Hair Algae

[pnyklr3]

Sigh. Any fish that will take care of it? This is the first time I've ever gotten it, and I can tell it's growing (multipying). I pulled some off of a (live) plant, and it grew back. I pulled some off of a (fake) plant, and it grew back. I have a BN plec, but he's about worthless when it comes to algae. Frankly, I rarely see him, so I have NO IDEA what he eats lol. I have a few ghost shrimp, but I have no idea how long they will last in my tank. My dwarf cichlids are trying to catch them for a tasty treat. I looked at one lfs, but all they had were ramshorn snails. Ramshorn snails munch on live plants, right? I have enough problems with my clown loaches doing that, I don't want what little is left leveled. What about Trumpet snails? ARe they generally easy to find? PLease help!

 

[rdd1952]

I am having a hair algae problem inmy 29 gallon and my otos seem to be doing a little but not much. I just ordered about 40 plants for it and plant to clean it this weekend. I am going to take all the plants that are currently in it out and clean what I can and then plant all the new ones. Hopefully, all of them will out compete the algae from here out.

 

[colegamby]

try 20% water changes everyday. if you remove the nutrients from teh water the bacteria will starve.

 

[pnyklr3]

20% everyday!?! Yikes! That'll be 77 gallons changed in a week (that's what would be pulled out of my 55). Is that much really necessary? Is it the nitrates that the hair algae likes?

 

[Nospherith]

Planters say that algae is a sign of a nutrient imbalalance in the tank, and is usually remedied by decreasing the photoperiod, adding more plants and co2 to use all available nutrients, 50% water changes, and some other things that I've probably forgotten.

It could be a buildup of Phosphates. Try feeding less. Just a little bit once a day is plenty. I know you probably know this, but seriously just a scrap of uneaten food will raise phosphate levels. I've heard algae uses phosphate like an H2 uses gasoline: the more there is, the faster it will grow ... Nitrates don't cause algae. Planters try for a 10:1 ratio of NO3 to PO4, respectively. I try keep my Nitrates between 15 and 20ppm. If I didn't dose it would be alot less, like 1 or 2ppm. I've not had a problem w/ algae due to high nitrates.

I've had algae and I got rid of it thanks primarily due to SAE's. They like that stuff, and would be perfect for your cichlid tank as they grow to about 4-5" adult size. Other species I've heard that eat hair algae are Black Mollies and some species of Shrimp ie Red, Amano, Ghost, ect and someone on here said that they saw their Cherry Barbs eating it too. Anyway, good luck getting rid of it, I know i needed it.

 

[pnyklr3]

I can't seem to keep a Mollie alive to save my own life Seriously. A Mollie will be the only fish out of my 55 gallon tank with a fungal infection that can't be cured. I have no luck with them. I've added about 7 ghost shrimp, hoping that at least a few will make it. Not so sure, though, because I can't find any of them! Ahhh, well. I'll keep an eye out for them.