique that I simple and effective. During a water change I collect the old water and put it in a big bucket. I then remove the object that the HA is growing on and place it in the bucket with the old water. I then get a tooth brush and brush the **** out of the HA underwater so that the particles are removed freely.

It works good for me!

Michael · 05/14/2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atblj5
green hair algae snails

never heard of them

well you need to pull as much of the GHA off the rocks as possible, get some phos media going asap and reduce light on times, stop overfeeding your fish and ensure your make up water is totally pure

mjoener · 05/14/2009, 12:21 PM

I second the water change and less light.
I have not found anything that will eat the patchy stuff or the long "pubic hair"
I have heard that sea hare would do it
I think I may try that
I have also heard that urchins devour algea as well

VegasJay · 05/15/2009, 07:24 PM

Sudden outbreak also and emerald crabs & turbos are doing nothing to help. Suggestion by LFS was to change the resin on the RO/DI (LFS does not sell the filters, fwiw) -- new filters installed in the RO/DI, water changes starting this weekend plus the scrubbing per Michael.

waxy · 05/15/2009, 07:42 PM

Seahares are great GHA eaters. Aggressive one's indeed.

They'll keep your hairy tank, sparkly clean.
( Advance Aquarists only! )
Once this bad boy dies, you're in for a world of hurt.

I have one the size of my palm in my tank...only seem him out at night though. Freaks me out sometimes...

I had a lot of luck with Turbos and especially Electric Blue Hermit Crabs.

Doolin · 05/15/2009, 08:24 PM

I've heard urchins will do a number on it as well...

05/13/2009, 06:56 PM	#1
atblj5 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.H. Posts: 382	What eats green hair algae What eats green hair algae snails? What kind?

05/13/2009, 07:05 PM	#2
demonboy369 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: west virginia Posts: 360	when i had my GHA i added some turbo snails and they devoured it __________________ L0S3R CVRC ------------------------------------------------ To check out my thread on Gorgonia Fragging click my red house Current Tank Info: 2g pico reef with 13w pc lighting stocked with zoos and a small hammer... 29g in progress (diy aquaclear 500 fuge)

05/13/2009, 10:13 PM	#5
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	+1 Turbo Snails __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

05/14/2009, 10:27 AM	#8
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	I have never witnessed any critter that eats enough HA to keep up with an outbreak.It is best to attack the algae by reducing nutrients and if needed GFO. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

05/14/2009, 12:21 PM	#11
mjoener BAMs BAMs... I have a ton Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: E.P., MN Posts: 739	I second the water change and less light. I have not found anything that will eat the patchy stuff or the long "pubic hair" I have heard that sea hare would do it I think I may try that I have also heard that urchins devour algea as well __________________ Getting back in with a 5g Nano. R.I.P. RSM 250 - April 2010 RSM 130 - July 2007 Current Tank Info: 30g w/ 10g sump/refug Custom Build

05/13/2009, 07:10 PM	#3
atblj5 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.H. Posts: 382	I have a bunch and don't eat it. Picky eaters.

05/13/2009, 07:28 PM	#4
Mopar Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 465	I've had good luck with emerald crabs, but people will tell you there hit or miss.

05/13/2009, 10:16 PM	#6
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Grab a Sea Hare. Just be sure to return it when the HA is gone. I used one for about a month.

05/14/2009, 09:40 AM	#7
CloruroDiSodio Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 597	+1 turbos. They are absolute algae eating machines

05/14/2009, 12:06 PM	#9
Biocubist Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 114	There are 2 types of HA that I am aware of: the short patchy HA that most snails / crabs would love to feast on and there is the long stringy kind that looks like straight green pubic hair that nothing will eat. The technique that I simple and effective. During a water change I collect the old water and put it in a big bucket. I then remove the object that the HA is growing on and place it in the bucket with the old water. I then get a tooth brush and brush the **** out of the HA underwater so that the particles are removed freely. It works good for me!

05/15/2009, 07:24 PM	#12
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	Sudden outbreak also and emerald crabs & turbos are doing nothing to help. Suggestion by LFS was to change the resin on the RO/DI (LFS does not sell the filters, fwiw) -- new filters installed in the RO/DI, water changes starting this weekend plus the scrubbing per Michael.

05/15/2009, 07:42 PM	#13
waxy Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jan Sose, CA Posts: 972	Seahares are great GHA eaters. Aggressive one's indeed. They'll keep your hairy tank, sparkly clean. ( Advance Aquarists only! ) Once this bad boy dies, you're in for a world of hurt. I have one the size of my palm in my tank...only seem him out at night though. Freaks me out sometimes... I had a lot of luck with Turbos and especially Electric Blue Hermit Crabs.

05/15/2009, 08:24 PM	#14
Doolin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 260	I've heard urchins will do a number on it as well... __________________ Treasurer of WORC, a reef club in Western Ohio. www.worcreef.org