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06-26-2008, 07:04 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Bubble Tip Anemone
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Parma Ohio Age: 27
Posts: 665
|  Hair algae in overflow
Hey guys, i have a 90 gallon aga tank that has the black overflow and at the top of the overflows vents im getting a decent size build up of hair algae. I run a phosban reactor and i have no algae anywhere else in the tank, just the overflow box is getting full of algae. I plan on cutting out what i can tomorrow but wondering if throwing some snail in the overflow would help with algae and such?
Thanks | 
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06-26-2008, 07:16 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 855
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Depending on what kind of over flow you have snail might not be good Idea, could possibly plug it up. Is there any way of blocking the light from from the overflow, I had same problem and bought a piece of black Plexi and made a cover and put it over the top to block the light and it went away.
If you cut it or clean it little pieces might get into the tank and then your going to have it growing everywhere. so your going to have to be careful. Is it HOB overflow? if it is then take it off and clean it in the sink and rinse well before returning I know its a PITA but it will keep it out of your tank.... _________ I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.
Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
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07-04-2008, 07:53 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Fire Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 23
Posts: 325
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If it remains localized to your overflow, and is not extremely noticeable while viewing the tank from the front, leave it IMO (or as much as possible). That hair algae is consuming loads of nitrates and phosphates even before it enters your sump. Any strands that happen to go loose will get caught in through the filtration in the sump. I personally don't see hair algae as being a terrible thing, and is actually a great thing if you can have it localized in specific areas out of the view of people looking at the tank. _________ Kibbles and bits and bits and bites, and bacon and bits and kibbles and bits...... NOT reef safe  | |
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07-05-2008, 01:43 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: valencia,pa. Age: 34
Posts: 1,151
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thanks.the only place in my tank that has algae is my over flow.i'll just cover it from light.
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55 gallon reef with 4x54 watt t5,29 gallon sump,red monti cap,1blue echinophyllia,trumpet,red lobo,2 toadstools 1purple and 1neon,gsp,xenia and yellow xenia,red ,many mushrooms,2 giant frilly shrooms,cabbage coral,yellow polyps,many zoos,1 orange and one neon green nepthia,duncans,cladiella | |
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07-06-2008, 07:33 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 79
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snails would eat it, but I am with them, out of sight, then who cares? | |
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07-06-2008, 07:37 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luvreefs23  Hey guys, i have a 90 gallon aga tank that has the black overflow and at the top of the overflows vents im getting a decent size build up of hair algae. I run a phosban reactor and i have no algae anywhere else in the tank, just the overflow box is getting full of algae. I plan on cutting out what i can tomorrow but wondering if throwing some snail in the overflow would help with algae and such?
Thanks | I have the same tank with the same hair algae in the same place. Is your overflow getting any sunlight? Luna _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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07-06-2008, 07:49 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Florida Age: 42
Posts: 1,216
 
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IMO hair algae can be a plus in your circumstance. If it's out of sight, and doesn't impede flow to the sump, why not leave it? You claim it's the only hair algae in the system. There's probably a reason for that. Perhaps it's playing a similar role as does macroalgae in a refugium--competing for the very same nutrients that other colonies of algae would consume elsewhere in the tank.
It's no coincidence that this particular patch of algae is growing where it is. That's probably the spot that receives the highest flow of water per unit of surface area in the entire system. Much like a phosban reactor that by design forces water through every square inch of media, this overflow likewise is funneling water through the cutouts.
I don't remember the source, but I recall reading that every tank will have algae somewhere. The document further stated it would be ideal to intentionally grow a patch of algae and to keep it localized to one spot, for the reason above.
As another poster stated, this single patch of algae is consuming nitrates; and whatever other nutrients algae consumes.
Again, if it's out of sight, not an eyesore, and doesn't seem to be spreading, why not let it be?
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90G display tank. Kent Phos Reactor running carbon and ROWAPhos, Coralife 225 Skimmer, Typhoon 5 Stage RO/DI, 20 Gal Sump/Refugium with Chaeto/Caulerpa lit opposite daylight cycle. Coralife 2x150MH, 14K + 2x96W PC Actinics, Ecotech Vortech propeller pump, Hydor Koralia #2. | |
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07-06-2008, 10:13 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,344
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I'm with Reef Sparky. As long as the algae is only in your overflow, it's actually working to your advantage, kinda like an algae scrubber. | |
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07-09-2008, 11:27 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Fire Goby
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Shelton, Washington Age: 44
Posts: 1,343
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Yup, I let mine go and make sure there is not a clogging problem. That's about it. _________ 90g HW: 20g L Sump/Fuge, ETSS PS w/Mag9, Ext OF/Rio 2100 RTN, MJ AC 2K3 PH's (2800GPH ttl flow), 300W htr, Gnd Prb, Denitrator, UV, PCs: 2x65, 4x55 Fish: Ylw Tang, LM Blenny, Hmbg, Ylw-tail, Ylw dmsls, Mrn Clown, Coral Beauty, Coris Wrasse. Inverts: Snls/HCs, CBS, Sandstar, Condy Anen, Tube Worms. Frags: Frogspawn. Corals: GSP, Zoos, More Zoos, Shrooms, Lobo Brain, Turbinaria. Other: 120# LR, 1-2" LS DOB 5/7/08 10g Mtd Pair Fls Perculas, HC/TS, 10# LR, 12lbs LS K-Nano PH AC-30  | 
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07-27-2008, 04:43 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 274
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy222 thanks.the only place in my tank that has algae is my over flow.i'll just cover it from light. | What did you do to cover it? I am having a horrible time with the hair algea in my overflow. I have a dual megaflow and am trying to figure out what to do to block the light.
In my last tank it got to the point that it would actually block a good portion of water from entering overflow. So I would have to go in and manually remove it and luckily I never had an outbreak in display, but really dont want the hassle this time! | |
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