Green Hair Algea

[twiki]

Ok I've pretty much tried everything and no can't think of anything else to try!

Story so far

200L tank, planted with EcoComplete substrate. All water stats normal - nitrates circa 20. 1 Angel, 1 Bolivian Ram, 1 Cobalt Dearf Gourami, 4 Otos and 10 Tetra - so isn't overstocked etc. All been living togther for years with no problems.

So about 6 months ago, hair algea started to grow - for no reason as far as I could tell. I tried the local fish stores hair algea remover but nothing. I then tried to play with the lighting, but managed to kill off most my plants instead. (I keep the curtains closed all day to stop direct sunlight hitting the tank during the day ) I used to add liquid oxygen and tropica aquacare ferts but stopped all that now. Still the algea continues to grow. I've pulled all the plants out, and removed all the rocks/ornaments and cleaned thoroughly, and completely replaced the planting and still the problem persists. I've changed water so many times, I've left water. I've cleaned the filters religiously and tried not cleaning the filters.

Basically I think I've treid everything I can think of!

So - I ask here - what should I try. Any combinations which I should try? Anything I've missed. It's getting very tiresome pulling out handfulls of hair algea each week and trying to save the plants!

 

[mark4785]

Ok I've pretty much tried everything and no can't think of anything else to try!

Story so far

200L tank, planted with EcoComplete substrate. All water stats normal - nitrates circa 20. 1 Angel, 1 Bolivian Ram, 1 Cobalt Dearf Gourami, 4 Otos and 10 Tetra - so isn't overstocked etc. All been living togther for years with no problems.

So about 6 months ago, hair algea started to grow - for no reason as far as I could tell. I tried the local fish stores hair algea remover but nothing. I then tried to play with the lighting, but managed to kill off most my plants instead. (I keep the curtains closed all day to stop direct sunlight hitting the tank during the day ) I used to add liquid oxygen and tropica aquacare ferts but stopped all that now. Still the algea continues to grow. I've pulled all the plants out, and removed all the rocks/ornaments and cleaned thoroughly, and completely replaced the planting and still the problem persists. I've changed water so many times, I've left water. I've cleaned the filters religiously and tried not cleaning the filters.

Basically I think I've treid everything I can think of!

So - I ask here - what should I try. Any combinations which I should try? Anything I've missed. It's getting very tiresome pulling out handfulls of hair algea each week and trying to save the plants!

Dose the tank with the anti-blanketweed product by Waterlife. It can be found here: http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400031974618&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Note that Algizin P is designed for ponds as indicated by the 'P'. The last time I used it to get rid of hair algae or 'blanketweed' it was very effective and it had died off within 4 weeks. Aligizin P removes phosphate, nitrate and other nutrients which algae uses to grow so you should leave the desirable tank plants within the tank as the product will not kill them off.

 

[yhaneef]

I had a major problem with not just hair algae but black beard algae. Nothing would shift it, until i tried hydrogen peroxide. Start with very small doses and use a syringe to apply. But now my tank is black beard and hair algae free.

 

[Bobtastic]

Hydrogen peroxide!!! Yeeh gods! How were the other plants and fish affected by using that??

 

[yhaneef]

I used small doses every few days, the fish and the plants were fine with it.

 

[Bobtastic]

I used small doses every few days, the fish and the plants were fine with it.

How small a dose??

 

[yhaneef]

A couple of drops on the affected area's. If you have alot of hair alage in the tank, do one area at a time.

you will start to see some bubbles forming on the alage. After 3 days the alage will disappear.

 

[RadaR]

Why are we looking for a quick fix solution. How about treating the underlying cause to the algae so you get rid of it and it doesn't come back.
You have hair algae because your plants are missing something. Hair alage is related to lack of CO2.
Either increase your CO2. Or lower your lighting. Nothing else will truly treat the reason why it's in your tank.

 

[Bobtastic]

Will algae, BBA in particular die back or will it be there until it is removed. Even if the ideal solutions is found and implemented?

 

[RadaR]

It will die back but it's slow, therefore manual removal at the same time is reccomended.

 

[Bobtastic]

I've increased the flow around my tank to the point that some of the fish have gone into hiding! I obviously didn't think that it would magically disappear but would have thought it would have gone faster...