Hair algae

Anyone have ideas for getting this stuff off it's on most of my lr iv tryed pulling it off but could only get the big pieces and also tryed scrubbing it off wich didn't work well either, unless I tryed with a stronger bristled brush, but I don't want to take of the other things growing on the rock ... Thanks

 

I had a horrible problem with it not too long ago after I had to use tap water to finish a water change due to a lack of planning.
I think the phosphate spike had something to do with it.

Are you using all RO water?

 

Phosphate reactor with Granulated ferric oxide as the media and a quality skimmer. No over feeding and make sure your lights are not past their prime usage.

 

I have a ro system for our house but it only has about five gallons at a time so I just use it for top offs, the rest is our well water.

I have been leaving the light on excessively lately I'll work on that, and work on my feeding habits. I just started the tanks a month or two ago so I don't have a skimmer or phosphate thing. Is it over kill to use both of them I only have a twenty gallon sump.

And is there anything that likes to feast on this stuff but is good with coral? Snails crabs ...

 

Invest in a timer from home depot, about 10-13 dollars and that will give you better light control.

 

"Fuzzy" Chitons may cut into the GHA if it is short enough. It is not over kill to add both the reactor and skimmer, I would say they are essential. The well water is probably and problem here. Another thing, I have written on the "full cycle" of aquariums. It takes 6-8 months to fully cycle an aquarium, no matter what the parameter numbers are. My assertion is to not add coral until after the 8 mo. mark but many are just too impatient to wait it out and inevitably run into the mini cycles and algae outbreaks that occur, especially if the skimmer and reactor aren't added upon inception. Since you already seem to have coral in so soon you will have to super diligent on water quality and try to figure out a way to eliminate the well water if possible. Try to enjoy the hobby but remember there is some real work to it especially in the beginning. If you have any more questions just fire away!

 

You can try and siphon out what you can to remove the algae in the short term. Algae problems are usually caused by aquarium water with excess nutrients like phosphate, nitrates etc. In the long term you may have to examine how you care for your tank. There are some commercial dry foods also contain excess nutrients and other undesirable things like nitrates, phosphates etc so I strain/rinse my fresh/frozen foods before feeding my tank. You may want to consider feeding your fish less often. Also using RO/DI water and a high quality salt with little if any NO3, phosphates etc like Tropic Marin will really help too. Adding a phosphate remover, protein skimmer and increasing flow in your tank plus controling your photo period help should all help too.

 

I would suggest raising magnesium levels to around 1500. However, never dose for anything you cannot test accurately for, as that is quite high. This may help you combat hair algae, along with many of the other solutions.

Best of luck.

 

If you don't have one, add a refugium w/ chateo and mangroves. It will solve most of your nuisence algae problems.