Hair Algae

[wflash3]

JW.....what fish or invert would you recommend for a hair algae problem?

I dont have it, but my friend does....

-flash

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, by far and away the best predator of hair algae is the Sea Hare. However, if you have powerheads in the tank, you MUST, repeat MUST cover their inlets up with foam. Failure to do so will lead to a sea hare sucked into the powerhead and killed. Even the hard plastic inlet strainers are NOT safe enough to use with these animals. Also beware that Sea Hares are exceptional bulldozers.

Other than Sea Hares, urchins do a great job, again bulldozers. And if the tank is big enough, a Tang will keep it at bay.

However, your friend still needs to cure the root-cause of the problem, excess nutrients, most likely phosphates or silicates.

 

[Eversurf]

I get a bloom of hair algea once in a while. Usually when I wait too long to make a water change. Here is what I do.

1. I make a 10% water change, sometimes a little more.
2. I manually harvest the hair algea with my hands. Take the bigger pieces out.
3. I wait for it to die off

You will see it turn brown and then bubbles will come out of it. That's nitrate that the hair algea has been eating. Then it just die off and the snails take care of the rest.

Have fun!!!

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...all the above are on the money. The aim is not to get something to eat it..but to 'cure' the problem. It is usually a nitrate/phosphate/nutrient issue. One would need more tank info, skimmer type, params, inhabitants, feeding , etc to answer this well. SH